Tratak - Experience, Results, Views

 

Tratak ( त्राटक ) is traditionally one of the Shatkarmas — the six yogic purification processes. It is also used in Tantra as a method of focused meditation. In simple language, it means fixing your gaze on a single point — a black dot, a yantra, a symbol like Om, a flame, a deity image, a star, the moon, even your own reflection. But reducing it to “staring at a candle” is an oversimplification. Tratak is not about the object. It is about concentrating all your scattered energies into one point — just like focusing sunlight through a convex lens. It is like collecting funds from multiple bank accounts into one account for a single transaction. Energy is never unlimited for a human — it is limited by how much one can harness. From a higher perspective, potential is infinite. From a human perspective, it is bound by capacity.

Tratak helps tap into that hidden capacity. Dr. Franz Anton Mesmer conceptualized a fragment of this energetic principle, which later evolved into Mesmerism and then Hypnotism. Mesmerism is to hypnotism what alchemy is to chemistry — the same root, different refinement. For us, it is all about Prana. The manipulation, containment, and direction of Pranic force. However, this force does not operate well in unstable or weak mental structures. A disturbed or fragmented mind cannot hold charge. The real principle, when properly cultivated, can influence far beyond ordinary limits — but the container must be stable. Traditionally, Tratak is practiced after other Shatkarmas:
Vasti, Dhauti, Nauli, Neti, Kapalbhati — then Tratak.

It can be done on:

A black dot , A flame (preferably ghee), A yantra, A tree, A deity murti, A red cloth, A mirror , The sun (with proper method) , The moon , Stars

But it strains the eyes. And it demands discipline. Sour foods, excessive spice, meat, intoxication, anger, ego, falsehood — all dissipate the very energy you are trying to gather.

On Powers and Misconceptions

The powers associated with it are also unlimited, you can increase your will power, sense people, their incoming pendencies, connect to deities, watch deities, yakshas, gandharvas, watch events of the past, control animals, defeat opponents, influence people, time-compression since you can experience time on a very slower level and speed it up to a level. It's all about levels and also your natural existence should become an ideal self to hold onto such divine powers or else powers will come and skip or exit you in one way or another. It's not impossible to accomplish everything but everything takes time and can do some or little to rise higher each day. I will now list experiences that will enable you how one has experienced ( if any experience in my friend circle, that also will try to include) it in his life, given that I live life in the world like any other normal being.

Early Exposure

In the early stages, there was a blessed Yoga teacher in our school who taught us to do Point-Tratak, on a sheet with a black dot and attach that sheet on a wall and sit at a level where we can see it at the same level of ours eyes. He came once a week and used to make us do it for 1 minute at a streach and eyes used to shed tears and we used to wash it afterwards to sooth the eyes. He was just a 6 month thing and next guy just made us to normal exercises. Then in later years around 10th, a guy from Bihar used to make fun of the whole class in a battle of eye-staring and holding breath and he was a winner. We could not hold it more than 20-30 seconds and watch his eyes longer than 1 minutes or soo; one guy did a 2 minute battle and lost it. Eyes are the window to our soul or so is told, but in later years we came to know that eye-staring also shows how much a person is capable; say a guy who's 10/10 athletic body and a giant can fall to a small, thin ordinary guy in this. It's like matching bank balance from our different bank accounts to see who holds a higher balance in total. I have never done that sheet dot thing but it's a most easier one to access the infinite.

The 50-Day Attempt

Then in my 20s, a friend was so adamant to do it and he finally did that sheet-dot thing for 1 hour every day for almost 50 days and it was going well and he had taken a due care of his eyes. On the day he stopped was the day when he actually sat and when he started focusing , he saw that the sheet, dot and everything went blank and he couldnt even see the room itself. Everything was black and in a moment, he could see the room back. He chickened out. It's like momentum, either you have the weight or the speed. If you cannot match the speed, weight might be an edge for you and vice versa for your momentum. You need MOMENTUM, either by your abilities/pranas from birth or your daily practice even if you're a newbie. Some did training in gym to build the body for the Wrestling match while some just trimmed their already-made body by shaping it a bit; last of all is your will power, your inherent will to stand no-matter what.

