Navel gazing

{{Short description|Meditation aided by looking at the navel}}

Navel-gazing is the contemplation of one's navel as an aid to meditation.{{MerriamWebsterDictionary|omphaloskepsis|access-date=2013-06-22}} The word omphaloskepsis derives from the Ancient Greek words {{lang|grc|ὀμφᾰλός}} ({{Transliteration|grc|omphalós}}, {{Literal translation|navel|lk=on}}) and {{lang|grc|σκέψῐς}} ({{Transliteration|grc|sképsis}}, {{Literal translation|viewing, examination, speculation}}).

Actual use of the practice as an aid to contemplation of basic principles of the cosmos and human nature is found in the practice of yoga or Hinduism and sometimes in the Eastern Orthodox Church.{{cite book |last=Becker |first=Udo |url=https://archive.org/details/continuumencyclo00beck |title=The Continuum Encyclopedia of Symbols |publisher=Continuum International |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-8264-1221-8 |page=210 |url-access=registration}} In yoga, the navel is the site of the manipura (also called nabhi) chakra, which yogis consider "a powerful chakra of the body".{{cite book| title=Whispers beyond the Edge| first=Royal L.| last=Craig| publisher=Xlibris| year=2010| page=99| isbn=978-1-4500-7972-3}}{{Self-published inline|certain=yes|date=January 2018}}{{cite book |last=Norbu |first=Chogyal Namkhai |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z7xvDwAAQBAJ |title=Yantra Yoga |publisher=Snow Lion |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-55939-308-9 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Z7xvDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA15 15] |url-access=limited}} The monks of Mount Athos, Greece, were described as Omphalopsychians by J.G. Millingen, writing in the 1830s, who says they "...pretended or fancied that they experienced celestial joys when gazing on their umbilical region, in converse with the Deity".{{cite book |url=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/39074/39074-h/39074-h.htm#Page_40 |title=Curiosities of Medical Experience |publisher=Richard Bentley |edition=2nd |date=1839 |location=London |first=J.G. |last=Millingen |page=40 |access-date=2 March 2018 |archive-date=3 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303105651/http://www.gutenberg.org/files/39074/39074-h/39074-h.htm#Page_40 |url-status=live }}