Opening the Third Eye Through Tejo Kasina

May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!

Welcome. In our ongoing exploration of the spiritual life, we have often discussed practical meditation methods like awakening the Third Eye. Through these teachings, we have laid a foundation, providing you with the understanding needed to begin your practical training. Many of you have already gained valuable experiences and are actively practicing, which brings us great joy.

True understanding in meditation arises from this very practical engagement. It is through practice that you discover what is happening within, what paths are opening to you, and how these techniques truly work. This direct experience is crucial. Developing your spiritual life is not about being confined to words. Whether it is a concentration meditation (known as Samatha) or an insight meditation (Vipassanā), the words from these teachings are meant to be tools that help you cultivate your own practice.

This principle is at the heart of the Buddhist scriptures, the Tripitaka. If we limit our interaction with these texts to mere reading or memorization, or if we only listen to teachings without applying them, we gain some merit, but we miss the profound transformations possible in this very lifetime. The missing ingredient is practice.

Among those who read these words, some are diligently practicing. Others may be gathering knowledge, curious about the topics, but remaining on the sidelines. Our heartfelt advice is this: do not remain confined to theory. Be practical. Within that practice, you will find a depth of understanding, experience, and peace that words can only point to. You will begin to truly feel the meaning behind the teachings.

Exploring the Path of Kasina Meditation

Having provided a broad understanding of the Third Eye, many of you have asked a specific question: can this spiritual faculty be awakened through Kasina meditation? Can it lead to the deep meditative states known as Dhyāna and unlock supernormal knowledge like the Divine Eye, or Dibba-cakkhu? And if so, can we learn how to use a kasina practice for this purpose?

I am happy to teach these methods, sharing them freely and without reservation. The only problem arises when you try to mix and blend all the different meditation techniques at once. That can create confusion. Some may also listen only for intellectual knowledge without ever practicing. However, for those who are sincere and wish to benefit, I offer this guidance.

This teaching will focus on how to awaken the Third Eye a profound spiritual ability using the Tejo Kasina, or the fire element meditation.

In the classical Buddhist texts, such as the Abhidhamma and the Visuddhimagga (‘The Path of Purification’), ten kasinas are described as objects for developing deep concentration. They are:

• Pathavi: The earth element
• Āpo: The water element
• Tejo: The fire element
• Vāyo: The air element
• Nīla: Blue
• Pīta: Yellow
• Lohita: Red
• Odāta: White
• Āloka: Light
• Ākāsa: Space

While there are many paths, this article will focus only on the Tejo Kasina. My purpose here is to guide you specifically toward awakening the Third Eye, rather than providing a general guide to attaining Dhyāna. For those who have already awakened this inner vision through other methods we’ve taught like mindfulness of breathing (Ānāpānasati) or recollection of the Buddha (Buddhānussati) you already have a foundation to progress toward the formless absorptions (Arūpāvacara Dhyāna). If you have wisdom, you can adapt the principles. For now, let us focus on this method.

Step 1: Preparing for the Fire Meditation

Let’s begin the practical training. How do we cultivate the Tejo Kasina? Tejo simply means ‘fire.’ It represents the element of heat and energy. For more in-depth definitions, you can explore the works of Buddhist scholars like the Venerable Rerukane Chandawimala Nayaka Thero, or search for resources online. In our meditation practice, we will use an actual flame.

In ancient times, monks might have used naturally occurring forest fires as their meditation object. Today, we can create a suitable object for ourselves. If you wish to practice this, here is how to begin.

Setting Up Your Space

• The Object: The most suitable object is a lamp. Use a traditional oil lamp if possible. Fill it with enough coconut oil so it can burn for a long time, and ensure the wick is well-lit.
• The Location: Choose a quiet place where you meditate, whether it is a shrine room, your bedroom, or even a calm outdoor spot.
• Placement is Key: The flame must be at eye level. If you are sitting on a chair, place the lamp on a table so the flame is level with your eyes. If you are sitting on the floor in a meditation posture like the half-lotus (Baddha Paryaṅka) or full-lotus (Padmāsana), adjust the lamp’s height accordingly. Placing it too high or too low will cause strain.
• The Right Distance: Position yourself at a distance that is neither too far nor too close. Think of the comfortable distance for watching a television screen. You should not be too close to the lamp, but the flame must be clearly and distinctly visible.
• A Steady Flame: The flame must be stable. A flickering, dancing flame makes concentration difficult. To prevent this, it is highly recommended to place a glass shield around the flame. A room with minimal drafts is ideal.
• The Environment: Practicing in a dark or dimly lit room is very helpful. Turn off the electric lights. In the dark, the flame becomes the sole focus, making it easier to concentrate your mind.

