EIGHT LIMBS OF YOGA - Dhyana

The entire purpose of our technique-driven practice—whether it is asana, pranayama, or meditation—is to orient the mind toward a single-pointed flow of attention. This flow does not come from the lower, distracted mind but from the higher mind (buddhi), which already holds the qualities of clarity, steadiness, and intuitive wisdom.

Why do we need this?

Because this is the path that leads us toward Stithi and ultimately Dhyana—that unbroken, effortless continuity of presence.

Before the mind can enter Dhyana, it must first pass through Dharana, the stage where we practice holding concentration. In Dharana, there is a clear awareness of the subject (the one meditating), the object (the chosen point of focus), and the process of concentrating itself. These three remain distinct. The object is not the important part here; what matters is the art of concentration—training the mind to move in a single, unified direction without scattering.

The mind must learn how to stay. Not perfectly, but intentionally.

Once this stream of attention becomes continuous—once the gaps between distractions diminish—Dharana naturally matures into Dhyana. In Dhyana, the process of concentration dissolves. We are no longer “trying” to focus. The subject, object, and process begin to merge into a single, seamless flow. Here the object becomes deeply important, because the mind begins to enter the essence of the object, rather than simply holding it in place. The meditator, the object, and the act of meditation move toward unity.

This progression is not something we manufacture. It is something we remember.

Stithi—unbroken presence—is already part of the higher mind. It is an innate capacity of consciousness that we tap back into, not a new skill we must build from scratch. Every technique we use simply helps us reconnect to this natural, single-pointed flow that leads toward absorption (Samadhi).

So our practice is not about forcing the mind into silence. It is about aligning ourselves with the pathway that naturally leads there:

Dharana → Dhyana → Samadhi.

This is the journey of returning the mind to its own essential stillness, one steady, unbroken and un-folding moment.