These photos were taken of people during or just after a deep and long meditation in Ananda, Assisi. The blue eye is the spiritual eye between the two eyebrows, visualized during their practice. Meditation is no longer considered something which is practiced only by Buddhist monks, Christian contemplatives, and Hindu sadhus. It has become a part of our popular culture because it brings positive and often immediate results. It is recommended by doctors as an effective method for reducing stress and hypertension, for managing physical and emotional pain, and as part of post-surgery rehabilitation. It is being taught to business managers to help them focus effectively on their work and be less anxious about their responsibilities. Ananda Europe is a spiritual community founded in Italy in 1983 in the Umbrian hills, with about eighty residents. People in Ananda meditate several hours a day, and this is reflected in their eyes.
