Tratak Kriya  – Top 3 Benefits Of Candle Meditation

While doing meditation your first step is the learn how to focus, Tratak Kriya  also known as Trataka Candle Meditation is one of the techniques described in yogic literature. In this Kriya you learn how to do a steady gazing at a visual object.

The tratak kriya works on your eye muscles, helps improve vision, and strengthens eye muscles.

During the practice, different visual objects are used to focus, like sacred geometry yantras, and candle flame. As you go on practicing by focusing on the visual objects you learn how to connect your external world and corresponding inner identity.

Now when you learn to do any form of meditation it will help you to improve your concentration and it will help you to relax and calm down during busy and fast days.

What Is Tratak Kriya / Trataka Candle Meditation?

Tratak Kriya is also generally known as candle gazing meditation, where you learn how to keep gazing at a flame for a certain duration of time to improve your ability to focus and concentrate.

This is a very simple technique to learn, but it is very powerful, while you keep your eyes open and learn to keep gazing you automatically learn to concentrate.

This Candle/Flame gazing technique has been used and practiced in India for thousands of years, this technique can be found in the ancient text of the Patanjali Yoga Sutra.

Trataka Meditation Using Different Visual Objects

Now you will find that this meditation technique has been embraced and practiced in many spiritual traditions across the world, Tibetan Buddhism & Zen have adopted this meditation technique, they call it “Sky Gazing” and simply “Gazing”.

During this wide adoption, different objects are used during meditation practice. Some people use blank walls or floors as visual objects to practice meditation.

Trataka Meditation – Origin and History

You will find the roots of these meditation techniques in the ancient text of the Patanjali Yoga Sutra, and later it is mentioned in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika.

In India, it has been practiced for thousands of years as a way to improve spiritual awareness and clarity of mind.

Tratak Kriya  – How To Do Candle Gazing Meditation

Tratak Kriya Steps:

• Identify the quite place where you are not disturbed during your mediation session.

• Select the sitting position which is confirmable for you, you can sit on ground or you can make use of chare, ensure while sitting for your meditation session you back is straight.
• Place the Candle/Flame at you eye level based on your sitting position. The distance between you can candle can be of arm’s length (Approx. 2 feet).
• Once you are ready, light the candle and gaze without blinking eyes.
• In the beginning you will find water start coming from your eyes, it’s OK, take a break blink for few times and when you are ok, start your meditation session by gazing at candle without blinking eyes again.
• Make an attempt to bring you mind/thoughts to present movement and concentrate on flame.
• Maintain and feel the smile on your face throughout your meditation practice.
• Continue your session for few minutes. in the beginning and as you become confirmable you can do it for 10-15 minutes.
• At the end of you session close your eyes take a deep breath and try to relax your body and mind.

Remember do it as per your capacity and build your practice gradually, do push yourself or do it in hurry.

Do’s and Don’ts – Trataka Meditation

Do’s:

• During session continue breathing slowly and steady
• Sit straight during meditation session.
• Try to keep your time for session fixed (morning or evening)
• Use a good quality candle with a steady flame
• If you feel water coming out of your eyes, take a break

Don’t:

• Straining your eyes
• Staring at your object for too long, beyond your comfort level.
• Blink too much during meditation session
• Practice in darkness or little light in room
• Bend your back while sitting

Benefits Of Candle Meditation

Physical – Tratak Kriya Benefits

• Relief from eyestrain
• Helps to keep tear glands clean
• Eye muscles become strong
• After session your eye muscles relax
• Skin shows improvement in glow

Mental – Tratak Kriya Benefits

• Improves memory
• Increases self-awareness
• Reduces anxiety
• Improves emotional stability
• sense of well-being 

Spiritual – Tratak Kriya Benefits

• Improves your spiritual awareness
• Improves your meditation practice
• Helps in spiritual growth

FAQ: Trataka Candle Meditation

Do I need a teacher to learn Trataka meditation?

It is recommended to learn the meditation technique from a qualified teacher, especially if you are very new and never done the meditation sessions.

How long should I practice Trataka meditation?

Initially recommended is to do it for 5 min and gradually increased to 15 -20 minutes session, go with your speed.

What should be the distance between me and candle?

Arm’s length, approximately 2 feet is good distance.

Conclusion:

I suggest, start with a few minutes a day and gradually increase the time of your trataka candle meditation sessions.

The most important thing is to enjoy the complete process. As you go this path of self-exploration you will realise your confidence will start increasing.

You can to do it for physical, mental or spiritual benefits of meditation, at the end you will get all the benefits of practice and happiness as an added advantage.

So, if you have come to this reading you are already on the path of finding something for yourself.