A Note on Eye Safety

You do not need to worry about harming your eyes. The artificial rays from screens like phones and computers can cause eye strain, weaken vision, and affect your nerves. However, the natural light from a flame does not cause such harm. You can gaze at it without fear of injury.

Step 2: The Practice of Gazing and Internalizing the Flame

Once your space is prepared, sit comfortably in a relaxed posture. Wear loose-fitting clothes. As mentioned, using a chair is perfectly acceptable in the beginning stages, especially if you have back pain or are not used to sitting on the floor. There are no restrictions based on age, race, religion, or wealth anyone can practice this.

Now, the practice itself is to gaze steadily at the flame. With your eyes open, simply look at the flame. As you gaze, begin to mentally repeat a word associated with the kasina. The word is: “Tejo.”

Repeat it silently in your mind, over and over: “Tejo, Tejo, Tejo…” Maintain a moderate pace not too fast, not too slow. If you find it difficult to concentrate at first, you can gently whisper the word, but the goal is to transition to a purely mental repetition.

After you have been doing this for some time perhaps ten or fifteen minutes something will happen. Your eyes may feel heavy and begin to close naturally. When you close them, you will see an afterimage of the flame against the inner darkness. In the Pāli language, this is called the Uggaha Nimitta, which means the ‘learning sign’ or ‘acquired sign.’

It’s as if you have lifted the image of the flame from the outside and placed it inside your mind. This is a normal phenomenon you may have experienced in daily life; if you stare at a bright object and look away, you see its impression for a few moments.

During this time, you may also experience various physical sensations. You might feel a pressure in your forehead or between the eyebrows. Depending on your past spiritual inclinations, the energy known as Kundalini may awaken, creating sensations of energy moving through your body.

The base of your spine or the crown of your head may feel tight. Do not be alarmed. These are common signs of deepening concentration and can occur in any effective Samatha meditation. Whether you feel them or not is not a problem; simply continue the practice without fear or excitement.

Step 3: Stabilizing the Inner Light (Āloka Saññā)

Now, with your eyes closed, direct your attention to this inner flame the Uggaha Nimitta. Continue your mental repetition, “Tejo, Tejo, Tejo,” while focusing on this internal image.

Be aware that, in the beginning, this image will not last long. Because the mind is not yet fully concentrated sensual desires (kāma) and mental defilements (kilesa) have not been suppressed the image will fade and disappear quickly. When it vanishes, what should you do? Simply open your eyes again and return your gaze to the physical lamp flame. Continue repeating “Tejo, Tejo” while looking at the external flame.

After some time, perhaps another fifteen minutes, you will feel the impulse to close your eyes again. Do so, and see if the inner image appears. If it doesn’t, open your eyes and continue the external practice. This process involves alternating between the external object (the physical flame) and the internal one (its mental image). Through this, the mind becomes concentrated.

This is not an easy task, but it is not impossible. The time it takes is relative to the individual. For someone with strong past practice, it could happen in the first hour or the first day. For others, it may take days, weeks, or months. This is independent of your background; it depends on your karmic imprints and current dedication.

As you continue, you will reach the next stage. The inner flame will begin to last longer. Where it once lasted for five seconds, it will now stay for minutes five, ten, fifteen minutes or more. Gradually, the time extends. Eventually, you will reach a point where you can close your eyes anywhere at work, at home and instantly see this flame.

This persistent, stable inner light is a form of Āloka Saññā, a ‘sign of light.’ The only difference from other light phenomena in meditation is that this one is distinctly a flame, perhaps with hues of red and yellow.

The Dynamic Stage: When the Inner Flame Comes Alive

This stage is very similar to the ‘light sign’ phase we have discussed in other Third Eye meditations. The only difference is how you arrived here by internalizing a physical flame. Now, continue to focus on this inner flame and repeat, “Tejo, Tejo.” The word “Tejo” is deeply embedded in your mind by now, so it is the most effective anchor.

As you persist, the flame begins to come under your control, but it will also go through a phase of being wildly uncontrollable. It may suddenly expand to a huge size or shrink to a tiny point. It might jump from one side of your inner vision to the other now it’s here, now it’s there; now it’s above, now it’s below.

The single flame may shatter into two, three, four, or five flames. Then it might multiply into hundreds or thousands of tiny, soot-like sparks, or even millions. It may appear large, small, or broken into pieces.

This may sound strange, but do not be afraid. This is a fascinating and even delightful part of the process. Whatever form it takes, however it behaves, your job remains the same: keep watching it and continue your silent chant, “Tejo, Tejo, Tejo.” This is the nature of the second major step.

