What are the results and foundations of the night-meditation experiment?

A friend has asked, Osho, isn’t the night-meditation experiment simply an exercise in concentration? And what will be the results of this experiment, and what are its foundations?

Keeping the eyes open, fixed, without a blink, is first of all an experiment in resolve: not allowing the eyes to close. To not let the eyes close is an experiment in resolve, in will-power. And if you can keep the eyes open for forty minutes, there will be very broad results. Forty minutes is the span of the human mind’s capacity; that is why in school and college we keep a forty-minute period. Whatever can be done for forty minutes can then be carried much further. If you can keep the eyes open for forty minutes—if this small resolve can be fulfilled—it will have many consequences. First, the result of keeping the eyes open for forty minutes will be that if the eyes have remained open and you have continued to keep them open for that long, your mind’s susceptibility to hypnosis will end at once. You will no…

Someone has asked: What are the signs that the third eye has opened?

Now first close your eyes for two minutes. With folded hands, make a resolve before the Lord. Today is the fourth day; we have to put our full energy into it. With the Lord as witness, I resolve that I will put my whole energy into meditation—one hundred percent, total! With the Lord as witness, I resolve that I will put my whole energy into meditation—one hundred percent, total! With the Lord as witness, I resolve that I will put my whole energy into meditation—one hundred percent, total! Do not save even a bit of yourself; you must be totally immersed. Now open your eyes. For forty minutes, without blinking, look toward me. Energy will awaken within; let it awaken. I will not speak to you; I will signal with my hand. When your energy rises, you have to take it upward. And when your energy rises so high that…

It has also been asked: In this experiment, the strain placed on the eyes for forty minutes—is that in accord with science?

There are many sciences. Physical science may perhaps not agree. But spiritual science has always agreed—and it is with spiritual science that I am speaking here. The approval of physical science carries little weight, because it knows only these two eyes. From working with these two eyes, one discovers that a third eye, between them, can be activated; of this physical science knows nothing. Therefore, naturally, if a father is digging the earth and sowing seeds, his son may ask, “Why are you spoiling these seeds by throwing them into the soil?” Because he knows nothing—that these seeds can sprout. He also does not know that when one seed breaks, a thousand seeds will be born. He knows nothing of what will happen by planting a seed in the ground. Physical science is, in many ways, a child—very new. Its understanding is not that deep. It is extensive, yes; not…

You are not aware of it, but while sitting in a film you often do not blink for hours — that is why the eyes get tired. You are not conscious and the eyes do not blink — hence the fatigue. Whenever you look at anything intently, blinking stops. There is no obstacle. The obstacle is mind-made; because as soon as the mind senses, “This is becoming dangerous — this is an opportunity for my Avidya to break — the whole net will fall if this one leap happens — finished!” — at once the mind will say, “The eyes are utterly tired; have you gone mad? Stop! Blink!” These are the mind’s tricks; be alert to them. No worry; tears will come — good; the eyes will be washed, the tears will be lightened. Do not worry. Thirty minutes — no blinking. That’s one. The experiment will be standing!

Then satsang with the true happens by itself. Now understand two things about the night’s meditation. The night meditation is a practice of tratak — but very unique and very powerful. In the first stage, for fifteen minutes you will gaze at me without blinking. (Sit first — understand first...) Gaze at me fixedly. Do not blink. Do not let the lids fall, even if tears begin to flow. Keep the eyes wholly on me. Both hands are to be raised high during meditation, and you will stand to meditate. I will signal you with my hand. When I signal, you must jump with your total energy — so that the hidden energy within you becomes active. Keep your eyes affixed to me so a link is made with me, so a relationship, a bridge, is created.