We've mastered the Yamas and Niyamas as well as Asana and Pranayama, right? And we are totally in the know about Pratyahara.
So let's get to the 6th Limb of Yoga now...Dharana: Deep Concentration.
To still the mind we must focus our attention. To some this is being "in the flow" where thought seems to stop -- maybe a musician totally lost in his/her music, fully present and absorbed in the activity. Also, you've seen those cool mala beads, right? Often they are worn as "yoga jewelry" in the form of a bracelet or necklace. Well, they serve a purpose far beyond making a style statement. They are a tool for concentration. A yogi/yogini will often focus on the breath as they touch each bead, or engage in "japa" or the repetition of a mantra, repeating the word or phrase while touching each bead in turn. Often the brain will abandon the effort on each bead, and one will need to come back to concentrating on the breath or mantra over and over. But this effort at Dharana, concentration, is readying the practitioner for the next limb of yoga.
Dhyana (Meditation), the 7th Limb of Yoga, occurs when concentration becomes steady enough that no thoughts will intrude on the internal experience. The mala japa may be practiced touching each bead in turn with no thoughts, only the open space of silence. The classic way of explaining this transition is to imagine that it's raining and Dharana is the focus we give to each individual raindrop, until eventually the raindrops and our concentration on the individual merges into a river of no individual thought resulting in uninterrupted meditation, or Dyhana. This lovely state of "no mind" leads us to the state "no Ego". But I caution you: Many feel they "fail" at meditation because they cannot stop their thoughts. Thinking is what our brain is designed to do! The "success" of Dhyana is to be vaguely aware of thoughts, but not to focus on them...let them float away with little to no attachment to their presence or meaning. It's hard. That's why we practice.
Samadhi (Oneness) is the 8th Limb of Yoga. It is classically hard to describe. It is the realm of very advanced practitioners, some say, only the true Gurus we think of as wise and infallible reach Samadhi. But really? Can no mere mortal reach this state? It depends. If one thinks of Samadhi as a trance-like state involving colorful robes and a cave, well, that may be hard to do. But if one thinks of being totally and completely IN this world, but without judgement, without attachment, without thought, without the filters of human experience, but in total immersion with the experience of oneness with the Universe, with all that is, then sure; anyone can get there. Some experience this in worship or in nature. It is a state of egoless bounty. All senses are active but without filters, without a point of view. It is a state of hopefulness, joy. At any moment we can all experience Samadhi...more likely if we have prepared a place for it to occur by practicing all 8 Limbs of yoga, relentlessly, with effort, and with intention. There is effort to come to a state of effortlessness, but wow, right? Totally worth it!
I hope you've enjoyed our journey through the 8 Limbs and most importantly have learned that "yoga" is far more than a perfected Downward Facing Dog. Yoga is life. It may seem one must master these limbs in sequential order and certainly it helps, especially in the latter limbs, to build upon all the practices, but the limbs are meant to be practiced simultaneously. Breathe, meditate, do asana, live ethically, focus concentration, turn inward, be in integrity with others, find the Seat of Your Egoless Soul. It's there for all of us, all of the time. Wouldn't the world be a better place if we all dedicated ourselves to this ancient practice? I think so.
Namaste, donnajurene
Photo Credit: pixabay.com
Resources: Yoga Basics; Yoga Journal
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