| We are going to discuss about Meditation based on | | | | psychological are the outcome of our mental condition. |
| "Pantajali Yoga Sutra (Ashtanga Yoga)". In his sutras | | | | Mind exists in the body but it is distinct from the body |
| the "Sage Patanjali" has explained 8 limbs of yoga | | | | and organs. |
| (Ashtanga Yoga). Those are :- Yama, Niyama, Asana, | | | | Mind is also distinct from the spiritual self, 'the Knower' |
| Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, and Dhyan Samadhi. | | | | as he just observes the mind and its functions. The |
| The initial four stage are the basic stages which help | | | | Knower perceives the external objects through sense |
| the person to attain "Sthiram" (stability of mind) which is | | | | organs but with the help of the mind. Perception of any |
| the prior necessity for practicing the further stages of | | | | event is not possible without the presence of mind. So |
| meditation. According to him meditation (Dhyan) means | | | | in every event of perception there is an external |
| - "Full concentration of the mind focused on one of | | | | object, an organ of perception (ears, eyes, nose |
| those experiences" In simple terms the spontaneous | | | | tongue or skin) and there is mind and the 'Knower' or |
| concentration of the mind on the object is Meditation. | | | | 'self'. |
| Now let us see in detail what exactly he means to say | | | | All these are connected very closely, inseparable but |
| about Dhyan(meditation), We all know that our mind is | | | | still distinct from each other. |
| fickle, like a butterfly, which always flies from here and | | | | The mind can multiply or divide the strength of the |
| there and does not wait at one place for long. But the | | | | Body. The person can't work if he is mentally not |
| speed of our mind is far more than the butterfly or it | | | | prepared for the work but a person can work with |
| may be greater than the speed of light. | | | | extra energy if he has mentally decided to work. |
| Mind can recollect past experiences, keeps thinking | | | | The mind has tremendous speed. It can travel from |
| about the future and experiences the present with all | | | | one point to another point at infinite distance within |
| its might and we do not have any control over our | | | | fraction of a second. |
| minds journey. | | | | The mind interconnects the 'Self' with the physical |
| 'Dhyan'(meditation) is the study of deep concentration, | | | | body. The mind controls the physical organs through |
| calmness and tranquility of the mind. It is the study of | | | | Brain, Autonomous Nervous System, and Endocrine |
| attaining complete control over ones mind. | | | | Gland System. |
| Meditation takes the consciousness beyond conscious, | | | | We can summarise seven functions of the mind as |
| sub conscious & unconscious states to super | | | | follows. |
| consciousness. | | | | Consciousness, Thoughts, Emotions, Perceptions, |
| How do we achieve that? In the fundamental stages | | | | Memory, Intelligence and Judgment. |
| of meditation one has to decide some target upon | | | | The Condition Of Mind You have already seen that 1. |
| which one can concentrate. He has to concentrate | | | | Mind has no physical existence. |
| with the help of his sensors like ' Eyes, Nose, Ears, | | | | 2. Existence of the mind can't be denied. |
| Mouth and Touch' that means he can Look at the | | | | 3. The nature of the mind is to move from one point to |
| target whichever he wants He can recite a small | | | | another continuously. |
| mantra with the help of mouth And he can listen to the | | | | 4. The mind has tremendous speed. |
| mantra with his ears Further more he is not permitted | | | | It is clear from the points that the mind is very unstable. |
| to think anything else, except the target. | | | | Mind doesn't remain stable at any particular point or |
| What is a target? A target would be anything, which | | | | any object. It keeps moving all the time. |
| ones mind would like to concentrate upon. It would be | | | | Mind runs after the objects it likes but runs away from |
| anything, which will give tranquility and serenity to ones | | | | the objects that it dislikes. |
| mind. | | | | Controlling The Mind You have already studied that the |
| For instance it would be a photograph of ones deity. In | | | | mind is essential in the process of acquiring knowledge. |
| this case the photo frame is the target . In the | | | | For example when you are listening to a speaker in |
| fundamental stage one can look at the frame, the | | | | lecture, you learn through your ears. But if your mind is |
| picture of the deity, the background of the picture. | | | | not concentrating on the lecture then you won't |
| Think about all the above factors, recite or hear a | | | | understand anything there. As the mind is unstable, you |
| mantra of that deity, but one has to see to it that ones | | | | cannot concentrate on lecture. So to learn what the |
| mind does not run away beyond the target decided. | | | | speaker is telling, you must establish control over your |
| One can develop his capacity of sitting in this stage | | | | mind and force it to listen to the lecture. Then only you'll |
| from 5-10 minutes to any amount of time. | | | | be able to acquire knowledge. |
| But once the mind thinks of some other factors your | | | | Hence you have to control movements of mind and |
| meditation comes to an end . | | | | make it stable whenever you want, as per your |
| This stage is truly a very fundamental stage and | | | | requirements. But this is the most difficult part because |
| needs a lot of practice because we are never used to | | | | of unstable nature of mind. This process of making |
| control our minds. | | | | mind stable is called concentration. |
| Once you have achieved this for specific period of | | | | This is true for any function of mind. |
| time you can try for the 'Dhyan'. | | | | If you want to remember a particular event, you will |
| To explain with Omkar as the target, we have been | | | | have to concentrate your mind till you remember that |
| looking at it, reciting and listening the mantra, our mind | | | | event. |
| stays (appeases) upon it for a specific amount of time. | | | | It is clear from the above discussion that it is essential |
| Now further we close our eyes and recollect the | | | | to control the mind. |
| picture of the OM. | | | | Only then, one can get what he wants. |
| At the same time we are reciting or listening to the | | | | But controlling mind is the most difficult task. |
| omkar. Then again with closed eyes we are only | | | | Efforts are being continuously made to find out the |
| hearing the reciting of the mantra on the cassette | | | | ways and means to establish control over mind. |
| without reciting by our mouth. Further our minds only | | | | Meditation is one of the very effective ways to control |
| recollects the experiences taken by our eyes, ears | | | | the mind. |
| and mouth. The actual Dhyan stage has only one | | | | This control can't be achieved in short period. |
| dimension, now we concentrate on only a part of our | | | | Meditation is a systematically designed technique to |
| target and in the next samadhi stage the person | | | | achieve this step by step. |
| experiencing the target tends to be nobody. Only the | | | | Different Links To Access Mind You have already |
| experience remains. | | | | studied that the mind is an inseparable part of the |
| At this stage the minds target as a number of | | | | human being. It is distinct from brain, nervous system; it |
| dimensions. The mind thinks of all the factors, which it | | | | is distinct from all other physical organs, it is distinct |
| has experienced in the initial stages. | | | | from Pranic Force behind body activities. |
| Meaning, Properties & Functions Of Mind It is very | | | | The mind is distinct from all these systems but at the |
| difficult to understand the nature of the mind because | | | | same time, it is closely associated with all these |
| it has no physical existence. It is very subtle as well as | | | | systems of the body. Mind is very difficult to access |
| hidden. But the existence of the mind can't be denied, | | | | directly but all these systems are relatively easier to |
| as many of our problems physical, mental and | | | | access. |