Dharana 13 of 112 · verse 36

Closing the Gates

A light appears at the brow, then the senses of the head are gently closed.

Recorded, not taught

Shoonyaka does not offer this one as a guided practice. It is here because the collection is of all one hundred and twelve, and leaving it out would misrepresent the text.

Before you try this

Not offered as a guided practice here. Closing the nostrils restricts breathing, and the technique is traditionally given in person with supervision. Do not improvise it from a written description.

The practice

This dharana asks the practitioner to bring attention to the brow until a light is perceived, then to use the fingers to close the openings of the face — ears, eyes, nostrils, mouth — so that the light dissolves and attention has nowhere outward to go.

What it works on

A classical sealing practice, and one of the places where the text assumes a teacher in the room. The physical closing of the nostrils makes it a breath-restricting technique, and the traditional versions are taught with careful limits on duration that the verse itself does not spell out.

Notes

  • Shoonyaka presents this dharana for study. The related practice of simply closing the ears with the thumbs and listening inward, without touching the nose, is offered separately and is safe to try.

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.