[Advaita-l] Sankhya and Yoga can give Moksha?

[Venkatesh Murthy]

Namaste

You are correct to say we can do Dhyana with open eyes. But I learned
in Pranayama eyes have to be closed. The mind will not run here and
there in Pranayama because breath control will not allow mind to
behave like that. This is the secret of Pranayama. Because the mind is
automatically controlled we can focus inside easily not outside.  We
are asked to do Pranayama with closed eyes.

Kindly see the video. They close the eyes during all Pranayamas -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amkJraCgIng

Also -
http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/673

'Pranayama, the formal practice of controlling the breath, lies at the
heart of yoga. It has a mysterious power to soothe and revitalize a
tired body, a flagging spirit, or a wild mind. The ancient sages
taught that prana, the vital force circulating through us, can be
cultivated and channeled through a panoply of breathing exercises. In
the process, the mind is calmed, rejuvenated, and uplifted. Pranayama
serves as an important bridge between the outward, active practices of
yoga--like asana--and the internal, surrendering practices that lead
us into deeper states of meditation.'

'While practicing asana, students are advised when to inhale and
exhale, but no additional manipulation of the breath is introduced.
Within the pranayama portion of the class—which may comprise 15
minutes of a 90-minute session—students sit in a comfortable
cross-legged posture with their eyes closed.'




On Fri, May 11, 2012 at 8:31 PM, Venkata sriram P
<venkatasriramp at yahoo.in> wrote:
> Namaste,
>
> //
> Normally when we do Japa or Dhyana of something we have to close our eyes
> //
>
> What is the use of closing the eyes when minds runs here and there.
>
> First the meditation should be done with eyes open only. One has to
> visualize one's iSTa dEvata with eyes open.  Gradually with practice,
> one can visualize the form mentally with eyes closed.
>
> But whatever be the form, the sUkSma rUpa of dEvata is of the form of jyotis only.
> And the ideal place of meditation of iSTa dEvata is one's hridaya because gradually
> it leads to the dahara vidya upAsana.
>
> So, the dhyAna of jyoti with eyes open is *bahir-lakSya* only.  It should culminate in
> *antar-lakSya* upAsana.  With the practice, this jyoti gives the darsana in hridaya kamala.
>
> So, trATaka is the first step to reach this state of jyOtirdarSaNa in hridaya puNDarika.
> However, there are several phases involved in this abhyAsa.  One form of bahirlakSya of
> jyotirvidya is nAsAgra-sthAna ie., tip of the nose.  The dazzling light is called *bhargas* shines in 5 different colours at a distance of 4 inches, 6 inches, 8 inches, 10 inches & 12 inches from the tip of the nose.  The colours represent the 5 colours of pancha tanmAtrAs.  It is to be noted that for bahirlakSya sAdhana, the eyes should be open.
>
> From here, the antar-lakSya starts with eyes closed.  The same jyoti starts giving darshana in the hridaya akasa. From here, commences the dahara vidyA upAsana.
> The famous nArAyaNa sUkta says that *padmakOsa pratIkAshaM hridayaM chApi adhOmukhaM.....adhOniSTyA ....nAbhyAM upari tiSTati* *jwAlAmAlA kulaM bhAti*
> *nIvAra sUkavattanvI ....aNUpamA* indicates this daharOpAsana only.
>
> Once, the dahara vidya is achieved, the advaita sAdhana commences. Because, he is
> firmly established in this upaniSad vidyA and visualizes the parama-jyoti in his hridayAkAsa.  With the visualizes, he is able to meditate on the parama-jyOti.
> When he is able to establish himself in the Innermost Light, he starts negating the anAtma vastu as *nEti nEti* and establishes himself in this hridaya AkAsa and merges himself with the Light of Lights. This is brahmAnubhUti.
>
> So, trATaka abhyAsa is just a beginning only.
>
> In the abhyAsa of jyOtirvidya, one goes to the extent of visualizing the entire universe
> as a mass of dazzling light only.  The dhyAna prior to rudrAbhiSEka is *ApAtALa-nabhasthalAnta bhuvana brahmANDaM Avisphurat *jyOtisphATika* lingamauli......
> brahmANDa-dEha bhasita himaruchA........*  This dhyAna denotes the above jyotir vidya
> only where Siva is visualized in a form of huge mass of light.
>
> So, initially, the dhyAna should be done with eyes open for clear visualization which is
> called *bahir-lakSya*.  Later, antar-lakSya sAdhana is practiced.  When siddhi is achieved,  it doesn't matter whether eyes are closed or open.  One visualizes
> this jyoti externally as well as internally as the shruti declares *antar-bahish cha tat sarvaM vyApta nArAyaNa sthitaH*.
>
> But, this jyOtir-vidya as expounded in maNDalabrAhmaNa, shANDilya, maitrAyaNi etc. is
> saguNa upAsna only.  But, this vidya leads the sAdhaka gradually to Atma Vichara and
> nirguNa abhyAsa.
>
> regs,
> sriram
>
>
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Regards

-Venkatesh