HINDU ENCYCLOPEDIA

सनातन धर्म भूमिका

Meaning of "Dhyana"

Word

Dhyana

Sanskrit

ध्यान

IAST

dhyāna

In General

The Indian meditation practice is called Dhyana. According to Yoga sutra of Patanjali, Dhyana is the seventh level in the eight-step Yoga practice.

धी (dhī) + अयन (ayana) = intelligent movement

So the word meaning is: Strong movement of intellect

Meditation is the art of maintaining the mind for self realization. It is not concentration of mind but free the mind from all thoughts. There are many tricks to achieve this, the most popular is chanting a mantra. In the final stage of meditation, the chanting is reduced to silence. In that silence the individual merges with the all pervading reality. It is like a river merges with the ocean and become one with the ocean. A realized person of this sort lends a charm to the world around him.

Dhyana is a state of mind where the mind itself finds dissolve into the infinite Brahman. This state of mind can be achieved by many means. A bhakta and a Karmayogin achieve this by their devotion and by perfection of their action. This can also be practiced by yoga system. According to Patanjali Yoga sutra dhyana come at the 7th state; that is only one step below Samadhi, the ultimate dissolution of self into Brahman.

Practice

True meditation is never forced or artificial; it is a natural consequence of intense attraction or love for the object of meditation. By practice a mantra or image of dhyana Murti or knowledge in scripture will goes from the mind to the heart, wherein its transforming power is realized. Mental devotion, the knowledge of God through reasoning (jnana), becomes transformed into affirmative knowledge of God in the heart (vijnana), which prepares us for his vision

In the practical sense of terms, Dhyana is the meditation on the form of the Lord with His attributes. The easiest method to turn mind inward is Japa. After practicing japa along with meditation for some time, japa ceases by itself and the aspirant becomes established in meditation alone. The mind naturally dwells on ones daily activities. Forcing mind to meditation will not give fruit and the experience of the godhood is beyond the purview of the body, mind and intellect. So, to tame the mind for the spiritual experience, it should be made contended and calm. The meditative mood is to be set in by spiritual activities and the forces of spirit are to be treated well. Then sitting quietly by chanting mantra, the real meditation may come as a spontaneous spark.

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