According to the Hindu Yoga Sutra dhyana is one of the eight methods of
YogaYoga refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India. The word is associated with meditative practices in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. In Hinduism, it also refers to one of the six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy, and to the goal toward which that school directs...
, (the other seven methods are
YamaA yama यम, literally "death", is a rule or code of conduct for living which will help bring a compassionate death to the ego or "the lower self"...
,
NiyamaNiyama is a set of behaviors codified as "the observances" in numerous scriptures including the Shandilya and Varuha Upanishads, Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Gorakshanatha, the Tirumantiram of Tirumular and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. All the above texts list ten Niyamas, with the exception of...
,
AsanaAsana is a body position, typically associated with the practice of Yoga, intended primarily to restore and maintain a practitioner's well-being, improve the body's flexibility and vitality,...
,
PranayamaPranayama is a Sanskrit word meaning "restraint of the prana or breath". The word is composed of two Sanskrit words, Prāna, life force, or vital energy, particularly, the breath, and "āyāma", to suspend or restrain. It is often translated as control of the life force...
,
PratyaharaPratyahara or the 'withdrawal of the senses' is the fifth element among the Eight stages of Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga , as mentioned in his classical work, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali written in 2 BCE ....
,
DharanaDhāraṇā is translated as 'collection orﾠ concentration of the mind ', or 'the act of holding, bearing, wearing, supporting, maintaining, retaining, keeping back , a good memory', or 'firmness, steadfastness, ... , certainty'...
, and
SamādhiSamadhi is a Hindu and Buddhist technical term that usually denotes higher levels of concentrated meditation, or dhyana, in Yogic schools.In Hinduism, it is the eighth and final limb of the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali...
).
In the
Ashtanga YogaAshtanga Yoga may refer to:*Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, a system of yoga developed by Pattabhi Jois*Raja Yoga or Yoga, a modern yoga system outlined by Patanjali...
of
PatanjaliPatañjali is the compiler of the Yoga Sutras, an important collection of aphorisms on Yoga practice, and also the author of the Mahābhāṣya, a major commentary on Panini's Ashtadhyayi...
, the stage of meditation preceding dhyāna is called
dharanaDhāraṇā is translated as 'collection orﾠ concentration of the mind ', or 'the act of holding, bearing, wearing, supporting, maintaining, retaining, keeping back , a good memory', or 'firmness, steadfastness, ... , certainty'...
. In Dhyana, the meditator is not conscious of the act of meditation (i.e. is not aware that s/he is meditating) but is only aware that s/he exists (consciousness of
being), and aware of the object of meditation.
According to the Hindu Yoga Sutra dhyana is one of the eight methods of
YogaYoga refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India. The word is associated with meditative practices in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. In Hinduism, it also refers to one of the six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy, and to the goal toward which that school directs...
, (the other seven methods are
YamaA yama यम, literally "death", is a rule or code of conduct for living which will help bring a compassionate death to the ego or "the lower self"...
,
NiyamaNiyama is a set of behaviors codified as "the observances" in numerous scriptures including the Shandilya and Varuha Upanishads, Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Gorakshanatha, the Tirumantiram of Tirumular and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. All the above texts list ten Niyamas, with the exception of...
,
AsanaAsana is a body position, typically associated with the practice of Yoga, intended primarily to restore and maintain a practitioner's well-being, improve the body's flexibility and vitality,...
,
PranayamaPranayama is a Sanskrit word meaning "restraint of the prana or breath". The word is composed of two Sanskrit words, Prāna, life force, or vital energy, particularly, the breath, and "āyāma", to suspend or restrain. It is often translated as control of the life force...
,
PratyaharaPratyahara or the 'withdrawal of the senses' is the fifth element among the Eight stages of Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga , as mentioned in his classical work, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali written in 2 BCE ....
,
DharanaDhāraṇā is translated as 'collection orﾠ concentration of the mind ', or 'the act of holding, bearing, wearing, supporting, maintaining, retaining, keeping back , a good memory', or 'firmness, steadfastness, ... , certainty'...
, and
SamādhiSamadhi is a Hindu and Buddhist technical term that usually denotes higher levels of concentrated meditation, or dhyana, in Yogic schools.In Hinduism, it is the eighth and final limb of the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali...
