8 Limbs of Yoga as Royal Path by Mahararishi Patanjali – Dharana, Dhyana & Samadhi – The Core Of The Yogi’s Meditation
The 8 limbs of yoga, which are described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, each provide instructions on how to lead a fruitful and fulfilling life.
Considering that you have always been through Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, and Pratyahara, its time to delve into the final part of your yogic journey. The last three limbs have a huge effect on the internal kosha, that is spirituality. Moreover, the last three limbs of yoga are closely connected to one another. Let us decode the meanings of each one of them, which you will also learn at a yoga school in India.
- Dharana – It means concentration. After you have withdrawn from the senses, you will be concentrating on your internal body. The outside seems oblivious now. Place all your attention on any core object within you.
- Dhyana – Meditation and dhyana are the same. It mainly means sustained concentration, where you need to be in the same state for minutes or hours on an end.
- Samadhi – Samadhi is the ultimate stage of your yogic journey, when your spiritual body can actually leave the physical and float above the same. It is a state of such deep absorption, in which you are one with the universe.
These are the various forms of Antaranga Yoga, which is different from Bahiranga Yoga. You are actually entering a new realm, as you step into Dharana. You can be a master of yoga, even if you are not taking yourself through the first five limbs of yoga. Thebest yoga center inRishikesh will help you find the meaning of the final meditative stage. Amazingly, the last three limbs are included in the Vibhuti pada, whereas the first five are included in the Sadhana pada. Vibhuti means manifestation and divinity.
According to Yoga Sutra 3.1, Dharana is the fixation of the chitta on a single point or area. You can also align it with the subtle sound of Om. It will be more interesting to note that Patanjali actually stressed the word, ‘area’ more. The same acts as a mode of awareness ofthe specific areas. Moreover, it is largely a mental process. This is how you start with your meditation journey.
In the next stage, comes Dhyana. It signifies the ultimate flow of awareness of that area, where you concentrated your Chitta on. It also means the extension of that attention throughout that specific area. You can also call Dhyana a stream of Vrittis. Dhyana flows into the final spot, that comprises Samadhi.
The final limb is Samadhi. It also means enlightenment. If you thought, that Samadhi is a trance-like state, you are wrong. The yoga teacher training Rishikesh will help you with a proper understanding of the limb practically. The experts are so much engrossed in this state, that you will be bound to follow. You will be experiencing nothing but stark reality, without any filter. Everything tends to take place at the cellular level. Some people also experience this state during worship or while walking in the woods. What is your turn on?
Dharana – The Sixth Limb of Yoga
So, by now, you know that Dharana means concentration. It mainly aims at binding your consciousness to one place or area. It could be just about anything, a plant as well. You can practice as a part of your asana as well. There are certain steps, to do the needful. You can build upon the base, called Pratyahara. It provides the yogi, the necessary skills to set up the practice of dharana. In the process, you must find a place to seat comfortably. Then, you can choose the object of focus.
Moreover, you can choose to keep your eyes closed or open, as the case may be. Keep the range wide, and slowly narrow it down. You can also choose to focus your concentration on a mantra. Now, there is one thing, that you should note here. The mantra need not be necessarily ‘OM’, according to the best yoga teacher training in Rishikesh. Regular practice is absolutely essential, for the practice to be successful. If you intend to work up towards the final goal of Samadhi, take one step at a time. In the stage, you slowly gain prowess, and can focus for longer timelines in Dhyana. Dharana prepares you for Dhyana.
Dhyana – The Seventh Limb of Yoga
So, you already know by now, that dhyana will help you to concentrate or focus on a given object or area for a longer time. The flow of concentration in this case, is uninterrupted. When you continue to practice Dharana, it eventually transforms into Dhyana. The breath plays a very important role, during the practice. So, you have to concentrate on it. It is also the common point of focus. While you strive to achieve this position, you will find that the mind is moving out of position often. So, at this time, you will need a lot of power to concentrate. You have to start with Dharana, to move into Dhyana. There are three elements, that you will encounter during the process. They are your consciousness, your thoughts and the object of meditation. At first, you are supposed to eliminate the thoughts. While practicing Dhyana, it helps if you also incorporate a mudra into the practice. Dhyana for the unversed, is nothing but the full-blown Dharana. This is the penultimate state to Samadhi. It prepares you for the ultimate bliss of life.
Samadhi – The Final Limb of Yoga
In yoga, Samadhi is the eighth and the final stage of your yogic journey. It is that state of awareness, in which the individual consciousness gets mixed with the universal consciousness. And, the yogi becomes one with nature. There are different levels of Samadhi.
However, it is not a single stage. There are many stages in between. It is also important to understand, that to achieve the stage, you do not have to renounce life in the beginning. You can live your life, as you are doing right now. Moreover, it will also not happen by accident. You have to work towards it, with a lot of effort.
In Hinduism, there are three stages of Samadhi. The first stage is Laja Samadhi. It is the state, when you feel at peace, and go into a trance. The next one is Savikalpa Samadhi. In this state, you can control your thoughts, without them affecting you. You have already started experiencing bliss, but are also aware of the surroundings.
Then, comes Nirvikalpa Samadhi. This is the final stage of Samadhi, according to Hinduism. In this stage, your connection with the material world ceases to exist. You will be taught about the whole process through the best yoga teacher training school in Rishikesh.
