Samyama - Internal Limbs of Yoga YS III - 7

Yoga Sutra III - 7 -TRAYAM ANTARANGAM PURVEBHYAH - These three [dharana, dhyana and samadhi] are more internal that the preceding five limbs.


Swami Satchidananda tell us "In Ashtanga Yoga, dharana, dhyana and samadhi are the more antaranga, or inner practices. Even to practice yama and niyama, you need the outside world. How will you practice non-injury if there is nothing outside to injure? How to deal with the outside world is taught through yama and niyama. Even your body is an outside world for you, so in asana you do something with your body; in pranayama you do something with your prana; in pratyahara you do so mething with your senses. But dharana, dhyana and samadhi are totally inward. They are on the mental level. That is what Patanjali means by saying these three are more inner than the preceding five."

From "How to Know God - The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali" translated and commented on by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood we are told that the first five limbs of yoga are only a training ground for the aspirant in preparation of samyama (concentration, meditation and absorption). "The mind and senses have to be purified by the cultivation of ethical virtues and the whole organism has to be strenghtened in order that it may be able to undergo the tremendous experiences that await it. " We are further informed that this is just the beginning and even in samyama perfection is just the beginning. "For whenever we are inclined to feel proud of some tiny indication of spiritual growth in ourselves, we shall do well to remember Brahmananda's amazing and sobering words : 'Spiritual life begins after samadhi.' "

See related posts:

• The Eight Limbs of Yoga - YS II - 28, 29
• Yama - Abstinence YS II - 30
• Niyama - The Observances - YS II - 32
• Asana - Posture YS II - 46
• Pranayama - Breath Control YS II - 49
• Pratyahara - Withdrawal of the Senses YS II - 54
• Dharana - Concentration YS III - 1
• Dhyana - Meditation YS III - 2
• Samadhi - Contemplation YS III - 3
• Samyama - Last Three Limbs of Yoga YS III - 4

Samyama - Last Three Limbs of Yoga YS III - 4

Yoga Sutra III- 4 - TRAYAM EKATRA SAMYAMAH - The practice of these three [dharana, dhyana and samadhi] upon one object is called samyama.

Swami Satchidananda tells us that siddhis come from practicing the last three limbs of yoga [dharana, dhyana and samadhi]. "You dive deeply into an object or idea, and it releases its secrets. In a way, scientists have done samyama on the atomic paricles. The particles released their energy, and the scientists got the knowledge of them. They accomplished the truth behind the particles. Samyama is usually done on objects or ideas connected with some results. When the results come, you call them siddhis or vibhuti."

Related posts:

• Dharana - Concentration YS III - 1
• Dhyana - Meditation YS III - 2
• Samadhi - Contemplation YS III - 3
• The Eight Limbs of Yoga - YS II - 28, 29

Dhyana - Meditation YS III - 2

Yoga Sutra III - 2 - TATRA PRATYAYAIKATANATA DHYANAM - Dhyana is the continuous flow of cognition toward that object.

Swami Satchidananda commences his commentary with "The Hindu scriptures give a beautiful example of this ' continuous flow'. They say it is like pouring oil from one pot into another. It is a continuous string; it doesn't break. The mind is fixed."

Swami Satchidananda tells us that dhyana is "Communication between meditator and object of meditation is steady. Normally, what we are doing when we say we are meditating is dharana." After long practice of dharana, gradually the 'flow of cognition' gets a little longer and it becomes dhyana."

Swami Satchidananda gives us some clues to know that we have really meditated like the following:

• If we set an alarm for an hour and then it goes off and we feel that the alarm went off too soon, then that was meditation. However, if five minutes feels like an hour, that was not meditation but concentration.
• No time or space constraints. Forgetting about the body. The mind transcends body consciousness. A comparison to deep sleep is given in the fact that you are not aware of the your body in deep sleep.
• "In the beginning you feel so light when you transcends the body."
• Sometimes you get beautiful visions
• Even with no visions, you might see beautiful lights
• Hearing beautiful sounds like the ocean, a flute, a gong

Swami Satchidananda says he doesn't usually like to mention the various signs as one might tend to imagine it them. These signs should just happen naturally.