).
In the
Ashtanga YogaAshtanga Yoga may refer to:*Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, a system of yoga developed by Pattabhi Jois*Raja Yoga or Yoga, a modern yoga system outlined by Patanjali...
of
PatanjaliPatañjali is the compiler of the Yoga Sutras, an important collection of aphorisms on Yoga practice, and also the author of the Mahābhāṣya, a major commentary on Panini's Ashtadhyayi...
, the stage of meditation preceding dhyāna is called
dharanaDhāraṇā is translated as 'collection orﾠ concentration of the mind ', or 'the act of holding, bearing, wearing, supporting, maintaining, retaining, keeping back , a good memory', or 'firmness, steadfastness, ... , certainty'...
. In Dhyana, the meditator is not conscious of the act of meditation (i.e. is not aware that s/he is meditating) but is only aware that s/he exists (consciousness of
being), and aware of the object of meditation. Dhyana is distinct from
DharanaDhāraṇā is translated as 'collection orﾠ concentration of the mind ', or 'the act of holding, bearing, wearing, supporting, maintaining, retaining, keeping back , a good memory', or 'firmness, steadfastness, ... , certainty'...
in that the meditator becomes one with the object of meditation and is able to maintain this oneness for 144 inhalations and expirations.
Dhyana, practiced together with
DharanaDhāraṇā is translated as 'collection orﾠ concentration of the mind ', or 'the act of holding, bearing, wearing, supporting, maintaining, retaining, keeping back , a good memory', or 'firmness, steadfastness, ... , certainty'...
and
SamādhiSamadhi is a Hindu and Buddhist technical term that usually denotes higher levels of concentrated meditation, or dhyana, in Yogic schools.In Hinduism, it is the eighth and final limb of the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali...
constitutes the
SamyamaSamyama . Combined simultaneous practice of Dhāraṇā , Dhyāna & Samādhi . A tool to receive deeper knowledge of qualities of the object...
.
The Dhyana Yoga system is specifically described by Sri
KrishnaKrishna is a deity worshipped across many traditions in Hinduism in a variety of perspectives...
in chapter 6 of the famous
Bhagavad GitaThe Bhagavad Gita is one of the most important Hindu scriptures. It is revered as a sacred scripture of Hinduism, and considered as one of the most important philosophical classics of the world. The Bhagavad Gita comprises 700 verses, and is a part of the Mahabharata...
, wherein He explains the many different Yoga systems to His friend and
discipleA disciple is a follower and student of a mentor, teacher, or other wise figure. It can refer to:-Religion:*Disciple , a follower of Jesus Christ**The Twelve Apostles, often referred to as "The Disciples"...
,
ArjunaArjuna, Arjun or Arjunaa is one of the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Arjuna, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' , was such a peerless archer that he is often referred to as Jishnu - the undefeatable...
.
See also
- Ashtanga Yoga
Ashtanga Yoga may refer to:*Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, a system of yoga developed by Pattabhi Jois*Raja Yoga or Yoga, a modern yoga system outlined by Patanjali...
- Muraqaba
Muraqaba is the Sufi word for meditation. Literally it is an Arabic term which means "to watch over", "to take care of", or "to keep an eye"...
- Pranava yoga
Pranava yoga is a name given to the classical method of meditation outlined in the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. It is also called Om yoga and Om yoga meditation...
- Raja Yoga
Rāja Yoga is concerned principally with the cultivation of the mind using meditation to further one's acquaintance with reality and finally achieve liberation....
- Samādhi
Samadhi is a Hindu and Buddhist technical term that usually denotes higher levels of concentrated meditation, or dhyana, in Yogic schools.In Hinduism, it is the eighth and final limb of the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali...
- Samyama
Samyama . Combined simultaneous practice of Dhāraṇā , Dhyāna & Samādhi . A tool to receive deeper knowledge of qualities of the object...
- Dhyana
Dhyāna in Sanskrit ) or jhāna in Pāli generally refers to either meditation or meditative states. Equivalent terms are "Chán" in modern Chinese, "Zen" in Japanese, "Seon" in Korean, "Thien" in Vietnamese, and "Samten" in Tibetan....