The
Process of Meditation
According to the
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
Pratyahara,
Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi
Stages five, six, seven and eight
of
the eight fold path of Rishi Patanjali’s
Raja Yoga system
Samyama is the Sanskrit name given in the Yoga Sutras to
describe the inner esoteric meditative process. Samyama
is the total process, which begins after the Pratyahara
(sensory withdrawal) stage has been successfully completed.
Dharana (Concentration) is one pointed attention of the mind
on the object of meditation. In dharana the
concentration is intense and there is always the awareness that you are
concentrating. If dharana continues for some time
unbroken it eventually moves into Dhyana.
Dhyana is the next stage,
which should have two components. There should be a continuous awareness of the
single object of meditation and also awareness that you are practicing unbroken
concentration but without the effort or intensity needed previously in dharana. It becomes more effortless as mind isolates itself
from the sensory impressions.
Mind in perfect equipoise and harmony
experiencing consciousness devoid of sensorial impressions is totally in the
three dimensional Chidakash, awestruck by the power
of the light, Shakti.
The Charge is transferred during this process
simultaneously from the mesmerising object of consciousness (The Light) to Mooladhara Chakra then emanates upward via Sushumna, the core of ones being.
This intensity and awakening is mind blowing,
surrender to the manifesting energy is natural and nobody who has experienced
it would forget it. One auspicious day or night it may arise spontaneously.
Guru’s grace - Anugraha is the key Mounamurti
Samadhi1 is the final stage
of samyama and the door to self-realisation and Moksha. In samadhi the awareness that
you are concentrating disappears totally and you merge or become one with the
object of meditation. The object alone remains, constantly illumining your
total awareness and becoming more vivid.
An
important distinction happens here as simultaneously you loose awareness of the
process of becoming (merging) with the object and also you loose awareness
totally of your self (mind, body, thoughts, etc) and enter Laya.
Laya represents the inner sanctum or void of totality that lies
within the Ajna Chakra, the shakti
marg through Sushumna is
the astral journey through light to the causal realm, accessible through deep pearcing meditation
In the
first stage of Savikalpa Samadhi, Laya
(absorption) is experienced. Mind enters a region known as (Shoonya)
or the void and the object of meditation disappears temporarily.
In the
higher stages of Nirvikapla Samadhi, the Laya stage is successfully navigated. It is said that no
words can accurately describe this region and do it justice, because it is a
state beyond the mind where intense bliss rains down on the Sadhaka
(Aspirant) and one experiences the oneness and truth that we are Satyam.
This is
the meditative process that everyone who wishes to reach the inner sanctum of
his or her being must experience. All the masters who have experienced it
confirm that it is to be experienced beyond body and mind, at one with the
spiritual core of ones being.
This is a
brief overview of an inner process of transcendence which sounds easy for the
uninitiated but in reality this process could in fact take a lifetime of
Sadhana (disciplined Yoga practice) under the watchful guidance of a master
(Guru).
For a
yogic master like (Paramahamsaji) once it has been
achieved and perfected it is said to be as natural as opening and closing your eyes.
They can effortlessly rest in their inner selves; gain knowledge (Jnana), direction, inspiration and bliss directly from a
higher source.
The
Masters have direct access which they have earned through their decades of Tapasya (austerity). This is the attainment of heaven on
earth and it is that at this stage that they have finished their journey of
spiritual evolution (moksha) and exist to guide the
spiritual seekers of humanity.
Bibliography
1. 1.
Saraswati,
Swami Satyananda 1976
Four chapters of Freedom
Munger,
Copyright © Satyam Yoga Centre - August 2000-
(Swami Mounamurti Saraswati)
mailto:satyamyoga.com@bigpond.com
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