Yoga of Perfect Sight

Concentration and Relaxation

What is concentration? The dictionary says concentration is an effort to keep the mind fixed on a point or to fix the gaze on one point or on one letter or an object. Such a thing is impossible and always causes great strain and those who practise it suffer from imperfect sight and mental strain, and then lose the power of concentration. Their memory, imagination and sight are affected. For example, concentrate your mind and eyes on a part of a big letter of the Snellen test card at ten feet, the gaze fixed at one point. Within a few minutes you will observe that the vision begins to blur, the strain in the eyes and mind becomes evident.

But if by concentration you mean doing or seeing one thing better than anything else, and shifting the sight from one part to another, then you may speak of concentration: it is then central fixation. For example, look at a small letter on the Snellen test card and shift the sight from side to side; observe that the letter appears to make short movements from side to side and the part regarded appears best. This kind of concentration is immensely beneficial to the mind and eyes. Recent psychology gives a new interpretation to concentration. Attention underlies concentration. The state of attention which seems to be continuous is in reality intermittent; the object of attention is merely a centre, the point to which attention returns again and again. All parts of the objects, and then the reflections inspired by these various parts hold our interest by turns. Even when the attention is fixed on the most trifling material object. it works in just the same fashion. This is entirely according to central fixation as described by Dr. Bates.

There are two aspects of concentration—voluntary and involuntary. Voluntary concentration is an effort and cannot be maintained without fatigue: our thought holds the object in focus. Whereas in involuntary concentration there is no effort, the object holds our thought without our volition as in contemplation and meditation or in central fixation.

Involuntary concentration and relaxation are the same thing. Relaxation of the passive kind usually ends in sleep or sleepiness, as experienced by many patients in palming. Relaxation combined with action as usually one experiences in swinging, central fixation and white line of fine print is also free from effort and strain when done properly.

Another thing about relaxation: obstacles to relaxation may prove sources of relaxation. An instance of which is found in the noise that is keeping us awake when wishing to go to sleep. If we sufficiently relax, if we accept the disturbance and sleep in spite of it. not only is the obstacle overcome, but, because it is overcome, it in turn becomes rather pleasantly associated with going to sleep. When again we desire to sleep, we find the noise soothing rather than annoying, and really a source of relaxation instead of an obstacle to it.