Dhyana Praweshika – An Introduction
The word Dhyana means the meditative state, which ultimately culminates into an ecstatic state called Samadhi. It is the seventh step or limb of the eight fold yogic system proposed by Sage Patanjali who is the father of Indian Classical Patanjali Yoga. He gave one of the most important and venerable authoritative sources of Yoga in the form of Patanjali Yoga Sutra to the world. This is widely famous among Yoga practitioners all over the world. In this great treatise, Dhyana comes after Dharana –a method in which we train the mind to make it composed and focused to tap the eternal source of energy, which normally remains unused due to the wavering nature of the mind. The Patanjali Yoga Sutra describes Dhyana as “Tatra pratyayeiktanta Dhyanam”- which means the constant and one pointed unidirectional flow of awareness focused towards the real Divine Nature. Dhyana Praweshika is the methodology that leads to this meditative state. This technique involves exercising the mental apparatus as it acts as a bridge between the Self (Soul) and the outer existing world.
Indulgence is the nature of the intellect, it keeps going out to the objects of its interest, and most of the time either think of the frightful future or broods over the colorful past. In this course, it almost forgets the present and thus misses the very opportunity provided to appreciate the beauty and bliss embalmed in the core of each moment. Therefore, Dhyana Praweshika is the entrance to the wondrous state of meditation, which takes a being away from the indulgence and grossness of the sensory objects and opens a new fountain of eternal glory and bliss.
Citta – The Consciousness
Citta is the yogic term used for the brain with all of its functions and modifications and is the most important tool from a Yogic point of view. The importance of Citta in yogic practices can be inferred by the sutra- “Yogaha citta vritti nirodhaha” – in this sutra, Yoga is defined as the complete cessation of all of the mental modifications or the activities whatsoever. Here we have to question ourselves that is it possible to attain the state where mind renounces all its activities and becomes calm, as it cannot be easily comprehended because of the shaky and restless nature of mind. The philosophy of Yoga also suggests that the cessation of all of the mental activities leads to a state where the observer, which is the real Self gets completely in tune with itself and all the other worldly desires cease to exist. This state is known as “Samadhi”. According to the shruti – “Man ev manushyanam karanam bandh mokshayoho” which means that a mind is a tool, which acts either way. It gives both slavery and liberation. According to the philosophy of Yoga, the conscious being confuses itself with the mind and the objects projected by the material aspect of its existence which is just a fraction of its real nature and form and as a result forgets its real Self. It comes to experience the miseries of a limited being due to its misapprehension of the fact. Therefore, it becomes very important for a student of Yoga to understand and develop awareness to become familiar with the entire multi-faceted psychological system based upon the various aspects of this amazing organ termed as Citta. According to the Samkhya Metaphysics, a mind is a product of Prakriti and consists of three basic properties of illumination (Satva), initiation (Rajas) and inhibition (Tamas). Out of these three, Citta is considered as the result of Satva, so it can be conditioned as a tool to attain Self- Realization.
Author:
Brahmachari Vishweshwaranand
Shri Kalyanika Himalaya Dev Sthanam
