Hi,
I came here from drew's blog, or one of his blogs. I've been training for some time in the system developed by Dr Samuel Sagan for Awakening the Third Eye as an aspect of a spiritual path. I've read a number of posts and would like to make some comment and also correct quickly some statements about Dr Sagan on this thread (although it's off topic so will be brief).
I cannot give the most efficient method for Awakening the Third Eye because I think that methods that would work differ between people AND what spiritual context, path you are on and what you are trying to achieve. There are many paths and things you can do with your subtle bodies so what path you are on does determine how you activate and awaken your subtle organs.
What I can do is state/ outline some things that Dr Sagan does and from my own experience of these techniques make some comment. A word first about the Third Eye as I perceive it and how I've been trained about it (as ideas differ). I see the Third Eye as a tunnel that goes from the centre of the eyebrows to the rear of the head Occiput. In some experiences I've had it projects out further from the front of the head, and rear actually. As it is a tunnel there are many centres along it or stations that you can tune into, or centre your consciousness on. The main one is called in our system the Atom and this is in the centre of the head between the ears. The Third Eye is a non-physical organ of energy, it is subtle body - as such it is not the pineal gland, nor is it the pituitary gland as they are physical organs. However the placement of the pineal and pituitary glands is such that there is likely interaction between the physical gland and the non-physical organ of the third eye so they could be said to be related.
1. Awareness.
On reflection of the question "What's the most efficient method to awaken the third eye?" I instantly think of the answer - Awareness. Generally with subtle body building awareness is the key to structuring the subtle organ and getting it to awaken. Most practice based spiritual systems use awareness in one way or another to transform. One thing that Dr Sagan teaches is to be dynamically aware in the eye. I'm not a Buddhist but the term dynamic awareness has similarities to mindfulness. You put Will into keeping your awareness in the Eye or part of the Eye whilst you are in the world as a practice. In fact Dr Sagan teaches that Dynamic Awareness is one of the most powerful techniques of Awakening and I've heard him lecture on some full on experiences he had when pushing dynamic awareness when he was doing his full time practices. For example when driving your car, be in the Eye. When washing up dishes, be in the Eye. When walking along, be in the Eye. Every time you go through a doorway, remind yourself to be in the Eye. When you talk to a person or listen to them in a conversation, be in the Eye.
2. Meditation
Holding awareness and developing involution power whilst in the centres of the Eye can and do develop it. My own personal experience of my third eye has changed dramatically. In the system I've been taught in, the centre of the third eye tunnel is the Atom. I have been meditating with my awareness in the Atom a fair bit over the last 10 years and there is definitely something in the centre of my head now, structured which was not there before. I can rest on this. For me it is like a sphere, I can involute (go inside into) this fluid dimensional sphere and move into feelings of relaxation, stillness and silence. There is also this effect where this centre actually pulls you further inside - we call this the Atom effect.
3. Music
Dr Sagan uses music to structure the third eye. From my own experience this is a highly effective method to awaken and structure the Third Eye. The music Dr Sagan uses to structure the third eye is not channelled as I've seen posted in this thread. He basically used his own awareness and mastery of his own subtle bodies and organs to create sound organically that actually affects the Third Eye and stimulates it. The technique used is to place your Awareness on what we call the 'Frontal Eye' which is the area in between the eye brows. When the music is played you listen to it from the Frontal Eye as if the Frontal Eye is a membrane that receives the music as touch - so you are not really listening to the music, you are feeling the music using the Frontal Eye. This can lead to all sorts of experiences - Synesthesia - or sense mixing up occurs where you can actually feel the music and see shapes in the music. The music comes at you as shapes (probably you are seeing the music as Astral forces). You can also from the Frontal Eye membrane - let the music flow right through your Chi body (we call this the etheric body - same thing) and have interesting effects on your energy.
Try listening to high quality Classical Music with high quality speakers and see which ones affect and stimulate your Third Eye the most. Try Bach and Mozart.
4. Throat Friction
I don't think this technique is well known, however it seriously structures the Third Eye. Why? The throat friction technique as outlined in the book 'Awakening the Third Eye' see the links in the other posts - activates the forces of the larynx which some occultists consider to be a Master organ for the future of humanity. It carries highly Vertical forces of consciousness and when you do throat friction it activates the mysterious forces of this subtle organ. The larynx of energy when merged, or applied to other structures of energy - has a transforming effect on them. It literally structures and chisels the subtle organs into a more sophisticated, awakened state. Of course you need to practice for a while before you actually Master this technique, but still, it is outlined in the ATE book as a beginning practice, even though it is a Master practice. I've been practicing throat friction for ten years and when I have instructed students in classes or intensives on the throat and larynx of energy I am continually amazed at the Power inherent in this organ of energy. In my opinion from my practice I would recommend this technique as a way of Awakening the Third Eye.
5. Actively Engaging the Third Eye.
You can Awaken the Third Eye by using it, or trying to. Practice tuning into objects and sensing the qualities of the thing, beyond the physical appearance. Tune into trees, people, rocks, minerals, buildings, landscapes, stars, the moon etc from the third eye. (Again this is Awareness in action - but it works). Try sitting in front of a mirror and do eye contact with yourself and your reflection. See if you can sense a third eye lock occurring when you are geared into your reflection, like a non=physical bridge occurring between your third eye and your reflections third eye - your third eye's are locked. Try doing this practice with another person sitting in front of you. This seriously awakens your third eye because you are using it. It is like muscles, use it or lose it.
Hope this helps, happy to say more if it is worth it and listen to any responses to what I have said.
Oh and quick correction to one of drew's statements about Dr Sagan.
Dr Sagan does have a PHd in Medicine just the same as you get a Phd in any discipline. First he became a medical doctor, ie Bachelor of Medicine or whatever they call it in Paris - from Paris 5 university not Sorbonne. The Sorbonne was where he studied Sanskrit. His topic of his Phd which is original research on a topic of medicine being Chakras and the body of the energy in the Indian System. He also has a degree in Homeopathy and a degree in Acupuncture. The person he trained under in Chinese Medicine was Master Tam Long.
You must remember though, that Dr Sagan is a practiced based spiritual teacher. Everything he learned about the subtle bodies came through Mastering them by practice, practice, practice = not reading books about them. Theory and models inform experience, they don't dictate it, otherwise you have dogma and religion and no-one really experiences things for themselves. So whilst he is highly scholarly and learned, his Esoteric Knowledge was gained through years of meditation and spiritual practice. Which I note is a major theme amongst many posts on this site and why I feel comfortable landing here and having discussions with people about stuff.
