10 Things to Know On Dhyana (Meditation)

Constant flow

"Ekatanata" is like the word "upset" in English, it has no translation. It can be pointed towards but (at least in Spanish) there is no direct translation.  Ekatanata goes yet one step further. Not only can it not be translated, it also cannot be explained, it is beyond words.

The closest I come to visualize it is as an infinite coffee machine pouring coffee into a bottomless cup, always flowing, always with the same intensity, always new, always constant. Coffee would be concentration (the limb preceding meditation in yoga, its foundation)

BKS says that the meditator should never get bored. As you renovate the house you have to renovate your attention in dhyana. Ekatanata is not mere concentration but an un-interrupted flow of attention on the soul by the soul for the soul.

I find it inspiring to read Iyengar as I continue of my daily hour meditations, they keep me focused on where I want to go, and

"What could be most pleasing to a real aspirant, says BKS, "What could be nearer and dearer to a yogi than that which he is seeking, the Self, the Soul"

These are some quotes I gathered on Dhyana for inspiration. I again spared quotation marks as mostly are just the sayings of Iyengar. The 10 below come from Light on Pranayama.

1.- In meditation the mind traces its original source and comes to rest there as a child rests on the lap of the mother. The yogi, having found his own resting place and spiritual heaven, sees the underlying reality around and within him.

2.- The student becomes dynamic, creative and supremely attentive. He has inexhaustible reserves of energy and engages herself in bettering humanity.

3.- Dharana (concentration -the previous limb-) is like a lamp which is covered and does not light up the area outside. When the cover is removed, the lamp lights up the whole area. This is dhyana which is the expansion of consciousness.

4.- When the powers of the intellect and the heart are harmoniously blended this is dhyana. All creativity proceeds from it, and its good beautiful results benefit mankind.

Cats know the art of deep sleep

5.- Dhyana is like deep sleep but with a difference. The serenity of deep sleep comes as a result of unconsciously forgetting one's identity and individuality, whereas meditation brings serenity which is alerted consciousness.

6.- In Dhyana the student becomes free from hunger, thirst, sleep and sex as well as from desire, anger, greed infatuation pride and envy.

I like prhasing things in the positive so the student would become contented, peacefull, centered, happy.  These are my words.

7.- His vision reflects his true self like a well-polished mirror. This is Atma-Darsana, the reflection of the soul.

8.- Dhyana is a subjective experience of an objective state. It is difficult to describe. The nectar of infinity must be tasted, the abundant grace of the Lord within must be experienced.

9.- Dhyana can be  sattvic, rajasic and tamasic. In the Uttara Kanda of the epic Ramayana, it is told that King Ravana and his two brothers Kumbhakarna and Vibhisana, spent many years in acquiring sacred knolwedge. Kumbhakarna's effort made him fall into a death-like topor, for his meditation had been tamasic. Ravana became engulfed in amorous pursuits and ambitions, for his had been rajasic. Only Vibhisana remained truthful and righteous and abstained from sin, for his meditation had been satvic.

10.- The art of sitting correctly and silently is essential to achieve physical and mental harmony.

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All pictures in this post link to their sources.