DAILY SLICES OF LIFE - Life Through the Third Eye

 

 “What I’m looking for is not out there, it is in me!”

          This beautiful and highly sensitive observation was made by the incomparably special American author, lecturer and social activist, Helen Keller, in her autobiography, “The Story of my Life.” No one is more qualified than this uniquely gifted woman, who was rendered deaf-blind by a disease before she was 2 years old, and yet, by dint of her courageous personality, her persistence, and the help of a wonderful teacher, she achieved enviable levels of international recognition for the social work she did, and the several books she authored during her lifetime.

         In making the statement, Helen was drawing attention to the tendency that so many people have of believing that only ‘something’ or ‘someone’ out there, possesses the ability to make them happy, or give them the fulfillment they were searching for. She herself recognized this tendency very early on in her life, and steadfastly determined to draw the attention of all who would listen. Throughout her lifetime, she adamantly insisted that both our happiness and confidence came, not by some magic from outside, but rather from looking inside of us, using our own eyes and not anyone else’s.

           Keller lamented the fact that far too many people are living the mistake of chasing after those things they see outside of them, without ever feeling happy or satisfied. They appear to be oblivious to the fact that this action results only in making them feel empty and hollow, rather than being happy and satisfied. It serves only in driving them to search more desperately and become further frustrated, because of the meaninglessness and shallowness of what they ultimately get. She further insisted that had they just taken the time to look into themselves with their third eye, they would find that everything they needed to live a full life, and to fulfill all their hopes and dreams, is already inside of them just waiting to be seen, identified, and then channeled in the right direction.

          During a recent discussion with my cousin and longstanding friend, Elias Chamely, whom I consider to be a rare homegrown philosopher with an interesting philosophy on life based on his own amazingly variegated life-experiences, he raised the issue of our “third eye.” He referred to it as that part of us that looks into our mind to find answers, without ever using the other 2 eyes; which we all possess and use to see everything on the outside. He viewed this third eye as the part of our minds that dealt with our spiritual self, and determines who we are and what our hopes and dreams are founded on. To him, this third eye is what you use to see your true self, the part that harbors your thoughts and images, and your likes and dislikes, and keeps your memories alive and always available for recall. He elaborated that this third eye was not concerned with the color of our eyes, or the sound of our voices, nor is it concerned with perceiving light and dark, or with feeling cold and hot. These are all external physical manifestations that are readily measurable and reproducible, but had nothing to do with our true self.

         In ancient mythology, the third eye, often described as the ‘mind’s eye’ or the ‘invisible eye’, was quite often depicted as a mystical, esoteric gateway that provides entry into the deepest recesses of the individual, the place where the spirit and the soul reside. The ancient Egyptians worshiped the third eye as a way of contacting, interacting and even controlling the higher levels of consciousness or being. Equally, all the established religions, past and present, have acknowledged its importance and significance in bridging the spiritual and the living worlds.  Christianity viewed the third eye as equivalent to the Holy Spirit. Its role is meant to take up the slack, and to guide the individual to making the right decision, when human intuition failed. Hinduism and Buddhism placed a very high regard on the third eye as the source of enlightenment, and many of their gods often show an extra eye in the forehead. It was called the Eye of Consciousness, and people were encouraged to the see the world, not with their eyes, but with their minds. Islam revered the third eye, “Zabeeba,” as being close to the prophet Mohammed, and a sign of sincerity and devoutness.

         Without any doubt, there currently appears to be almost universal agreement to the concept and function of this third eye. Based essentially on the interpretation of Hindu mythology, the concept that the psychic Chakra (third eye) is the mystical center that is concerned with improved perception, spiritual insight, and increased levels of intuition. This approach has received general acceptance and agreement by most people, and adapted to satisfy their own needs. In modern literature for example, the third eye is conceived as an inward-pointing focus of energy that serves to elevate consciousness, increase intuition, self-awareness, and insight. Many mystics have often referred to it as the sixth sense, that acts as a bridge between the spiritual and the conscious worlds. All of which points to the fact that a fully functioning third eye will go a long way in providing a more stable, informed, perceptive and conscious individual, who is able to successfully integrate his spiritual and his conscious needs, as well as his relationships with others. Perhaps this is what this Unknown Author meant to convey when he advised:

“When you start utilizing your third eye to seek truth,

You will learn to see that the divine is within you.”

         The third eye has long been a favorite study by psycho-bioethicists. It is frequently described as a ‘meta organ’ coordinating all the senses with the rest of the mind to create an all-powerful sensory focus. Many point to the partially dormant Pineal Gland found in the exact center of the cranium, between the two cerebral hemispheres, as the true seat that regulates such activities as circadian rhythms, sleep patterns as well as in the manipulation of thought and perceptions. Some have suggested that when fully developed, it can improve the perception and reception of changing patterns of behavior, facilitate connections, and manipulate emotional energies by increasing empathy. All of which will help the individual see and appreciate situations more appropriately and as a result, arrive at better conclusions.

         While there is still a great deal of controversy as to the exact make-up, or position, or even existence of this third eye, there is no doubt that some type of force appears to influence some people to perform at a much higher level. There is a dramatic improvement in the psychological and behavioral responses occurring that can only be explained by some extra force; vision and understanding is clearer, intuition is more focused, perception of even subtle dimensions becomes brighter, as is the ability to see problems and solutions. Although very difficult to demonstrate quantitatively by use of current science, yet when it occurs, no one will deny the qualitative improvement in clairvoyance and clear thinking that so often results. This happens far too often than is likely to occur by chance, suggesting strongly that such a force does exist. The true skeptic will offer many excuses, since it can often be a very difficult exercise to provide an explanation, but there is little doubt the effects will be appreciated by those who have learned to do so.

          Carl Jung, the very highly respected Swiss psychiatrist and founder of the school of analytic psychology, in explaining correct human behavior pointed in the right direction when he observed:

“Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. He who looks outside, dreams! He who looks inside, awakes!”

 

-This indeed, is the true nature of the concept of the “third eye.” Whether we accept the explanation by some authorities, that there is an anatomical site that looks inward, or by others, that it is a force originating in the “mind,” is of no consequence. What matters most, is the recognition that there is a  “vision” embedded inside, that will serve to guide and protect the individual, in the same way that the external eyes do.

 

  

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