The eye represents the third eye or Intuition. Intuition is not just about predicting the future and nor should it be confused with our wishful thinking or desires. It is usually presumed that only Mystics and Psychics are intuitive but this assumption rests on a huge misconception. Intuition is within all of us and sometimes we do have certain gut-feeling in the purest form regardless of how awakened we may be. This third eye or the intuition is within everyone, waiting to be accessed. Another misconception may be that there is one separate ātma (or soul or self) inside every individual’s body that transmigrates. But in the Upanishads and Vedanta it is roughly distinguished into three – Jivātman, Ātman and Parmātman. Jivātman is the individual self; which divides everything into subject-object duality and gives rise to the ‘ego’ or I-ness.

The subject is pure and witness consciousness (Sakshi) while object is the internal instrument or antahkarana – (which may be the connecting bridge between body and spirit) which arises due to ignorance. Parmātman and Ātman are used interchangeably when referring to the transcendental aspect of the Self. But there may be a slight distinction : Ātman is the universal essence deep within us while Parmātman is the the supreme ‘Self’ or the ‘Brahman’, the Ultimate Reality. For example : the Ātman may be equated to the space inside a jar (the body) while Brahman may be equated to the space outside the jar. Moon, here, is symbolic of Jivātma because just as how Moon shines from a borrowed light of the sun, similarly the Jivātma shines from the borrowed light of the ‘Self’ or ‘Parmātma. Here, the intuition or the third eye is observing the Jivātma trapped in the veil of Ignorance since numerous past lifetimes and many more to come. The ignorance or avidya gives rise to Suffering; be it our day to day suffering or in the form of an endless cycle of birth and death. The tears may represent the Amrit (or nectar) which is essential for the Jivātma in order to obtain immortality i.e. by realization of the Parmātman. Besides, in the scientific era, we are very accustomed to operate within the plane of intellect – rationality and logical reasoning. Anything below or above the intellect isn’t given much importance. But intellect (and reason) too is limited as it cannot show us the ultimate truth. However, it cannot be disregarded either as it does play an important role in the journey of Self-Realization. It needs to be properly trained in all walks of life(s) and once sharpened enough, intuitive realizations starts occurring.

Moreover, knowledge arises out of the intellect while intuition gives rise to wisdom in its purest form. Intuition lies somewhere beyond the intellect which although above reason never contradicts reason. It comes in like a flash of lightening and illumines everything just like the ray of the sun. Therefore, Intuitive experiences should be given more emphasis especially in today’s world where ‘suffering’ is the common theme of life.

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