Dhyana – a meditative state of being

The practice of Dhyana - the seventh of the Eight Limbs of Yoga - brings about keen awareness without focus and moves us from a state of doing to being…

Dhyana a meditative state of being

Learn more about this limb in Esther’s talk…

Concentration and contemplation

Although Dhyana sounds and seems similar to Dharana (the preceding limb of the Eight Limbs of Yoga), it is subtly different. While Dharana teaches us a one-pointed focus, encouraging us to concentrate all of our attention onto the breath, or a sound, or a visualisation, Dhyana brings about keen awareness without the focus.

So while Dharana requires us to concentrate on one object, Dhyana teaches us to observe it without judgement, without attachment – instead contemplating it in all its colours and forms in a profound, abstract state of meditation.

Dhyana teaches us to observe something without judgement, or attachment – instead contemplating it in all its colours and forms in a profound, abstract state of meditation.

Judith Lasater uses a beautiful analogy of rain to make the distinction between concentration (Dharana) and contemplation or meditation (Dhyana). Distinct raindrops represent intermittent moments of focused attention (Dharana). However, when these individual raindrops fall to earth and merge they create a river which represents Dhyana, an uninterrupted flow:

The separate raindrops merge into one continuous flow, just as individual moments of Dharana merge into the uninterrupted focus of meditation. In English, we often use the word “meditate” to mean “to think,” but in yoga, meditation is not thinking; instead, it is a deep sense of unity with an object or activity.

Blurring the line

Therefore, instead of meditation being something you actively DO, it becomes a state of being. The line between what you’re doing (breathing / repeating a mantra / using a light visualisation) becomes blurred and the separation between you and whatever it is you’re focusing on disappears.

Just as the word ‘yoga’ means to ‘yoke’ or ‘union with,’ the practice of ‘true’ meditation – the state that’s reached where you forget that you’re ‘meditating’ – during Dhyana our thoughts, emotions and desires subside and our state of doing merges with our state of being…. The subject and object become one.

More on the Eight Limbs of Yoga…

Guided program: for a good grasp of each of the eight limbs through informative talks, yoga, Pranayama and meditation, EkhartYoga members can follow our Eight Limbs of Yoga program.

Further readingThe Eight Limbs of Yogas explained.

Photo by YUCAR FotoGrafik

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Kirsty TomlinsonKirsty moved to the Netherlands from the UK to work for EkhartYoga in 2015. She's done yoga training with Esther Ekhart and Julie Martin, and has done many courses in meditation, mindfulness and Yoga Nidra. Kirsty previously worked in publishing, graphic design and recruitment. Her role at EkhartYoga focuses on copywriting, editing and content creation.