Anatomy of Vision
Meditation is a key component for one’s spiritual progress on the Path of Return. Today many aspirants make efforts to meditate, but do not truly understand the dynamics of meditation. In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, a 5th Ray text on the science of meditation, Patanjali clearly points out that meditation is a complex undertaking, and not, as many believe, an easy exercise where you let you mind go. There is a definite methodology, a step-by-step process. Reading the words is easy, but accomplishing what they mean is another thing. In the Ashtanga Yoga of the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali indicates that the ‘inner yoga’ is made up of 4 steps; pratyahara (withdrawal), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and samadhi (integration). The first step, pratyahara, withdrawing one’s consciousness to a center point of concentration is in itself a task that truly tests one’s perseverance and patients of practice.
Numerous aspirants while working towards accomplishing this step experience visions. This causes so many aspirants to get excited, then over identify with their experience, making it into something much greater than it is. In fact, visions are not that unique, and generally cause a great inflation of the spiritual ego. Below is a listing with some commentary explaining different types of visions and their value.
This is a general listing of different stages of vision, whether important or not, that could prove helpful in gaining some insights into one’s visions.
1) Seeing various images that appear while meditating. Such images as pyramids, mountains, blue sky, temples, shrines etc. These visions are usually short, sometimes very clear. During the experience, one feels detached as an observer. If you try to have the same vision again, it does not happen. These arise from memory/samskara, and can be awakened through present events. They have little spiritual value.
2) Seeing various images as before, but this time the images are dark and frightening. The colors during the experience are predominantly dark, greys, and grainy dark brown. Again, these are memories/samskara, but from a darker side of one’s being, like the Dweller on the Threshold. They are meant to frighten, awaken doubt and confusion. Ignore them, continue to meditate, do not give in to such an influence.
3) If the image of some being appears and approaches you, but in so doing, a pressure, and a feeling of fear arises spontaneously, then you’ve contacted a very negative force/entity that is attacking you, wanting to steal your spiritual energy/shakti or possibly nest in your aura. This is a dangerous situation. Immediately radiate the Sacred Word ‘OM’ with a blazing golden white fiery light, with intensity to repeal such astral attacks. Do not stop until the entire feeling has dissipated.
4) Visions with an effulgence of light, shinning from above downwards, like the sunlight breaking through the clouds. Such visions evoke a feeling of wonder or awe, with an uplifting, aspiring feeling. These are positive, but still on the astral plane, and of little value, yet shows you are reaching upwards.
5) What does it mean when one sees an image of a teacher? If it’s just an image, it’s created by the sub-conscious/samskaras and wishful thinking. If there is a deep feeling, it’s still a projection from one’s past life/samskaras memory, but is more real with possibilities, as this image is evoking feelings. If the image of the teacher appears with a feeling that looks and feels so real, then this can be a projection from a real teacher on the inner plane. It’s still not the teacher, but a projection, which carries the teacher’s energy/shakti/blessing. This is very positive and a type of contact.
6) If you have a vision that is very hard to remember the next day, then it is not worth much. You’ve enjoyed the vision, now it’s time to let it go. If there is an intensity to the vision, and even a year later you can still taste it, then it is a true vision. Generally, with important visions, one is taught something, either important for their practice or spiritual direction. These are more important visions, and if the guidance is transformative, helping one to make a leap forward, then such a vision is soul based.
7) If you are visualizing a deity, the Buddha, a Master of Wisdom, etc. and all of a sudden, the visualization become very real and stable, know that you have made some type of contact. An alignment has occurred, and the subject of your meditation has responded by projecting their energy and charging your visualization.
The above seven examples are general, and there are many other varieties of visions. Those of samadhi or on the higher planes are different. These are more for those who have been meditating for some time, and have experiences periodically. The esoteric path teaches the sincere aspirant to be discriminating (viveka) in all that one experiences on the Path. Don’t make rash assumptions, and assume a spiritual experience means that you have made great progress.
Numerous aspirants while working towards accomplishing this step experience visions. This causes so many aspirants to get excited, then over identify with their experience, making it into something much greater than it is. In fact, visions are not that unique, and generally cause a great inflation of the spiritual ego. Below is a listing with some commentary explaining different types of visions and their value.
This is a general listing of different stages of vision, whether important or not, that could prove helpful in gaining some insights into one’s visions.
1) Seeing various images that appear while meditating. Such images as pyramids, mountains, blue sky, temples, shrines etc. These visions are usually short, sometimes very clear. During the experience, one feels detached as an observer. If you try to have the same vision again, it does not happen. These arise from memory/samskara, and can be awakened through present events. They have little spiritual value.
2) Seeing various images as before, but this time the images are dark and frightening. The colors during the experience are predominantly dark, greys, and grainy dark brown. Again, these are memories/samskara, but from a darker side of one’s being, like the Dweller on the Threshold. They are meant to frighten, awaken doubt and confusion. Ignore them, continue to meditate, do not give in to such an influence.
3) If the image of some being appears and approaches you, but in so doing, a pressure, and a feeling of fear arises spontaneously, then you’ve contacted a very negative force/entity that is attacking you, wanting to steal your spiritual energy/shakti or possibly nest in your aura. This is a dangerous situation. Immediately radiate the Sacred Word ‘OM’ with a blazing golden white fiery light, with intensity to repeal such astral attacks. Do not stop until the entire feeling has dissipated.
4) Visions with an effulgence of light, shinning from above downwards, like the sunlight breaking through the clouds. Such visions evoke a feeling of wonder or awe, with an uplifting, aspiring feeling. These are positive, but still on the astral plane, and of little value, yet shows you are reaching upwards.
5) What does it mean when one sees an image of a teacher? If it’s just an image, it’s created by the sub-conscious/samskaras and wishful thinking. If there is a deep feeling, it’s still a projection from one’s past life/samskaras memory, but is more real with possibilities, as this image is evoking feelings. If the image of the teacher appears with a feeling that looks and feels so real, then this can be a projection from a real teacher on the inner plane. It’s still not the teacher, but a projection, which carries the teacher’s energy/shakti/blessing. This is very positive and a type of contact.
6) If you have a vision that is very hard to remember the next day, then it is not worth much. You’ve enjoyed the vision, now it’s time to let it go. If there is an intensity to the vision, and even a year later you can still taste it, then it is a true vision. Generally, with important visions, one is taught something, either important for their practice or spiritual direction. These are more important visions, and if the guidance is transformative, helping one to make a leap forward, then such a vision is soul based.
7) If you are visualizing a deity, the Buddha, a Master of Wisdom, etc. and all of a sudden, the visualization become very real and stable, know that you have made some type of contact. An alignment has occurred, and the subject of your meditation has responded by projecting their energy and charging your visualization.
The above seven examples are general, and there are many other varieties of visions. Those of samadhi or on the higher planes are different. These are more for those who have been meditating for some time, and have experiences periodically. The esoteric path teaches the sincere aspirant to be discriminating (viveka) in all that one experiences on the Path. Don’t make rash assumptions, and assume a spiritual experience means that you have made great progress.
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