Categories: Third Eye: Practical Meditation
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!
For some time, we haven’t had the opportunity to offer a practical topic for those of you who have awakened the ‘third eye’ to investigate. Today, we’ve chosen to explore a practice many of you may have heard of, and some may even practice: the Surya Wandana, or what is widely known as the Sun Salutation.
While many are familiar with this practice through articles, books, or online videos, this teaching aims to illuminate a spiritual perspective that is rarely discussed. We want to show you how to perceive the Sun Salutation through a spiritual lens, revealing insights you may have never encountered before in any text or teaching.
This exploration is designed for those whose third eye is awakened, providing a method to practically observe its effects. But it is also for anyone curious to understand the deeper layers of this ancient tradition.
The Ancient Roots of Sun Salutation: More Than Just an Exercise
The Sun Salutation is not a modern trend; it is a profound yogic activity with a history stretching back more than five thousand years. In our modern world, with its advanced technology, there’s a tendency for some, especially in the younger generation, to view ancient traditions and the people who practiced them as simplistic or ‘foolish.’ We are not suggesting we should be intoxicated by the past, but we must appreciate the profound wisdom our ancestors possessed. This practice is a perfect example.
Long before modern science could confirm it, these ancient people understood the immense benefits of the early morning sun. They knew that exposing the body to the dawn’s first light was a source of vitality and health. They developed the Sun Salutation as a way to consciously and respectfully receive this energy. Their wisdom, discovered through direct experience, reveals a deep connection to the natural world that we can still learn from today.
How to Spiritually Observe the Effects of Sun Salutation
This teaching is a practical guide for those who have developed their inner sight. This spiritual faculty, which we call the ‘third eye,’ may have awakened through our meditation programs, the guidance of another teacher, or even naturally from a young age or later in life. To all of you, I invite you to use this ability to investigate the Sun Salutation. Here is how you can do it:
Set a clear intention a practice known in Buddhism as adhiṭṭhāna,to see the subtle processes at work. You can focus on:
- Yourself, while you are performing the Sun Salutation.
- Someone you know who practices it regularly.
- An ancient practitioner from five thousand years ago.
You have the ability to focus on any or all of these scenarios. This is not about complex rituals; the methods for focusing your intention have been covered in our previous programs. The key is to direct your awakened consciousness to observe what truly happens when one engages in this sacred practice.
The Inner Alchemy: What Happens Inside Your Body During Sun Salutation
When you observe with this inner sight, what we might call Dibba Chakku, the Divine Eye, you will witness a remarkable internal process. As a person performs the Sun Salutation, you will see the sun’s rays not just warming the skin but entering the body. These rays of light penetrate through the tiny pores of the skin, the roma kūpa, from the crown of the head to the soles of the feet.
Once inside, this solar energy facilitates the creation of a special substance. From a spiritual perspective, we observe it as a subtle, gel-like substance being produced within the body. While modern science may have a name for the biochemical processes involved, our focus here is on the spiritual reality.
This substance, generated through consistent practice, does not remain static. We see it begin to travel with great speed along the body’s subtle energy channels, particularly the nervous system. It flows through the nerves in the brain and throughout the body, from head to toe. The effect is profound: it appears to clear blockages within these pathways, purifying them and allowing for incredibly fast and efficient communication between all parts of the body.
Profound Benefits for Body, Mind, and Spirit
This inner process translates into extraordinary benefits. The most obvious is physical health, a fact even Western medicine acknowledges through the benefits of Vitamin D from morning sunlight. But the spiritual vision reveals more:
- Enhanced Physical Well-being: Regular practice leads to a state of profound health and vitality. We have observed that this process can even help destroy toxins within the body, purifying it from the inside out.
- Improved Mental and Cognitive Function: The clearing of neural pathways directly leads to a stronger memory and enhanced cognitive abilities.
- Deepened Spiritual Practice: For those on a spiritual path, this is immensely helpful. The practice makes it significantly easier to achieve a focused mind (a state known as ekaggatā) and enter deep meditative states, or samādhi. It builds a powerful foundation for spiritual development.
This is a special, wondrous energy that you cultivate. Yogis in India, Sri Lanka, and across the world engage in this practice because they know it builds a strong, healthy body and a clear, focused mind,the perfect vessel for spiritual realization.
Getting Started with Your Own Sun Salutation Practice
You might be asking, how can I begin?
Here is some practical guidance drawn from ancient wisdom.
When to Practice: The ideal time is during the early morning, as the sun is rising. The gentle rays up until about 8:30 or 9:00 AM are beneficial. The harsh midday sun is not suitable for this practice, which is why our ancestors exclusively used the dawn light.
How to Practice: This teaching focuses on the spiritual dimension. To learn the specific sequence of yoga postures for the Sun Salutation, it is best to seek guidance from a qualified yoga teacher or consult reliable books and online resources.
Who Can Practice: This practice is beneficial for everyone, from young children to adults. It helps build a strong body, a healthy mind, and a resilient spirit. For children, it can be a wonderful foundation for lifelong physical and mental well-being.
If you begin this practice, especially if your third eye is awakened, you can observe these changes in yourself day by day. You can witness that gel-like substance being produced and see for yourself what happens within your own nervous system. It is a process that must be experienced through consistent, dedicated practice.
An Invitation to Explore Your Inner World
The Sun Salutation is just one example of the profound knowledge held by our ancestors. I encourage you to use your spiritual insight to explore other ancient practices, the yogic methods, the traditional forms of medicine, the incredible feats of engineering. Look into how these things were truly done, and you will find a world of wisdom.
As we conclude this teaching, I offer a blessing: May you all be able to develop these spiritual abilities. For those who cannot yet see in this way, may the path to awakening this faculty become clear to you. Explore these truths for yourself, and may you discover the incredible potential that lies within.
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!
