MEDITATION (Dhayana)

 

When the mind is trained to concentrate on a particular object inside or outside the body, that state is called Dhayana. During its practice, you detach yourself from your physical body and you can see your real self. The term Dhayana is widely used to refer to the contemplative process that prepares the ground for the ecstatic state Samadhi, though occasionally the term is also employed to signify that superlative state of consciousness. Dhayana means worship, or profound and abstract religious meditation. It is perfect contemplation. It involves concentration upon a point of focus with the intention of knowing the truth about it. The concept holds that when one focuses their mind in concentration on an object, the mind is transformed into the shape of the object. Hence, when one focuses on the divine, one becomes more reflective of it and knows one’s true nature. During Dhayana, the consciousness is further unified by combining clear insights into distinctions between objects and between the subtle layers of perception. Meditation becomes our tool to see things clearly and perceive reality beyond the illusions that cloud our mind.

In some form or the other, meditation has been practised since ancient times. It is believed to bring in tranquillity besides making one spiritual and enriching one’s life. Meditation has also been used to make someone ready for the physical work or otherwise exhausting activity. The goal of meditation is to empty the mind in an unforced way i.e. to empty out numerous thoughts from the mind, the practice of meditation is meant for speedier evolution of the human soul. It is only through meditation that you can undertake to discover your true nature and so find the stability and confidence.

Meditation is the road to enlightenment. By progressively concentrating on more abstract concept, the practitioner achieves a higher meditative states culminating in countless trances which is said to constitute liberation. The meditation expert becomes eternally free from external phenomenon by focussing his gaze at a point and neutralising the uneven current of Prana and Apana flowing within the nostrils, such a yogi transforms the sensory mind, the intellect and thus becomes free from fear, anger and desire.

Meditation is the practice of uniting soul with the Supreme Spirit (God). The meditation that is properly practised is also called the “Raja Yoga” which is based on the system of Maharishi Patanjali (AD300). It teaches an eight fold path, beginning with the knowledge of how to acquire moral attitudes. The word “RajaYoga” is made from the union of Raj+Yoga. ‘Raj’ means secrecy and ‘Yoga’ means addition. Thus Raja Yoga means addition of the soul to God secretly. The practitioner in more advanced stages of meditation are said to be endowed with remarkable spiritual powers or Sidhis i.e. Anhima: to be invisible, Laghima: to become able to fly, Mahima: to become heavier, Prapti: to get anything from anywhere, Prakamiya: to liberate will-power from all obligations, Vashitawa (Mesmerism or Hypnosis): to establish control over mind or hypnotise anybody, Ishitawa: to possess everything, and Yathakamavasaita: to fulfil all desires.

Meditation is the exercise of mind and it heals most of the physical and psychological health problems. If you have never tried any meditation, try to find a peaceful place. Take a comfortable meditation poses generally Vajrasana or Padmasana. Shut your eyes and relax all muscles in your body, including the face. A few alternate nostril yoga breaths are very useful at the beginning of this stage — breathing in through one nostril and breathing out through another, closing nostrils with fingers and altering closed nostril with each breath. Ignore any thought as it comes. Do not continue a kaleidoscope of thoughts. Continue this for 20 minutes or so, maintaining your mind blank. Every time you have a thought, you may keep counting thoughts, neglecting each one as it comes, without analysing it. When you go down to 2 or 3 thoughts in 5 minutes, you meditate effectively.

Whole philosophy of meditation has a basic motive “to trace out the unconscious mind”. It already exists with us and is devoid of thoughts and ideas. It may be called a universal mind. We have surrounded it with many folds of thoughts and ideas. It has been lost behind those folds completely. The unconscious mind suddenly appears by itself when all these folds vanish and then it crosses all limits. Sometimes, we are in sound sleep when dreams almost stop happening. The unconscious mind awakens, we feel more relaxed and refreshed in the morning when we get up. A sound sleep is, in fact, a way to reach the unconscious mind.

Meditation works just like a sound sleep. Everything that we have got emerges out of the depth of unconscious mind. But our internal environment is impure. Any idea coming out of the core of unconscious mind becomes filthy while crossing our internal environment. Our mind can never stay in the passing moments. Meditation means to get out of the past, not to create future in advance and stick to the reality that is available in the present. While living in the present moments, we suddenly come to know that there exists nothing between reality and us. This is the way that leads to the unconscious mind. We can reach unconscious mind through meditation only not otherwise. When there is no dirt of ideas and our mind is free and devoid of all feelings and experiences, it is the unconscious mind as clear as a crystal.