Moving from Dharana to Dhyana

In Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, a classical text on yoga philosophy, there are eight limbs or components of yoga known as Ashtanga Yoga. These eight limbs are guidelines that help individuals on the path of self-realisation and spiritual growth. Within the eight limbs, the concepts of concentration and meditation are distinct but interconnected.

Concentration (Dharana): Dharana, the sixth limb of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, refers to the practice of focusing the mind on a single point or object. It involves directing and sustaining attention to develop mental stability and control. The aim of Dharana is to cultivate the ability to concentrate deeply, free from distractions or wandering thoughts. It is the precursor to meditation.

Meditation (Dhyana): Dhyana, the seventh limb of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, is a state of uninterrupted flow of awareness and mindfulness. It is the prolonged and effortless continuation of focused concentration. In Dhyana, the practitioner enters a state of deep absorption and tranquillity, where the meditator and the object of meditation merge into a unified experience. It is a state of pure awareness, devoid of any individual ego or self-consciousness. It’s a stepping outside of the self and yet merging with the self, an all-encompassing state.

While concentration (Dharana) is the practice of focusing the mind on a single object, meditation (Dhyana) is the state of sustained and effortless concentration. Dharana helps to develop the necessary stability and control of the mind, while Dhyana takes that concentrated state to a deeper level of absorption and unity.

It's important to note that these two aspects of concentration and meditation are progressive and interconnected. As one progresses in their practice of concentration, they naturally move towards the state of meditation. Concentration serves as a stepping stone to meditation, and meditation deepens and refines concentration. Visually, you could imagine they are like the infinity symbol of the sideways figure eight linking and flowing between each other, no one place is the beginning or end.

Ultimately, the goal of both Dharana and Dhyana is to prepare the mind for the final limb of yoga, which is Samadhi (a state of self-realisation, transcendent awareness, and union with the object of meditation or the universal consciousness).

According to Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, the transition from Dharana to Dhyana is a natural progression that happens as the practitioner deepens their concentration practice. It is an experiential shift that occurs rather than a clear-cut moment that can be objectively identified.

Here are some general indicators that suggest you may have moved from Dharana to Dhyana:

Effortless Focus: During Dharana, you exert effort to maintain your focus on the chosen object or point of concentration. In Dhyana, the concentration becomes effortless and spontaneous. The mind remains absorbed in the object of meditation without any struggle or active effort to sustain it.

Unity of Experience: In Dhyana, the separation between the meditator and the object of meditation begins to dissolve. There is a sense of merging or unity between the observer and the observed. The boundaries between the self and the object of meditation become less distinct, and there is a feeling of interconnectedness or oneness.

Deepening Stillness: As you transition from Dharana to Dhyana, you may notice an increasing stillness and quietness of the mind. The fluctuations and distractions of thoughts become less prominent, and there is a sense of inner calm and tranquillity. The mind becomes more focused and absorbed, leading to a heightened sense of inner peace.

Prolonged Flow of Awareness: Dhyana involves a sustained flow of awareness on the object of meditation. You may experience a continuous stream of focused attention, where the mind remains fixed on the chosen point of concentration for an extended period without interruption. The continuity of awareness deepens as you enter a state of absorption.

Transcendence of Ego: In Dhyana, there is a transcendence of the individual ego or self-consciousness. The meditator becomes less identified with personal thoughts, emotions, and distractions. There is a sense of expanded awareness and a shift from a limited self-centred perspective to a broader, more inclusive consciousness. If we were to externally measure brain waves of these states of, being we find that when in Dharana and Dhyana, the brain wave patterns tend to shift towards more calm and focused states. While it is challenging to pinpoint specific brain wave frequencies associated with these states, scientific research on meditation and concentration practices suggests that certain brain wave patterns are commonly observed.