The scientists and medical experts have laboured in the field of biology and physiology to find out facts about the pineal gland. They opine that the pineal gland contains the most astonishing qualities which would be of immense benefit, if only we learn how to develop and use them. It can become a window of life through which we can realise a new dimension of consciousness. The pineal gland is a link between the physical body and the nervous system and holds the key to the opening of the third eye or the sixth organ. The third eye, far from being a spiritual symbol is in fact the pineal gland.

Anatomical location of pituitary and pineal gland Pineal gland,             Posteo-lateral view of brain stem.

Image Courtesy — www.biomagnetictherapy.net/ pineal_gland.aspx, http://www.tcc.fl.edu/courses/psy2012/units/u03ca.htm

Three things emerge from the labour of the scientist and medical experts about the pineal gland:

1) The pineal gland is made up of two types of cells – pineo-cytes and astro-cytes. The latter are found throughout the nervous system, but they are not present in any other gland except the pineal. This is the first peculiarity.

2) Every organ in the human body depends on something else: nothing works entirely by itself. Even the heart which has its own nervous system is governed by magnetic currents flowing from the centre but the pineal, though linked with the brain, is not activated by the nerve cells that surround it. It appears to be activated by messages that reach it from the eyes – messages conveyed by the pupils rather than by retinal images. This is the second peculiarity.

3) The third peculiarity is that the pineal acts as a kind of built-in cosmic ray receiver. Cosmic radiation is now known to exercise a considerable influence over our everyday lives. Probably for this reason, occultism opines that pineal is the seat of cosmic thought.

Occultism suggests that pineal is the uterus of the brain. In sexual reproduction man uses the organs and Chakras below the diaphragm and friction is the mechanism. In the higher creative acts, the organs and Chakras of higher trinity are used. In this higher process, the mechanism is the spiritual discipline and endeavour. Hence the increased creative activity leads to the opening of the third eye.

The human brain has a fundamental resemblance to the human embryo. It represents the component parts of a bodily form, with the repetition of the endocrine glandular pattern which is hermaphrodite. The pineal and pituitary represent the male and female elements, while there are two perfectly formed little breasts, known as the mammary glands. When the pineal and the pituitary are aroused to a new livingness, they are stimulated to the point when finer vibrations and new radiations are set up. These finally impinge upon each other. Then the wonderful marriage within the head, between the pituitary and the pineal takes place. When this happens, the real consciousness is born and the sacred third eye flows into being.

In Shiva-yoga the steadfast gazing at Linga is of vital importance because it generates magnetism which galvanizes into activity the dormant pineal gland. As a result of a sustained look at Linga, the transmuted energies rise up the nerve channel into the medulla oblongata through the pons, then pass down into the pituitary behind the eyes. The increasing pituitary radiations finally pass through the third ventricle until they awaken the dormant pineal and the third eye lights up between them. Thus Shiva-yoga teaches us the technique of opening the third eye.

All eyes need a lens to give meaning to the light sensations. The third eye is not exempt and a lens is built into the aura in front of the forehead. The construction of the lens is the part of the necessary discipline that leads to the accurate perception with the organ of the inner vision. The crystal gazing indicates the nature of the mistery. Ishtalinga which is an indispensable aid to Shiva-yoga is a crystal magnet. For the formation of psychic lens to the accumulation of the material in the aura a focal point is created with the provision of a steadfast gaze.

The human eyes use a lens to concentrate rays of light on a sensitive region of the retina. Here photo receptors register light impression in clearly defined patterns which are then conveyed through the optic nerves by electrical impulses to the brain. It is the optic thalamic nerve that connects the pineal with the pituitary. Light energy flows from the pineal through the optic thalamic nerves to the two eyes. Eyes pour occult forces or unseen emanations which have been discovered by Dr. Oscar Brunler. He showed that the written manuscripts and the great works of the art carry impressions with them, the radiation of the human eyes which pour over them lovingly during their creation. Measuring in degrees biometric Brunler gave an average seize as 350. He found out that Bacon showed 640, Michelangelo registered 689 while Leonardo gave a reading of 725.

The third eye is a four-dimensional organ. Hence it flourishes in a situation in which control of time has become a developed capacity. Any sort of slowing down of time will enable activity of the third eye to become facile.

Man is but a spiritual embryo. His potential is immense. Man has powers latent within him and they show everywhere in the paranormal phenomena witnessed as ESP, that is, extrasensory perception. All men manifest ESP when they are asleep. If man could retain consciousness while the physical body is asleep, his psychic powers could be recognized and used up by him. Restoration of that memory or self-remembrance constitutes the unfoldment of the third eye.

Sahasrara or the crown plexus, where the pineal resides, when stirred into activity the Sahasrara becomes the most resplendent of all the centres full of indescribable chromatic effects and vibrates with extreme rapidity thus opening the third eye through the awakening of the pineal. The realm of the Sahasrara is characterized by Chinnada, Chitbindu and Chitkala by life that pulsates, by the light that illumines and by the law that governs.

Finally, Shiva-yoga Pradipika, a valuable Yoga manual, speaks of Shiva-yoga as having four aspects – Shiva-bhakti, Shiva-jnana, Shiva-vrata and Shiva-dhyana. Shiva-yoga in one sense is integral, for it integrates Bhakti-yoga, Jnana-yoga, Karma-yoga and Dhyana-yoga all in one.

Shiva-yoga Pradipika defines Linga as the connecting and co-ordinating link between Shiva and Shakti or as the unifying principle of truth and will. This concept of Linga is significant and valuable. Shiva is the Sat aspect of reality while Shakti is its Chit aspect. Shiva and Shakti are the transcendent and immanent, static and dynamic, personal and impersonal aspect of reality. There seems to be an apparent opposition between the two. There is no opposition because Sat and Chit become one in Ananda. That is why reality is spoken of as Sacchidananda. The one saving feature of Shiva-yoga is this that it has endeavoured to resolve this apparent opposition not by taking the aspects one after the other but by ascending to a height of spiritual intuition where the two are melted and merged into a perfect whole.

– OM SHANTI | OM SHANTI | OM SHANTIHI –

This article ‘Shiva-yoga and Pineal Gland’ is taken from H.H.Mahatapasvi Shri Kumarswamiji’s book, – ‘Technique of Opening the Third Eye’.