The Third Eye - Gateway to the Paranormal?

The spiritual concept of a "third eye" refers to one's unique capacity to reach a higher level of consciousness. Within this state, a person is more prone to visions and out-of-body experiences, and may possess clairvoyance, precognition, and the ability to visualize ghosts and other paranormal phenomena. In Hinduism and Buddhism, the third eye symbolizes enlightenment. In Taoism and other Chinese religious sects, it is the pathway to an advanced state of meditation and universal harmony. Regardless of the third eye's spiritual source, one common thread shared is its anatomical location: centered between the brow. Coincidentally, the pineal gland resides on the same latitude, albeit further within the cranium, at the geometric center of the deep brain. Could this supposed gateway to the paranormal be related to an anatomical structure and physiological process?

Rene Descartes, renowned French philosopher, mathematician and scientist labeled the pineal gland the "seat of the soul;" the point at which intellect and the body connect. Ancient Greeks believed it served as the connection to realms of thought. When this diminutive organ of the endocrine system is stimulated, the pineal gland was alleged to elevate a person's level of awareness. Whereas the normal level of consciousness is primarily concerned with identity and self, a higher functioning pineal gland could presumably allow one to bypass the ego and achieve a heightened, or extra-sensory, perception, drawing irrevocable comparison to the spiritual concept of the third eye.

Located deep within the center of the brain between two hemispheres, the pineal gland's primary function is to produce melatonin, a hormone that chemically regulates the sleep-wake cycle by causing drowsiness and lowering body temperature. Increased melatonin levels, like those effected by exogenous supplements, are even said to produce a mild hypnotic effect. The resulting dream-like state created by an overly-stimulated pineal gland may provide insight into what happens when the third eye is "activated." A person with an active pineal gland can theoretically have a sharp increase in their melatonin level, become entranced in a semi-hypnotic state, and ultimately lose sight of the real world. Consequently, this altered mental state may create a feeling of extra-sensory perception and engender hallucinations that blur into the person's reality.

Though it remains unproven, the pineal gland may also be the culprit behind producing the chemical dimethyltryptamine (DMT) found in trace amounts within every human brain. DMT, a psychotropic chemical usually found in certain plants, is said to induce dreams, near-death experiences, deep meditation, and hallucinations. It is often used in South American shamanic practices, though it is banned in the United States. The actual source of endogenous DMT within the brain remains unknown. However, the ramifications of elevated levels of a self-produced perception-altering chemical cannot be ignored and warrants further study.

Whether it is a spiritual portal to a higher realm of existence, an overactive hormone-producing organ, or the result of an abnormal amount of an endogenous psychotropic chemical, the third eye plays a vital role in understanding paranormal phenomena. Unlocking its secret may be the missing link to explaining the mysteries of the unknown.