After Dhumavati Upasana

People are just so contrained and fall or run to get such an experience. But on another hand, when I started with Dhumavati Upasana - it was somehow you unlocked a part of the flow where the energy overload is so expansive , not just in thoughts but also a power that feels coming out of one's eyes. People ask me million questions to start with their Dhumavati Upasana, but I dont recommend anything because what I have done or experienced may break some poor souls out of their ever-query-oriented minds. I do not like anything written on Dhumavati, none of her Shabar mantras, strotras, dhyan, book mantras intereset me; just the one mantra I fell in love with - love that isnt mental or physical but oriented to just chanting. It gives me immense circle of happiness. So if you're reading this article dont think of just jumping for Dhumavati Upasana. Sharing what all has been experienced in terms of the topic after I had already done a lot in terms of Dhumavati Upasana. I could keep my eyes open without blinking indefinitely, I have to think and blink myself - it doesnt blink on auto-mode.

The Wall Incident

Once sitting outside a shop with friends and talking, I was focusing randomly on a painted wall in front of me and after a while I could see the paint and writings written below the first layer. The second layer was dimly open to normal eyes but the focused gaze could just see the entire second level of wall. While holding the second level of wall, I could now see the third level with clarity. Just couldnt keep holding the view and somehow I was back at the main wall itself.

The 45-Minute Lock

On a second occasion, I was in deep South and with my friend we went to a group of old and young guys working on Pyramid related products and out of the blue, a guy with a 7 years of experience into Meditation wanted to do an eye-staring competition after we discussed how edge is somewhat made on a internal blade and not the means to achieve it. We did it for fun and somehow that 45+ guy locked in a competition that never seemed to end. Eyes open and red, both sides with tears flowing outwards but we never played it like kids mocking each other, it was a fine thing with no mockery but somehow it did not seem to end. I asked Mother Pratyangira to end it for now it seemed almost eternity and he blinked; and it was 45 minutes. Dont come here to comment how Mother helped you to cheat, she listens and helps for everything to someone who doesnt keep nagging her for just whatever the world is already asking her day and night. You keep a million things in your worship in order to revert a Kriya or Abhichar or do a little big feast to remove possession; where there 90% times isnt actual possession or Kriya; Devi Mata Pratyangira does it all in just a minute or less with almost nothing offered - she's that Alpha, Omega.

The 2-Hour Encounter

In this story what's being outlined will teach you almost a basic of lot many things. I was visiting North at a family , it was a short visit and all were professors and teachers. A neighbour Principal was also in the room and during the preparation of lunch, I was being smart and told that Prinicipal that one should work on internal processes and keep checking the parameters through the eyes. Eyes will give you all information on your progress and somehow the topic went to Tratak and how eye-gazing is an aid to check it amongst one's circle of spiritual friends. So it was decided to be done between the Principal and me. Old lad appered almost ready to loose and when it started, nothing made sense. I have been to almost travelled or lived in most part of India and somehow when it started after almost few minutes or so I could see some lady same as that lad's outline. Instead of the old lad, I could see a village lady from central part of India. Then another male villager. Almost 10-15 faces with complete outline of body kept coming. All almost angry-outlines, some had like a fight scar on face or neck. I could most definitely focus on their dresses, saris and colors but Old lad wasnt visible. It all almost went for good 2-3 minutes and I had to keep eyes open and stare at that direction. Soon it was just Old Lad. It went almost infinitely and due to my just tiniest arrogance that this guy is defeatable, I hardly asked Mother or anyone to defeat the guy. When finally I told him that he blinked, he was like he did not. I reminded him that yes, he has blinked and that's why I am telling him. He finally accepted and started blinking and so I could relax my gaze and it was almost 2.15 hours. I havent again done this kind of stupidity where just to prove power, I would lock eyes with just anyone. So I asked him if he's done anything. He had done a session in Bombay back in the days on candle, tratak on a candle. Now I finally understood why Guru always warned to not do it on flames of oils other than Ghee. In case Ghee is not available, try Mustard Oil or Til Oil but nothing else. The tamsik, rajsik and satvik aspects matters.

Final Word

Do not overestimate your capacity. Do not chase visions. Protect your eyes. If necessary, practice mental Tratak — internal visualization without physical strain. Momentum is everything. Without it, force collapses. With it, perception rearranges. Proceed carefully. Don't expect fast results without keeping precautions and overeastimating your inner current flow of energy. Take care of eyes. Do Mental Tratak if you must.

You can start Tratak safely by making a black coin sized dot on a white sheet and place/stick it at the level of your eyes in your pooja/meditation room. 5 minutes , twice in a day to start with. Wash your eyes with water afterwards.