trataka means A form of meditation that involves staring at a single point or object. It carries an Arena rating of 1292, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, trataka ranks #2,867 of 17,149 for Most Exacting Words, #3,654 of 17,138 for Most Incisive Words, #3,796 of 17,124 for Most Sublime Words, #5,552 of 17,126 for Most Elegant Words.
Why “trataka” is a great word
TRATAKA — [Noun] A yogic meditation technique involving steady, unwavering gazing at a single external point to develop concentration. From Sanskrit त्राटक (trāṭaka), from the root त्रट् (traṭ), meaning 'to gaze' or 'to look steadily'. Unlike *dhyana* (which denotes a deeper, often internalized absorption) or *shamatha* (which cultivates calm abiding through varied objects of focus), trataka is a preliminary, physical anchoring of the wandering mind. It is the fixed pupil swallowing the dance of a single flame, the patient vigil held before a distant star, or the unblinking observance of a black dot on a white wall—a training of attention so austere it becomes an architecture for the mind.
Etymology
Sanskrit त्राटक (trāṭaka)
noun
- A form of meditation that involves staring at a single point or object.e.g.“The method is divided into two parts: outer trataka on the candle and then inner trataka on the after-image.” — 2002, Acharya Bhagwan Dev, Meditation Yoga, page 57:
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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