Categories: Third Eye: Practical Meditation
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!
Today, through our spiritual exploration, I wish to share insights from our practical and social experiences about a profound phenomenon: the naturally opening Third Eye. In a world with a population of over seven billion people, there are specific regions that hold a deeper spiritual inclination compared to others. The Asian continent, the East, is particularly known as a gateway to the spiritual world.
Within Asia, countries like India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, and others with strong Buddhist roots, whether Theravada, Mahayana, or Tantrayana are hubs for spiritual practice. This includes yogic meditations and a deep-seated connection to the inner world. Even if some of these nations are not as materially developed as Western countries, their spiritual wealth is immense. We are fortunate to live in such a spiritually charged region. Despite the political and economic challenges, we may face, a legacy of profound spiritual advancement remains untouched, passed down through generations of teachers. This spiritual heritage is a treasure that has not been destroyed.
Sri Lanka: A Sacred Land Entrusted with the Buddha’s Teachings
The Buddha himself taught that birth in what is called the ‘Middle Country’, a region that includes areas like India and Sri Lanka. is incredibly rare and fortunate. Why? Because in these lands, the opportunity to cultivate spiritual faculties is more accessible. You are surrounded by a culture and people who speak of and value the spiritual life.
Sri Lanka holds a particularly sacred role. At the moment of his passing into final Nibbana, the Buddha entrusted the future of his teachings, the Sāsana, to Sakka, the king of the gods. It was prophesied that Theravada Buddhism would be preserved in Sri Lanka for its full 5,000-year duration. This makes the island a puṇya bhūmiya, a sacred, meritorious land imbued with an indescribable universal energy. It is why Sri Lanka is home to the largest collection of sacred relics from the Buddha and enlightened Arahants, more than anywhere else in the world. We live on blessed ground, where hearing about meditation and spiritual matters is a part of life.
Visitors from Higher Realms: Why They Are Reborn on Earth
In these sacred lands, something remarkable occurs. It is taught that individuals are born here who have come from higher realms. There are beings who, after living a life in the celestial worlds (Deva loka) or the even higher Brahma worlds (Brahma loka), are reborn as humans. Some come here after their divine lifespan has ended, seeking to continue their journey toward liberation by accumulating merits and perfecting their virtues (pāramitā).
Others are sent on a specific mission or duty. They come to protect the nation, its people, and most importantly, the Buddha’s teachings. A well-known example is the highly respected monk, the late Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Mahā Nāyaka Thero. He himself spoke of having come from a divine world to fulfill a specific duty in this life. You can find these accounts in his biographies and talks. These beings are reborn in all walks of life, regardless of wealth, status, or appearance, their place of birth determined by their past karma and their mission. Some even have the power to choose their place of birth, much like a Bodhisattva.
The Innocent Eye: How Spiritually Gifted Children Perceive Reality
When these spiritually mature souls are born into the human world, they possess an innate purity. The Buddha taught, “Pabhassaramidaṃ bhikkhave cittaṃ,” which means, “Monks, this mind is luminous.” At birth, the mind is clear and radiant, not yet clouded by defilements. It is in this pure state that these children exhibit extraordinary abilities. One of these is a naturally open Third Eye.
From a very young age, two, three, four, or five. once they learn to speak, these children may describe things that others cannot see. They might tell their parents, “There is a beautiful person in white standing in front of me,” or “I see an angel.” Because they lack the vocabulary for divine beings, they might say, “I saw a beautiful auntie” or “a kind uncle” near a sacred Bodhi tree. They might see the true nature of a sacred place. For instance, if you take such a child to a great stupa like Ruwanwelisaya, they might see the celestial beings from Deva and Brahma worlds who come to pay homage, sights available only to one with an open Third Eye.
This is not limited to pleasant sights. If there are non-human entities or spirits in a house, the child will see them. But they often don’t feel fear. They will simply state, “There is a dark person with crooked teeth here.” They may also speak of their past life, a phenomenon known as punabbhava (rebirth). These are not fantasies; they are perceptions arising from a mind that is still luminous and connected to deeper realities.
When the World Intervenes: The Fading of Childhood’s Inner Light
So what happens to this incredible inner sight?
As the child grows, they become more enmeshed in society, and the luminous mind gradually becomes covered by defilements, or kilesa. Our modern world, especially the education system, accelerates this process. The system is often built on competition, which breeds jealousy (issā) and hypocrisy (kuhakakama). Children are taught to see life as a race, to envy another’s success. This is not true education.
Furthermore, if a child, especially an only child, is given everything they ask for, they develop craving (taṇhā). They learn to think that the world exists only to serve their desires. As they grow older, this can turn into an inability to tolerate others having what they want, leading to great suffering and even destructive actions. Through this slow process of societal conditioning, the mind becomes heavy with greed, aversion, and delusion. The connection to the subtle worlds’ fades. The naturally open Third Eye closes. By the time they are past the age of ten, the child, and even their parents, may have completely forgotten these experiences ever occurred.
Guidance for Parents and Seekers: Rediscovering Your Innate Wisdom
Even after this inner sight fades, it is not lost forever. For many, when the time is right, the path to rediscovering these spiritual gifts will open again. It is a natural law. Some of you reading this may have experienced a spontaneous re-opening of the Third Eye in your teens or as an adult, perhaps after the age of 18. My experiences, and those of the hundreds of people I have met, confirm this is a common path.
If you are a parent of a child who has these experiences, I encourage you to listen to these teachings. Understand that your child has a special gift. If you are an adult experiencing this, know that you have a unique spiritual faculty. Do not rush to mental health doctors or get lost in superstitious practices. This is not an illness; it is a gift.
The key is to turn inwards through meditation (bhāvanā). By developing your practice, you can cultivate and understand these abilities. Meditation helps you develop peace, mental stability, higher states of consciousness (jhāna), and ultimately guides you toward the final goal of liberation (Nibbāna).
Final Blessings for Your Spiritual Journey
Remember these points on your journey. Whether you are a parent of a gifted child, or someone whose Third Eye opened in childhood or has reawakened in adulthood, these experiences are real and meaningful. These abilities are not limited to the Third Eye or rebirth memories; other spiritual gifts can also manifest.
For the parents of children with these gifts, may you be blessed with the wisdom to guide them. May the power of the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha be your support. To all who practice meditation with us, may this teaching be a help to develop your practice, find peace of mind, and awaken your own higher faculties on the path to Nibbāna. May you all receive the blessings of the deities and the Triple Gem.
I will conclude today’s teaching 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.