We are reminded in "How to Know God - The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali" translated and commented on by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood that :

Patanjali's definition of dhyana does not correspond to our usual understanding of the word meditation. It's not like you think you are meditating on "Christ" and fixing your mind on his form, thinking of his teaching, miracles and disciples. This meditation in the Christ example " is only a mere preliminary to what may be properly called dharana and dhyana."

Dharana - Concentration YS III - 1

Yoga Sutra III - 1 - DESABANDHAS CITTASYA DHARANA - Dharana is the binding of the mind to one place, object or idea.

Swami Satchidananda - "When the chittam, or sum-total of the mind, is being bound by one thing or bound in one place, it is in dharana. In other words, in dharana you are training the mind. It is the beginning of meditation. Concentration is the beginning of meditation, meditation is the culmination of concentration."

We are reminded that our mind is always running and that within a fraction of a second it goes to something else. To start to practice dharana, concentration, it is easier to concentrate on physical objects, symbols or idols as opposed to abstract. While looking at an object, tradak, or gazing comes in handy.

"Tradak is actually gazing at something, sometimes without even blinking. Don't strain the eyes. Just look at your object as long as you can. You'll be able to look longer if you put your mind on the idea behind the object (like a rose): how beautiful it is, what a great gift has come from a thorny bush, etc. Like that, associated ideas will come in. " Eventually the gazing will be forgotten, although you would still be gazing without blinking. When you do close your eyes, attempt to bring a mental picture of what you were focusing on. You might see it and then lose it. With practice you will be developing that impression in your mind. Swami Satchidananda uses the example of photography for us to understand the picture, the film and how it is developed.

"As you think, so you become." Swami Satchidananda is telling us that as we perform an action physically, we can sit back and try to remember the whole thing in our mind in proper sequence. Once it becomes easy, we don't even need to do the physical action anymore. He also explains the nature of the mind wandering. He tells us not to get frustrated, and never give up. "And never think, 'Oh, I am unfit for meditation.' That is the biggest mistake many people make." He reminds us of Book I, Sutra 14: "Practice becomes firmly grounded when well attended for a long time, without break and in all earnestness." "This very practice itself is called concentration: The mind running, your bringing it back; its running, your bringing it back."

"Training your mind to meditate is what is called dharana."

See related posts:

• Dharana - YS II - 53
• Distractions and Dharana
• Practice Concentration YS I - 32
• Are you Aware of Your Senses?
• Concentrate on a Pure Soul YS I - 37
  

Dharana - YS II - 53

Yoga Sutra II- 53 - DHARANASU CA YOGYATA MANASAH - And the mind becomes fit for concentration.

"If the prakasa avarana is removed, although the mind is not completely annihilated, its density is reduced and it becomes more capable of practicing dharana" - Swami Satchidananda
"The mind gains the power of concentration (dharana)." - "How to Know God - The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali" translated and commented on by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood Patanjali defines dharana in more detail in the first sutra of the third chapter (YS III - 1).

See related posts:

• Distractions and Dharana
• Practice Concentration YS I - 32
• Are you Aware of Your Senses?
• Concentrate on a Pure Soul YS I - 37

The Eight Limbs of Yoga - YS II - 28, 29

Yoga Sutra II- 28 - YOGANGANUSTHANAD ASUDDHI KSAYE JNANADIPTIR A VIVEKAKHYATEH - By the practice of the limbs of Yoga, the impurities dwindle away and there dawns the light of wisdom, leading to discriminative discernment.

Swami Satchidananda states that from this point on, Patanjali gives different ideas about Yoga practice as it is divided into eight stages or limbs. This is why the sutras are referred to as Ashtanga Yoga or eight limbs. Patanjali is now covering the information already given, but in a more practical way as to remove the impurities of the mind.

