Yoga-Meditations

People from all walks of life with all sorts of interests in hobbies can enjoy Dharana Yoga. Modern psychology dictates that the mind cannot focus on any solitary object for any amount of time. The mind must in some way keep moving. For example, you might focus on a book, but your mind is alive and wandering with the fantasy of the book. This applies with any sort of hobby (drawing, playing chess, bird watching, playing an instrument). It stands to reason that more skilled a person becomes when it comes to restricting ones mind, the more proficient one becomes at any one task.

However, as thought in Eastern psychology, even though concentration may start with a form of ‘contained’ movement of ones mind, it is possible to stop all movement completely. When this is achieved, it is believed that the mind becomes one with its object, and that this is what gives it quiet stillness. This mental state of immobility with illumination is what must first be achieved before one is able to ‘jump’ from this plane of consciousness to another. Doing this is considered the next stage of yoga. It is known as both dhyana and more simply meditation.

Dharana can be simply described as binding your mind to a specific place. We must tame our minds with practice. Concentration is so much like a muscle, with exercise it is strong and capable, with laziness it becomes weak and diminishes. In yoga, we are able to find many effective techniques for concentration (mantras, visualizations, inner sounds, and even being extremely focused on ones body while performing asana).

I’m going to tell you about one of the most powerful basic concentration techniques. Good luck with it, because if you’re anything like me, you’ll need it!

Trataka (steady gaze) is when your eyes fix upon one external object or point. This is best when you pick a comfy seat outside, where varying objects at varying distances can be seen. Try to pick around 4 equally distanced objects, the first being closer to your feet, the last being closest to the horizon. Concentrate upon one object at a time, starting with the closest, for a full minute, then turn your attention to the next and carry on, until you’ve gotten to your last item.

The next step is to simply start the process over again, in reverse. The next level would be to put a candle on a small table at eye level, about 2 – 3 meters away. Concentrate with all your might on the flame of the candle, trying not to blink, and attempting to hold your concentration for about 30 to 60 seconds.
Next you’ll need to close your eyes for the same amount of time, trying to recall perfectly what the candle looked like in your mind’s eye. Repeat the process a few more times. (So much harder than it sounds)!