The practice
On a night with no moon, sit somewhere dark with the eyes open and attend to the darkness itself. Not to shapes emerging from it — to the dark. Stay a long time. The verse is specific that duration is what makes this one work.
What it works on
Darkness gives the eye nothing while leaving it open, which is a different condition from closing it. The tradition treats the formless dark as the most available image there is of what has no form at all.
Notes
- Let the eyes adapt, then keep going past the point where shapes appear.
- Somewhere you already feel safe. Nothing here requires being outdoors.
Practise gently
Shoonyaka offers educational and contemplative material, not medical, psychological or religious authority. Nothing here diagnoses or treats any condition. Stop any practice that leaves you dizzy, frightened or unwell, and treat a strong reaction as a reason to rest rather than to push on.