Yoga Sutra II- 29 - YAMA NIYAMASANA PRANAYAMA PRATYAHARA DHARANA DHYANA SAMADHAYO STAV ANGANI - Yama = abstinence; niyama = observance; asana - posture; pranayama = breath control; pratyahara = withdrawal of the senses; dharana = meditation; samadhayh = contemplation, absorption or superconscious state; ashta = eight' angani = limbs or part

The eight limbs of Yoga are:
1. yama (abstinence)
2. niyama (observance)
3. asana (posture)
4. pranayama (breath control)
5. pratyahara ( sense withdrawal)
6. dharana ( concentration)
7. dhyana ( meditation)
8. samadhi (contemplation, absorption or superconscious state)

Practice Concentration YS I - 32

In order to meditate one has to first be able to have sustained dharana or concentration. Dharana is the Sanskrit word for concentration. Look at the picture of this post. The man is sitting in a meditative posture with many pictures around his head. This is a great illustration of how it is when we attempt to sit and still the mind. The pictures are representative of the many thoughts, distractions which become obstacles. Thus many of us give up attempting to meditate.

Yoga Sutras I-32 TAT PRATISEDHARTHAM EKA TATTVABHYASAH - The practice of concentration on a single subject [or the use of technique] is the best way to prevent the obstacles and their accompaniments.

This sutra is telling us in order to prevent the obstacles/distractions we need to develop one pointedness . Swami Satchidananda states that we should not keep changing our object of concentration. It's like if one digging for a well, instead of digging many shallow ones, decide to stick to one and dig deep. If you have to use dynamite when encountering a rock, do it and continue to keep going down. So with the goal to make the mind steady, it does not matter what technique or object you use. It is not the symbol we use, like our ideas, objects or mantrams but the holding on to the symbol to take us to the goal. 'There are different strokes for different folks' thus different symbols for different people. Swami Satchidananda concludes with saying we want this one-pointed concentration to make the mind clear so we can transcend it.

Yoga as Inspiration

Yoga for me is inspiration. It makes me stay positively connected to the joy that is part of my true nature. It makes me excited. It is life! The word inspiration means the act of breathing, which we definitely need to live.

To me yoga is like the water for a plant and if it does not get watered it dies. Or if you have a mirror and it is not cleaned periodically it gets dusty. Pretty soon it gets dull and not reflective, therefore one cannot see an image in it.

The mind is like a mirror and it can become dull as well. When one practices yoga , one keeps the mind clear of cobwebs and body fresh. I like to compare the body to a car. If you don't clean the air filter the car will literally stop and won't run. The same with the lungs. If we don't breathe full and deeply, we have low energy levels and become tired and lazy. Of course we know that if there is no oxygen within a few minutes the body dies.

According to Pantanjali there are eight limbs of yoga. Pantanjali's Yoga Sutras II - 29 "Yama Niyamaasana Pranayama Pratiyahara Dharana Dhyana Samadhayo 'Stavangani" translated as the eight limbs of yoga: 1. Yama (abstinence);2. Niyama (observance); 3. Asana (postures); 4. Pranayama (breath control); 5. pratyahara (sense withdrawal); 6. dharana (concentration); 7. dhyana (meditation); 8. samadhi (contemplation, absorption or super-conscious state).

As we become aware and study the many branches of yoga, we can use them accordingly. Like when one practices hatha yoga (asanas) everyday, one is tuning up the body, keeping the blood flowing and the joints lubricated. Or when one practices dhyana (meditation) regularly we can keep the mind clean. When yoga is practiced there is always inspiration and rejuvenation in more ways than one!

Stay tuned for more. You can check out http://www.bometernally.com/

Distractions and Dharana

There are so many distractions today in our lives. Cell phones, ipods, the television, the internet, loud sounds from the airplanes, buses and trains. Especially living in the city. If you happen to live in the surburbs and the country, it might be a little quieter outside, but there still all the gadgets we have to keep us distracted. Distractions can be defined as inattentiveness, misdirection, confusedness.

Many people are stressed out due to the many distractions on a daily basis. This is why we do not experience constantly being present or at peace with ourselves. It becomes too much when there is no mindfulness. So this is where a tool comes into play here. In order to survive the many distractions we need dharana. Dharana is a sanskrit word, which basically means concentration or focus in one direction. Dharana is the sixth limb of yoga as defined in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali I will delve into this work periodically in future posts.

So getting back to the tools we have, concentration on specific tasks and or object can help us with the many distractions in our modern life. And the best way to deal with distractions is to begin to practice meditation or dhyana. Dhyana is an essential part of practicing asanas (yogic postures). Dhyana is essential to every day life.

To be continued...