Dharana – Concentration
The Benefits of Concentration
"A scientist concentrates their mind and invents many new things. Through concentration they open the layers of the gross mind and penetrates deeply into the higher regions of the mind and get deeper knowledge. They concentrate all the energies of their mind into one focus and throw them out upon the materials they are analyzing and thereby finds the secrets of those materials.
Whosoever has gained abstraction (withdrawing the senses from the objects) will have good concentration. You will have to march on in the spiritual path step by step, stage by stage. Lay the foundation of right conduct, postures, regulation of breath and abstraction to start with. The superstructure of concentration and meditation will be successful then only.
You should be able to visualize the object of concentration very clearly even in its absence. You will have to call up the mental picture at a moment’s notice. If you have good concentration you can do this without much difficulty.
In the beginning stage of practice, you can concentrate on the ‘tik-tik’ sound of a watch or on the flame of a candle or any other object that is pleasing to the mind. This is concrete concentration. There is no concentration without something to rest the mind upon. The mind can be fixed on any object which is pleasant. It is very difficult to fix the mind (in the beginning) on an object which the mind dislikes.
Those who practice concentration evolve quickly. They can do any work with scientific accuracy and great efficiency. What others do in six hours can be done by one who has concentration within half an hour. What others can read in six hours, can be read by one who does concentration within half an hour. Concentration purifies and calms the surging emotions, strengthens the current of thought and clarifies the ideas.
Concentration helps a person in their material progress also. They will have a very good output of work in their office or place of business. What was cloudy and hazy before becomes clear and definite. What was difficult before becomes easy now. And what was complex, bewildering and confusing before becomes easy within the mental grasp.
You can achieve anything through concentration. Nothing is impossible to a person who practices regular concentration. It is very difficult to practice concentration when one is hungry and when one is suffering from an acute disease. Whosoever practices concentration will possess very clear mental vision."
-Paraphrase from the 'Introduction' to Concentration and Meditation by Swami Sivananda
Meditation follows Concentration
"Meditation is the only royal road to the attainment of salvation or Moksha . Meditation kills all pains, sufferings and three kinds of Taapas (fevers) and five Kleshas or Sorrows. Meditation gives the vision of unity. Meditation produces sense of oneness. Meditation is an airplane that helps the aspirant to soar high in the realms of eternal bliss and everlasting peace. It is a mysterious ladder that connects earth and heaven and takes the aspirant to the immortal abode of Brahman.
Meditation is the continuous flow of one thought of God or Atman [the Inner Being or Intimus], like the continuous flow of oil from one vessel to an other (Tailadharavat ). Meditation follows concentration.
Practice meditation in the early morning from 4 to 6 (Brahma-Muhurta ). This is the best time for the practice of meditation.
Sit in Padma or Siddha or Sukha Asana . Keep the head, neck and the trunk in a straight line, and concentrate either on the Trikuti , the space between the two eyebrows, or on the heart with closed eyes.
Meditation is of two kinds: Saguna Dhyana (Concrete Meditation) and Nirguna Dhyana (Abstract Meditation). In concrete meditation the Yogic student meditates on the form of Lord Krishna, Rama, Sita, Vishnu, Siva, Gayatri or Devi. In abstract meditation one meditates on one's own Self or Atman [the Inner Being or Intimus]."
-Paraphrase from the 'Introduction' to Concentration and Meditation by Swami Sivananda
A Concentration Practice
"Place the picture of Lord Hari with four hands in front of you. Gaze at this picture steadily for five minutes and then close the eyes and visualise the picture. During visualization move the mind on the various parts of Vishnu. See with the mind His feet first, then in the following order, legs, His yellow silk cloth, His golden necklace set with Kaustubha gem on the breast, the earring, Makarakundala, then the face, then the crown on the head, then the discus in the right upper hand, then the conch in the upper left hand, then the mace in the lower right hand, then the lotus in the left lower hand. Then come down to the feet and repeat the process again and again.
Finally fix the mind either on the feet or on the face. Repeat the Mantra, "Hari Om or Om Namo Narayanaya", mentally. Think of the attributes of the Lord such as Omnipotence, Omnipresence, Purity, etc.
Meditate on Om and its meaning with feeling. This is Nirguna Dhyana . Repeat Om mentally. Identify yourself with At man. Feel “I am the all-pervading immortal Self or Atman [the Inner Being or Intimus]. I am Sat-Chit-Ananda Brahman. I am Sakshi or silent witness of three states and all modifications of the mind. I am pure consciousness, I am distinct from the body, mind and Prana and senses, I am the self-luminous Light of lights. I am the eternal supreme Soul.”
If you have contentment, cheerfulness, patience, unruffled state of mind, sweet voice, one-pointedness of mind, light body, fearlessness, desirelessness, disgust for worldly things, think that you are advancing in the spiritual path and that you are nearing God."
-Paraphrase from the 'Introduction' to Concentration and Meditation by Swami Sivananda