It is the same dynamic process that occurs with the colorful lights seen in other Third Eye practices. It is not magic; it is simply the nature of a concentrating mind interacting with a mental image. Continue to practice with steady mindfulness.

Step 4: The Breakthrough to Inner Vision

Many people ask how long they will remain in the ‘light sign’ stage. Again, the timing is relative to each person. Progress depends on your virtue (sīla). If your five precepts are weak, if you are still strongly attached to sensual pleasures, progress will be slow. You must work on these areas. Patience (khanti) and equanimity (upekkhā) are essential. As your patience and middle-way attitude grow, so does your concentration. Give it time.

Eventually, you will move to the third major step. After a period of development, the experience may transform into a feeling of moving through a tunnel or a cave of light.

Then comes the fourth step, the breakthrough. After passing through the tunnel, you may suddenly find yourself in a vast, open ‘sky’ (ākāsa). You might feel as if you are floating. This experience is accompanied by a mental state similar to the first Dhyāna a state of profound meditative absorption characterized by bliss and joy. This is a sign that you are approaching a genuine spiritual ability.

Alternatively, instead of the sky, some may find that at the end of the tunnel, they can suddenly see their own room or their house, all while their eyes are closed. Seeing the sky is not a strict requirement; seeing your physical surroundings is also a valid breakthrough. At this point, your Third Eye is opening.

You may find that you can travel with your mind-made body (manokāya) around your home. You might perceive non-human beings (amanussa) or deities who inhabit the trees or land around your home. If this happens, do not be afraid. Cultivate loving-kindness (mettā) by wishing, “May all beings be well.” Beings are generally hesitant to approach or harm someone with such a developed mind. Your mental energy is powerful.

A special warning for the Tejo Kasina practitioner: your mind is now imbued with the fire element. If you were to get angry at a non-human being and think, “May this being burn!” your focused mental energy could actually harm it, sending a psychic fire. Do not do this. It creates negative karma for you. The proper response is always loving-kindness.

Nurturing Your Vision: Life After Awakening

Once you have reached this stage, your Third Eye is open. Whether you arrived through Tejo Kasina or another method, the destination is the same. A person who has developed their mind to this level, suppressing the hindrances and touching the first Dhyāna, is a possessor of a higher mental ability. You no longer need to go back to lighting a lamp and gazing at it. That would be like a tenth-grade student returning to do kindergarten work.

However, if you neglect your practice, become entangled in sensual pleasures, and your virtue declines, you can lose this ability. If that happens, you must start again from the beginning. The advantage is that having had the experience, you will progress much faster the second time, without fear.

From here, you can progress further into deeper states of meditation. After the ‘sky’ appears, you can begin to cultivate the formless absorptions (Arūpāvacara Dhyāna). You can explore our teachings on these states to guide you:

• The Sphere of Infinite Space (Ākāsānañcāyatana)
• The Sphere of Infinite Consciousness (Viññāṇañcāyatana)
• The Sphere of Nothingness (Ākiñcaññāyatana)
• The Sphere of Neither Perception nor Non-Perception (Nevasaññānāsaññāyatana)

With the direct experience you now have, these teachings will make sense, and you can face these advanced states with confidence.

Conclusion: Your Path is a Practical One

This path is not easy, nor is it impossibly difficult. It simply requires dedicated practice. To support your meditation, engage in the preliminary practices we have taught, such as chanting and making offerings. These activities create a powerful mental energy, purify your environment, and remove obstacles, such as disturbances from unseen beings.

Everything in this teaching is practical. When your Third Eye is open, you will be able to see for yourself the beneficial effects of these rituals. You have asked how to awaken the Third Eye using a kasina meditation, and this teaching provides a complete, practical answer. When you reach the ‘sky’ stage, you can use that very ‘sky’ as your new meditation object (the Ākāsa Kasina).

Be prepared to encounter experiences not mentioned here. Each person’s journey is unique due to their karmic background. Face whatever arises with courage; no harm will come to you. Follow this system, and you will progress.

I believe this explanation is sufficient for you to begin. We will conclude this teaching on opening the Third Eye through the Tejo Kasina here.

May the power of the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha give you the strength to understand these instructions clearly and to cultivate them with practical wisdom.

We invite you to walk this path with us. Read our teachings, and most importantly, apply them practically in your own life. as you practice, questions will naturally arise. Please feel free to share your experiences and questions in the comments below, via email or contact form. I will do my best to offer guidance in future talks based on your progress. For now, begin this practice with an open heart and a mind free from expectation. Cultivate it correctly, and may you find the clarity and peace you seek.

Thank you for joining us. We hope this blog will be of great benefit to your spiritual journey.

May you all be well and happy.
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!