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GLOSSARY

Urna

A coil of hair on the forehead (often depicted as a jewel), one of the traditional identifying aspects of a Buddha. A spiral or circular dot placed on the forehead of Buddhist images as an auspicious mark. It symbolizes a third eye, which in turn symbolizes vision into the divine world; a sort of ability to see past our mundane universe of suffering.

The Urna - is commonly seen as a dot; occasionally spiralled, or set with a gem. This single dot on the forehead is a traditional marking still worn by Indian women today. Some say that it is the 'third eye' or the sixth chakra - which opens to give wisdom and divine vision of truth. When you close your eyes what can you see? Can you see your feelings? Can you see your thoughts, your breath? This is not really seeing, it is knowing. What sees the darkness, when the lights go out?

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