Dhyan = Pujya Gurudev

Dhyan and its Benefits

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

Dhyan is a state of pure consciousness, which transcends the inner and outer senses. The climax of Dhyan is samadhi. In Indian tradition, it is used for inner soul growth. Western psychologists link it with mental concentra-tion and consider it a special state of mind. But this is only the early phase of Dhyan. The techniques and nature of Dhyan might vary but even the modern scientific research validates and highlights its benefits. 

The term : Dhyan comes from dhyai dhatu used in lat pratyaya. Its meaning is contemplation or the natural tendency and direction of senses. Patanjal Yogashastra links it with ekagrata or concentration. According to Sri Aurobindo, Dhyan is that state in which the inner mind tries to see the reality behind things. Ekagrata means focusing the consciousness on one point or object and keeping it steady in one state. In yoga, ekagrata is achieved when the mind is deeply engrossed in a special condition like quietude, or action or aspiration or resolve. 

This is called meditation. It is a form of Dhyan. Dhyan, when constant, is called dharana. In dharana, for the first time, the power of consciousness is directed towards the inner being. When the mind, fixated with only one object, sees only that object and nothing else, it is the state of Dhyan. And when meditating upon the object the mind becomes completely still and merges into that object, the yogis call this condition paramdhyan. In yoga, the process of keeping chitta centered on any external or internal object for a long time is called avadhan. In dharana, the flow of this process or action remains constant in the desired direction. In its normal condition it is not continuous. 
The action of making this very flow of chitta continuous and unbroken is called Dhyan. It is a special state of chitta. Dharana and Dhyan may be compared to the flow of water and ghee (milk fat). When Dhyan is centered on the desired objective, it activates the power of resolve. Dhyan helps to strengthen resolve, and the resolve regulates Dhyan. The two are mutually complementary. According to Sankhya philosophy extermination of attachment is Dhyan ragopahati dhyanam. According to Agni Puran, contemplation with a calm mind is Dhyan. 

To be engrossed in Brahmibhav is also Dhyan. Dhyan is concentration of chitta in the object dhyai chintayam to dhatu Visnuchinta muhurmuhu. Anaksi pnetan manasa dhyanmityabhidhiyate. Brahma samasaktidhyarnam naman dusyate. Garud Puran has used the term Dhyan as: Brahmachintan. 
Brahmachinta dhyanam syadharana manaso dhti, Aham Brahmetyavasthanam samardhibrahmana sthiti. Likewise, in Visnu Puran, too, Dhyan has been used in identical terms. It is the indivisible flow of vtti that is devoid of all sensory knowledge.

According to Srimad Bhagwadgita Dhyan is more important than gyan as it cuts away the ties of karma. Sruti says that Dhyan leads to attainment of pragya. This is the right and best yoga."Amenanumanen dhyanabhyasarsenach tridha prakalpayet pragyam labhate yogamuttamam" The Mahabharat declares Dhyan as the highest and greatest attainment of a yogi. It is of two kinds ekagrata and pranayam. Pranayam together with five other means leads to pratyahar, which in turn enables one to have twelve kinds of dharanas Bhavedishvar sangatvam dhyanam dvadvasham dharanam. To merge oneself into ones ista with full dedication is also called Dhyan samahitenmanasam chaitayantavartita. tmano abhista deshnam dhyandhyanyabhi uchyate. Tantrasar mentions three kinds of Dhyan.

Generally Dhyan is classified into either sagun and nirgun or sarup and arup. Modern thinkers make three categories full consciousness (central region), dim or unclear consciousness (middle region) and complete unconsciousness (outer region). Its change from one state into another is very rapid. Different experts have prescribed different techniques of Dhyan either individual or collective. It can be practiced with closed or open eyes, in silence or even while singing. 
The Jains achieve the state of Dhyan through pranayam. The transcendental meditation is a quiet type of Dhyan while the followers of ISKCON do it with song and music. The quiet or silent Dhyan has three methods ekagrata, dharana and chanting of mantras. In dharana, mind is focused on an object, which may be a statue, picture, color, flower or a flame of deepak. Ekagrata is considered more difficult. In it, the object of focus could be a Hindu or Buddhist lotus, Islams moon, Jews Star of David etc. It purely reflects the growth of consciousness.

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma