Categories: Third Eye: Practical Meditation
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!
Welcome. In our ongoing exploration of the spiritual path, we have previously discussed the practical steps of our Third Eye meditation program, how to practice it, the results it can yield, and how to develop it further. For your convenience, we have organized these teachings into a dedicated playlist.
Today, I wish to speak directly to those of you whose Third Eye awakening has begun. This ability, known in the Buddhist teachings as Dibba-cakkhu-ñāṇa or the ‘divine eye,’ is a profound form of spiritual and psychic development. Whether you have awakened this faculty through our meditation method, under the guidance of another teacher, through your own independent study, or even naturally, as some people do, this message is relevant for you. When you possess such a heightened spiritual ability, you stand at a crossroads. It is crucial to understand what happens if you use this gift for unsuitable, or unwholesome, purposes.
The Temptation of Power: Misusing Spiritual Gifts for Worldly Gain
Once the Third Eye awakening occurs, the temptation to use this power for worldly gain can be strong. We have seen instances where people use these abilities to make money, driven by intense greed. Some use it to hunt for hidden treasures, chasing after material wealth. This is a common pitfall.
Another significant misuse arises from sensual desire. We have heard of men using this ability to attract women and fulfill their sexual desires. This is not limited to one gender; some women also use these powers to control or bind a man they desire. I often receive messages asking, ‘Venerable Sir, can I use these meditation techniques to make someone I like fall in love with me, to enchant them?’
This desire for control is often exploited. You may have seen advertisements on television, in newspapers, or on social media promising to bring your desired partner to you through magical rites. The truth is, it is not so simple.
Enchantment Spells vs. True Insight: A Warning Against Manipulation
Let me explain the mechanics of these so-called enchantment spells, so you may understand what is truly happening. These rituals are not a product of pure spiritual development. Typically, the practitioner of such rites, often called gurukam, requires a personal item from the target, a strand of hair, a nail clipping, or a thread from their clothing, sometimes even undergarments. Using these items, they perform a ritual with mantras to bind a specific type of entity known as a kāma preta, a ‘hungry ghost’ driven by intense sensual craving.
This entity is then directed towards the target. The spell may be delivered through enchanted food or by placing a charmed object, like a thread, where the person will step over it. Once the person crosses it, the kāma preta latches onto them. From that moment on, the victim, be it a man or a woman, cannot stop thinking about the person who commissioned the spell.
An obsessive ‘love’ and desire to be with them arises. It is the bound entity, the kāma preta, that creates these overwhelming feelings. This is how such enchantments work; it is a form of spiritual manipulation, far removed from the genuine path of meditation and insight that leads to a true Third Eye awakening.
The Fading Light: How Misuse Diminishes Your Spiritual Sight
Attempting to use your Third Eye awakening for such narrow, selfish purposes will lead to severe consequences for your spiritual progress. If you engage in these unwholesome activities, chasing sensual pleasures, manipulating others, or seeking wealth, be aware of what will happen:
- First, your Third Eye ability will begin to decline. It will slowly deteriorate, losing its clarity and power.
- Second, it may vanish altogether. Suddenly, you might find that you can no longer perceive anything with it. It will be as if a light has been switched off, leaving you in complete darkness.
This is a natural consequence. When you try to use these faculties to harm others or for negative purposes, the abilities will fade and close. This is the nature of these spiritual laws. Therefore, it is essential to always act correctly and use these gifts only for wholesome, beneficial purposes.
The Ego’s Trap: When Healing Inflates Pride
However, even using your abilities for ‘good’ can become a trap if not guided by wisdom. Some people use their spiritual gifts for healing. While it’s possible to alleviate some suffering, like a headache, through spiritual energy, it is a mistake to believe you can heal every illness. If that were possible, we would have no need for traditional Sinhala doctors, Ayurvedic physicians, or Western doctors.
The danger lies in praise. When you successfully heal someone, they may offer you profound gratitude and blessings. ‘May you attain Buddhahood,’ they might say. ‘May your powers increase.’ Hearing this, you can become inflated with pride and ego, a state known as mānnaya (conceit). If you let this praise swell your ego, you will be tempted to heal again and again, not with wisdom and discernment, but with an attachment to that feeling of success. Inevitably, you will fail to heal someone, leading to public embarrassment and shame. This very pride will cause your ability to decline and disappear. This is a critical lesson to remember.
Respecting Sacred Boundaries: A Warning on Probing History
There are also spiritual and historical boundaries that must be respected. Consider the hidden history of our land, such as the legacy of King Ravana or the secrets of kings like Dutugemunu and Parakramabahu, some of which may be concealed in caves or as treasures. Let’s take the example of the palace within the rock of Sigiriya. While I have taught how the Third Eye can be used to see it, I have also stressed that not everyone is permitted to look.
If your mind holds a ‘traitorous’ disposition, or if you harbor opposition to the heritage of the Helas or the Sinhala people, you will not be granted access, even if your Third Eye is open. This is because your intentions could cause harm. Even if you are of Sinhala heritage, if you try to force your way into viewing these protected secrets against the subtle warnings you receive, you risk damaging your Dibba-cakkhu-ñāṇa. Your ability will be harmed.
Divine Guardianship and the Role of ‘Universal Agents’
Now, let us discuss a special group of individuals we have referred to as ‘Universal Agents’ (Vishwa Niyōjithayin). If people belonging to this group attempt to engage in inappropriate or unsuitable activities, their Third Eye is often shut down deliberately. This is done by the celestial beings, or devas, who act as their guardians. They see that this person, if given this power, will go to excess or cause trouble, so they ‘lock’ the ability.
Think of it like giving a weapon to a small child versus giving it to a trained soldier who understands its parts, its proper use, and who should or should not be a target. Your spiritual ability is a tool. For these Universal Agents, whose Third Eye may awaken naturally or be opened by a teacher, misuse will lead to its closure until they have matured in wisdom (prajñā). When the guardians see that the person’s wisdom has reached the appropriate level, they may allow the ability to be ‘unlocked’ and restored.
When Insight Becomes Inaccurate: The Corruption of Vision
One of the most insidious effects of misuse is the corruption of the information you receive. When your mind is driven by narrow, sensual objectives, the desire for money, relationships, or power, your perception becomes distorted. You will start to get things wrong.
The details you perceive with your Third Eye will be incorrect. The visions will be inaccurate. This happens because your selfish intention becomes more powerful than your clarity of mind, tainting the entire process. At that point, whether your Third Eye is open or closed makes little difference, because the information you receive is no longer reliable. This principle of corruption applies not only to a Third Eye awakening but to all spiritual abilities and meditative states (dhyāna).
The Path of Purity: How to Cultivate Your Abilities Correctly
If you recognize any of these shortcomings in yourself, it is essential to work on eliminating them. Reduce the desire you have for these things. Follow the teachings diligently, remove these narrow goals from your mind, and focus on your genuine spiritual development. If you do this, you have the certain potential to reach a very high level of spiritual attainment. Your Third Eye awakening will not be reversed, and the ability will not be lost.
Sometimes, nature itself may close an ability during an unsuitable time, even after giving you a glimpse of it, only to restore it when the time is right and you are mature enough. Understand these different facets. By grasping these principles and acting with wisdom, you can continue to develop your Third Eye and other spiritual faculties in a stable, wholesome, and truly beneficial way.
This was a brief teaching, as we will continue to discuss these matters further. For today, we will conclude here.
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!.
