An integral part of the practice of meditation as taught by Paramahansa Yogananda and his line of gurus is to place the attention and gaze gently at the point between the eyebrows, known as the spiritual eye, or Kutastha or Christ Consciousness centre in the body. Paramahansaji often emphasized the importance of the spiritual eye, the centre of intuition and divine perception in the body, also spoken of by Jesus: “If therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light” (Matthew 6:22). The recently posted inspirational video by SRF sannyasi Swami Saralananda on “The Deeper Teachings of Jesus Christ” discussed this in a beautiful way.
You can read below a brief introduction about the spiritual eye and practise a few ways of connecting with this elevating spiritual centre — to bring more light into your life and consciousness, and thereby into the world. (And at the bottom of the page there are some resources listed for further exploration, as this is a truly deep subject on the spiritual path.)
The Spiritual Eye as an “Opal Flame” — Union Through Chanting
Paramahansa Yogananda composed a chant about the spiritual eye entitled “Opal Flame” (which can be found in his book Cosmic Chants).
This chant, which is often sung at Christmastime as part of the YSS/SRF All-Day Christmas Meditation instituted by Paramahansaji, describes the devotee’s passage through the “door” of the spiritual eye within the forehead.
The yogi beholds the spiritual eye as a ring of golden light encircling a sphere of opalescent blue; and at the centre, a brilliant white star. (Paramahansaji explained that when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, he saw the starry spiritual eye as “Spirit descending from heaven like a dove.” Its “wings” represent the halos of blue and gold rays.)
Those who by devotion and pranayama (life force control) techniques—such as those of the Kriya Yoga science of meditation taught in the YSS Lessons—pass through the starry door commune with the Christ Consciousness [Kutastha Chaitanya] that permeates all creation.
We invite you to join in singing (aloud or mentally) this chant, which can help you to visualize and connect with the divine light of the spiritual eye.
“Opal Flame”
If thou wilt see opal flame, drive darkness evermore,
searing thy silence with the sword of pranayam.
Through the star in opal eye, see the Christ everywhere,
sleeping in every atom, in protons, electrons.
Golden, misty aureole adorns the opal door;
through the star in the blue, meet the Christ everywhere.
Starry dove with wings of rays alights on forehead,
showing you the throne of Christ in the peace of every heart.
Make thine eyes a single flame to see the starry gate;
thy body will be Light, illumining all space.
By wise inspiration, follow the starry eye,
to see the Christ born in thy soul anew.
Starry dove with wings of flame, baptize me in thy Light,
spreading my soul with Christ in the bliss everywhere.
Shining opening in hall of matter, O star! I peep through thee
into the land of astral light that kindles life in everything.
If thou wilt see opal flame, drive darkness evermore!
Guided Visualization and Meditation on the Spiritual Eye
Swami Chidananda Giri, president and spiritual head of Yogoda Satsanga Society of India/Self-Realization Fellowship, leads a guided experience on the spiritual eye. This guided visualization and meditation was part of a talk that Swami Chidanandaji gave in 2019 at the YSS Ranchi Ashram on Diwali, India’s “festival of lights.” (In that talk, entitled “The Inner Celebration of Diwali: Awakening the Light of the Soul,” he discusses in-depth how we can experience the awakening of the all-powerful Divine Light within by practising the soul-science of yoga.)
“At first when you look into that space it may be only darkness,” says Swami Chidanandaji as he begins this powerful guided meditation to awaken the divine light within, “but behind that darkness is the light of the soul, the very presence of Spirit in the human form.”
Want to Dive Deeper?
Would you like to learn more about the many layers of experience possible with the spiritual eye and knowing that divine kingdom of light within? Here are some helpful resources:
Paramahansaji’s scriptural commentaries, available through the YSS bookstore, contain a wealth of insight and inspiration about the spiritual eye:
The Yogoda Satsanga Lessons are a home study course of Paramahansa Yogananda’s teachings on the science of Kriya Yoga meditation and art of balanced living, the practice of which can enable one to experience and pass through the divine door of the spiritual eye.
An Affirmation to Practise — Becoming Filled With Divine Light
Affirm: “I will close my physical eyes and dismiss the temptations of matter. I will peer through the darkness of silence until my eyes of relativity open into the one inner eye of light. When my two eyes that behold both good and evil become single, and behold in everything only the divine goodness of God, I shall see that my body, mind, and soul have become filled with His omnipresent light.”
