Beyond 20/20 Vision in 2020

Some wishes for the New Year: Wishing you healthy eyes, and the ability to see all that is illuminated in your field of vision. Wishing you also clear vision beyond ordinary eyesight. Drishti is a Sanskrit word that refers to expanded vision in the yogic tradition.

True sight is the ability to see around and through the masked fragmented reality, and that which creates the illusion of separation.

This sense of liberated vision is also found in Buddhist Iconography. If you look at some of the stupas, or Buddhist shrines, in Nepal, such as Swayambhunath Temple in Nepal on the left, one can see giant pairs of eyes staring out from the four sides of the main tower. These are called Wisdom Eyes, and are often drawn with a swirly design just below to represent the concept of the number one. These eyes look out in each direction, encompassing the entire landscape an all beings within it in the field of enlightened vision.

I'm really liking this 20/20 in 2020 vision theme, so here's another mystical eye: The Eye of Horus, the ancient Egyptian sky god, who was part falcon. His right eye was associated with Ra, the god of the sun, and the left eye with the moon.

The Eye of Horus was a symbol of protection that was painted on ships and said to be able to guide one in the underworld. We see many other mythological associations between the eyes and the transmission of otherworldly knowing, protection, and power into the earthly realm.

Yogis may cultivate drishti in a literal sense, using the 9 drishtis taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, including Urdhva or antara drishti—up to the sky, and pairing them with appropriate asana. This is one of many methods to purify the visionary channels. These sacred symbols and yogic practices are encoded reminders of our connection to all beings, and can be tools to build empathy and compassion towards ourselves and others. Practice stepping back to take in the big picture, pausing to feel gratitude, and open your wisdom eyes in 2020!