Tratak - Developing One-pointed Focus Concentration

Many spiritual seekers often ask me how they can develop their magical and psychic abilities,
how they can experience the "other" worlds and dimensions that some mystics and magicians
have access to. I can only speak based on my own experiences. For many years I have been
practicing a method of one-pointed focus concentration called "Tratak". It is an old technique
that has been recorded in many Yogic meditation manuals. The word "Tratak" means fixed
gazing at an object. It can be done with any object such as a candle flame, a dot on the wall, a
statue, a yantra, or even the picture of a mentor. Tibetans like to do it with the Tibetan letter
"AH" in their "Zhine" meditation method.
As I said any object can be used. But there is one object that I have found very useful in my
own practice, and it is doing Tratak on a flame, which is called "Jyoti Tratak". A flame is a
living form of energy and I find it very useful in this practice. You can use either a clarified
butter (ghee) lamp, an oil lamp, or a candle flame to focus on.
Instructions:
1. Place a lit candle (or other flame object) about 3 feet away on a stool or small table in a
dark or dimly-lit room.
2. Sit on the floor or on a chair with your back straight. Breathe very slowly, holding your
breath still for a few seconds between breaths.
3. Gaze at the flame continuously trying not to blink.
4. Keep gazing at the center of the flame. When thoughts come into your head, brush them
aside and put your attention back on the flame.
5. When your eyes tear up (which they most likely will), keep on focusing on the flame.
When you can no longer keep your eyes open, close them for a minute or two and focus on
the after-glow of the flame, keeping the image still on your forehead.
6. Open your eyes and continue focusing again for a couple of minutes. Close your eyes for a
couple of minutes when necessary.
7. Repeat this procedure for 10 minutes total a day for the first month. Gradually increase it
to 20-30 minutes a day.
What will happen as you practice this technique? You may start seeing a halo around the
candle, or flickering lights, or even tiny colored balls of light. As you gradually develop in
concentration you will come to a point where you will feel yourself withdrawing from all your
senses, and where only you and the flame remain. Your mind will enter into a state of inner
silence. There may come a point where you merge your consciousness completely with the
flame where you feel you are one with it. When you can do that at will, you would have
mastered this technique. You can then move on to other objects and even advance to doing it
with Yantras, which geometrically represent the bodies of different deities.
As you continue practicing this exercise your powers of concentration will increase
exponentially. You would come to a point where you can think one thought or hold one image
continuously in your mind. Successful magic(k) and even meditation requires one-pointed
focus. This exercise will assist you in getting there. It may also allow you to open up your
Third Eye (clairvoyance), and some studies show that it is helpful in healing minor eye
ailments as well as improving one's vision.