Dhyana yoga
Dhyana Meditation
Dhyana yoga is meditation according to the Patanjali Yoga Sutra or the Ashtanga Yoga. The wise sage Patanjali had recommended eight limbs of yoga, which are: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, and Dhyan Samadhi. When a person follows the first four stages, it helps him prepare his body and mind for further meditation. ‘Dhyan yoga’ means a state of mind when it can completely concentrate.
The philosophy behind meditation is that our minds are actually fickle and keeps wavering like a butterfly. We cannot keep our minds still, and our thoughts keep coming at the speed of light. Our minds revert back to past experiences and have a tendency to keep thinking about those. We also worry a lot about the future, and about the present. Our minds seldom can be in a calm and constant state. ‘Dhyan’ or meditation can help you attain a feeling of calm, contentment, tranquility, and concentration. Through meditation one can control the mind.
How to meditate
When you are beginning your meditation practice, you have to choose a target, and focus all you sensory organs on that target. While looking at the target you can recite a mantra or can even listen to chanting.
A target is important as it will prevent the mind from wavering off. It can make the mind more peaceful and serene. For a target you can choose a point on the wall, a picture of a deity, or a particular place in your house. As you keep looking at the target, chant a prayer or dhayana mantra. Give your total concentration to this for 10-15 minutes. When your mind begins to waver, it’s time to end your meditation practice. You will need a lot of practice to meditate seriously.
Some meditation experts believe that the Omkar can be a good target. You can look at the symbol of the Omkar while meditating and chant the sonorous Om or listen to the Omkar. As you keep practicing, meditation will happen more naturally. Later on, you may not even need a target or a picture to focus on while meditating.
The challenge
Initially, meditation is a challenging task as the mind does not have any physical existence. But then the mind is present in our spiritual self and in our bodies, and it is important to acknowledge its presence. Those who deny the presence of the mind can face a lot of problems that are psychological, mental and physical in nature. Through meditation once can control the mind and acknowledge its presence too.
Dhyana yoga is meditation according to the Patanjali Yoga Sutra or the Ashtanga Yoga. The wise sage Patanjali had recommended eight limbs of yoga, which are: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, and Dhyan Samadhi. When a person follows the first four stages, it helps him prepare his body and mind for further meditation. ‘Dhyan yoga’ means a state of mind when it can completely concentrate.
The philosophy behind meditation is that our minds are actually fickle and keeps wavering like a butterfly. We cannot keep our minds still, and our thoughts keep coming at the speed of light. Our minds revert back to past experiences and have a tendency to keep thinking about those. We also worry a lot about the future, and about the present. Our minds seldom can be in a calm and constant state. ‘Dhyan’ or meditation can help you attain a feeling of calm, contentment, tranquility, and concentration. Through meditation one can control the mind.
How to meditate
When you are beginning your meditation practice, you have to choose a target, and focus all you sensory organs on that target. While looking at the target you can recite a mantra or can even listen to chanting.
A target is important as it will prevent the mind from wavering off. It can make the mind more peaceful and serene. For a target you can choose a point on the wall, a picture of a deity, or a particular place in your house. As you keep looking at the target, chant a prayer or dhayana mantra. Give your total concentration to this for 10-15 minutes. When your mind begins to waver, it’s time to end your meditation practice. You will need a lot of practice to meditate seriously.
Some meditation experts believe that the Omkar can be a good target. You can look at the symbol of the Omkar while meditating and chant the sonorous Om or listen to the Omkar. As you keep practicing, meditation will happen more naturally. Later on, you may not even need a target or a picture to focus on while meditating.
The challenge
Initially, meditation is a challenging task as the mind does not have any physical existence. But then the mind is present in our spiritual self and in our bodies, and it is important to acknowledge its presence. Those who deny the presence of the mind can face a lot of problems that are psychological, mental and physical in nature. Through meditation once can control the mind and acknowledge its presence too.