During February 2024 all classes are themed around the philosophical focus of Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi (meditation). We would like to provide you with a little more background on these fundamental concepts and practices in yoga.
Ashtanga yoga
Dharana, dhyana and samadhi are seen as the last three limbs of the eightfold path of yoga: ashtanga yoga. ‘Ashta’ means ‘eight’ and ‘anga’ means ‘limb’, so in total we have eight limbs of yoga. Without elaborating too much, the eightfold path starts with constructing the foundation in your practice through yama and niyama. These are the moral guidelines for your practice. The third limb is asana – which we could simply explain as physical practice. Fourthly, pranayama, working with breath and vital energy. Pradyahara as a fifth step means to withdraw your senses from the outer world and turn your attention inwards. Dharana, dyana and samadhi are limbs six, seven and eight.
Dharana
‘Dharana is the binding of the mind to one place, object or idea’ (Yoga Sutras Patanjali, III-1)
The concept and practice of dharana means to find focus in your practice. A well-known practice of dharana is the dristi gaze: focusing your gaze somewhat ahead of the top of your yogamat, steadily gazing beyond the tip of your nose. Allowing the gaze in the eyes to become soft, you can feel that your attention is slowly but steadily turning inwards instead of drawn to outer surroundings. This dristi gaze can be practiced throughout your full asana practice. Another well-known practice of dharana is trataka or candle-gazing.
Dhyana
‘Dhyana is the continuous flow of cognition towards that object’ (Yoga Sutras Patanjali III-2)
It’s helpful to use a metaphor to understand the difference between dharana and dhyana. When you open the tap water a little bit and drops of water start to trickle out of the tap into the sink: this steady dropping of the water can be seen as dharana. But now, when you open the tap water a bit more and a steady stream of water starts to flow out of the tap: this is dyana, concentration.
Samadhi
‘Samadhi is the same meditation when there is the shining of the object alone, as if devoid of form’ (Yoga Sutras Patanjali III-3)
‘Where the focus and concentration become effortless and you are just there, knowing that you are in meditation, this is dhyana. But in samadhi, you don’t even know that. You are not there to know it because you are that.’
So in samadhi there is no more feeling of ‘I am meditating onto that’. In his Yoga Sutras Patanjali gives the example of an object near a crystal. If you put a red flower near a crystal, the crystal itself appears to be red like the flower. It becomes one with that; it accepts that. Likewise the mind accepts the idea of your meditation and takes that form.
Fourth state of consciousness
Samadhi is also described as turya, the fourth state of consciousness. In yoga philosphy we distinguish four states of consciousness:
- Jagrat – the wakeful state. This is us, living our daily lives, when our main focus is on perception of the external world through our senses.
- Svapna – the dream state. When we are asleep we perceive our mental impressions, processing our experiences in the wakeful state.
- Sushupti – the deep sleep state in which there can be an experience of bliss and revelationary knowledge. Have you ever experienced going to sleep with a problem that needs solving and waking up with a deep insight towards a solution of your issue?
- Turya – this state is beyond all conceptualization. Basically, turya or samadhi, cannot really be put into words as it is a direct experience.
Want to learn more?
- Just come to the studio! During each class our teachers will shed their light on the monthly philosophical focus.
- Put this knowledge into practice so it’s not just knowledge but turns into an embodied experience! It all starts with one first step; just take 5 minutes each day to sit still, feel your body and observe your stream of thoughts.
- Good reads: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and Yoga and Kriya – a systematic course in the ancient tantric techniques by Swami Satyananda Saraswati
