Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi

Collectively Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi are known as Samyama, a continuous process of deep meditation and make up the three upper limbs of Raja Yoga. Individually,

• Dharana/Concentration – the art of reducing interruptions of the mind involving effort and will-power to return to focus
• Dhyana/Meditation – maintaining a sustained, uninterrupted flow of one-pointed awareness and attention effortlessly so loosing psychological and chronological sense of time and space
• Samadhi/Absorption – object of attention engulfs meditator, so loosing self awareness

Through Samyama one can have knowledge and direct experience of any object but this needs sustained effort and intention. As Samyama is within the realms of Prakriti, the seeds of samskaras and kleshas are not burnt until the highest form of Samadhi occurs.

Nirbija Samadhi

Liberation or Kaivalya only occurs when one has experienced the highest form of Samadhi. There are other lesser experiences of Samadhi which have no lasting effects as they do not transform at a deep enough level to re-programme ingrained samskaras or karmas. Nirbija Samadhi is the supreme state where all bijas (seeds) have been burnt away. The kleshas are transcended and we are released from our karma. This state is also known as asamprajnata Samadhi or superconscious Samadhi and is the precursor to dharma megha Samadhi – the final absorption where all constituent elements return to sattva – pure consciousness.

Bibliography

Satchidananda, S., (2005), The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Integral Yoga

Tolle, E., (2005), A New Earth, Penguin Books

Easwaran, E., (1987), The Upanishads, Blue Mountain Centre of Meditation

Hawley, J. (2001), The Bhagavad Gita: A Walkthrough for Westerners, New World Library

BWY Class Handouts

www.wikipedia.com