Concentration and the Centres of Energy in the Subtle Body

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People constantly ask whether
they should concentrate focused

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in the heart, between the
eyebrows or above the head.

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The short answer is yes.
Each centre of concentration

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relies on a different power of
action.

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In the end, what is more
important is the action of

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concentration itself.
An individual will find that one

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or another of these centres of
concentration provides an

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opening or a more powerful
action, and he will naturally

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set his focus in that area.
It is also true, however, that

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at different times in the
progress of the sadhana, the

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concentration will naturally
shift from 1:00 to another

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centre, depending on the need of
that particular passage in the

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course of the spiritual growth.
There are other centers of

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concentration that may find
their place in the development

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of concentration for different
aims or purposes.

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For the sodic of the integral
yoga, focusing on the psychic

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and spiritual transformation
called for in that yoga, the

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three noted above are the most
usual and the most useful.

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Other spiritual paths have
focused on other centers.

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For instance, the practices of
Kundalini yoga seek to awaken

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the serpent power sleeping at
the base of the spine in the

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first chakra.
Certain Chinese paths have

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focused in concentration
centered in the solar plexus.

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Sriorobendo notes quote.
One can concentrate in any of

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the three centers which is
easiest to the sodic or gives

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most result.
The power of the concentration

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in the heart center is to open
that centre and by the power of

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aspiration, love, bhakti,
surrender.

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Remove the veil which covers and
conceals the soul and bring

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forward the soul or psychic
being to govern the mind, life

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and body and turn and open them
all fully to the Divine,

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removing all that is opposed to
that turning and opening.

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This is what is called in this
Yoga the psychic transformation.

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The power of concentration above
the head is to bring peace,

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silence, liberation from the
body, sense the identification

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with mind and life, and open the
way for the lower mental vital

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physical consciousness to rise
up to meet the higher

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consciousness above, and for the
powers of the higher spiritual

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nature consciousness to descend
into mind, life and body.

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This is what is called in this
Yoga the spiritual

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transformation.
If one begins with this

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movement, then the power from
above has in its descent to open

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all the centres, including the
lowest centre, and to bring out

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the psychic being.
For until that is done, there is

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likely to be much difficulty and
struggle of the lower

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consciousness obstructing,
mixing with or even refusing the

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divine action from above.
If the psychic being is once

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active, this struggle and these
difficulties can be greatly

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minimized.
The power of concentration in

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the eyebrows is to open the
centre there, liberate the inner

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mind and vision and the inner or
yogic consciousness and its

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experiences and powers.
From here also one can open

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upwards and act also in the
lower centres.

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But the danger of this process
is that one may get shut up in

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one's mental spiritual
formations and not come out of

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them into the free and integral
spiritual experience and

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knowledge and the integral
change of the being and nature.

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End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the

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Mother Powers within, Chapter 4
concentration, pages 45 to 46.