DHARANA(Med 81)
Swami Chidananda
Dharana or concentration means
holding the mind fixed at one point, at one place, and keeping it held
for sufficient length of time. If you are able to withdraw the mind and
fix it upon a focal point within, and if you are able to keep the mind
fixed like that for a period of 12 mantras, it is counted as one concentration. The yogic time calculation is usually stated in mantras
and a mantra may be taken as a second. If you can keep the mind steady
without moving, without any contrary thought coming in, and without
moving away from the object of concentration for a period of 12 mantras, it is regarded as one dharana. Go on practising dharana so
that it becomes longer and longer. By continuous practice, if you are
able to keep the mind focussed upon one single point without moving here
and there for 144 seconds or a period of 12 dharanas, then this continuous unbroken concentration of mind for 144 seconds without break is termed as dhyana. And 12 continuous, unbroken meditations make one samadhi. There should be only one thought, only one vritti, ekakara vritti.
Thus, meditation means continuous concentration of the mind upon one
idea to the exclusion of all other ideas. Go on practising until the samadhi itself becomes deeper and deeper, and more and more intense, and the body is not felt. This is yogabhyasa.
Concentration is a question of
persisting, persevering endeavour. It does not become fruitful in a day.
It is not a process which gives result overnight. It is only when one
is perfectly convinced and firm in one’s faith about the ultimate nature
of Realisation, that one can go through the hard and dry process of
concentration. Together with some negative safeguards which we have to
take in order that concentration may become steady and successful, they
teach us various methods to make this dry process of concentration as
interesting as possible.
Try to think what is most pleasing too
you and upon which the mind likes to get fixed spontaneously.
Concentration is always pleasant to the bhakta (devotee), because to think of his beloved is pleasant. Whereas, a vedantin has
to invoke waves of inspiration, such as: “I am indescribable Bliss,
Joy”, he tries to fill himself with that sort of elevation.
It is a question of mental training. Various devices have to be adopted by the seeker – concentrating on sound of Om or a mantra, repeating the mantra -
so that at no point the mind stops concentration. If the mind refuses
to concentrate, then give up, and read some book or do some kirtan. When
the mood comes again, do concentration
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