Post by Kriyaban on Nov 3, 2022 18:11:56 GMT
D H ARAN A (CONGENT RAT' O N )
WHAT IS DHARANA?
1. Dharana is concentration. It is fixing the mind
on an external object or an intemal point.
2. Concentration is purely a mental process. It
needs an inward turning of the mind.
3. If you concentrate your mind on a point for 12
seconds, it is Dharana. Twelve such Dharanas will be a
Dhyana (meditation). Twelve such Dhyanas will be
S amadhi (superconsciousness).
4. Concentration is fixing the mind; meditation is
allowing one idea to flow continuously.
AIDS TO CONGENTRATION
5. Cultivate attention; you will have good
concentration.
6. A serene mind is fit for concentration. Keep
the mind serene.
7. Be cheerful always. Then alone you will
concentrate.
8. Be regular in your concentration. Sit in the
same place, at the same time, 4 a.m.
(e0)
DHARANA (CONCENTRATION) 9l
9. Celibacy, Pranayama, reduction of wants and
activities, dispassion, silence, seclusion, discipline of
the senses, Japa, control of anger, giving up reading
novels, newspapers and visiting cinemas, are all aids to
concentration. Give up TV watching.
10. Japa (recitation of Lord's Name) and Kirtan
(singing of Lord's Name and His Glory) will develop
concentration.
11. Stick to one centre when you concentrate.
12. Concentration demands patient and protracted
practice.
13. Do not leave the practice even for a day. It is
very difficult to rise up again.
HOW TO CONCENTRATE
14. Silence the bubbling thoughts. Calm the
surging emotions. Then alone you will be able to concentrate.
15. Concentrate on a concrete form in the beginning,
on a flower, on the form of Lord Buddha, on any dream
picture, on the eftrlgent light ofthe heart, on the picture of
any saint, or your Ishta Devata.
16. Have 3 or 4 sittings: early moming, 8 a.m.,
4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
17. Devotees concentrate on the heart, Raja
Yogins on Trikuti (the seat of mind), Vedantins on
Sahasrara or top of the head. Trikuti is the space
between the eyebrows.
92 FOURTEENLESSONSONRAJAYOGA
18. You can also concentrate on the tip ofthe nose,
the navel, or the Muladhara (below the last vertebra of
the spinal column.
I. ON ISHTA DEVATA
19. Sit on any comfortable pose. Place a picture of
your Ishta Devata in front of you. Look at the picture
with a steady gaze. Then close your eyes and visualise
the picture in the centre of your heart or in the space between the eyebrows.
20. When the picture fades out in your mental vision, open the eyes and gaze at the picture again. Close
your eyes after a few seconds and repeat the process.
II. FOR CHRISTIANS
21. Devotees of Lord Jesus can concentrate on the
picfure of Lord Jesus or on the cross, in the same manner
as stated above or on Blessed Virgin Mary or idea of
God.
III. ON GROSS FORMS
22. Concentrate on a black dot on the wall, a candle flame, a bright star, the moon, on the picture of Om
or any other object pleasant to you.
23. When you feel strain in your eyes, then close
them for a minute and mentally visualise the object.
When the mind runs, again and again bring it back to the
object of your concentration.
DHARANA (CONCENTRATION) 93
24. Concentration on the moon is beneficial to
those of emotional temperament. Concentration on candle flame will give vision of Rishis and Devatas.
IV. SUBTLE METHODS
25. Concentrate on divine qualities such as love,
mercy, compassion, or any other abstract idea such as
infinity, omnipotence and omnipresence of the Lord,
etc.
26. Read two or three pages of a book. Then close
the book. Focus your attention carefully on the subject
you have read. Abandon all other thoughts. Allow the
mind to associate, classiff, group, compare and combine the subject. You will get now a fund of knowledge
and information on the subject. You will develop good
memory.
27. Lie on yourbed in the open air and concentrate
upon the blue expansive sky above. Your mind will expand immediately. You will be elevated. The blue sky
will remind you of the infinite nature of the Self.
V. ON SOUNDS
28. Sit on any comfortable pose. Close your
eyes. Plug the ears with your index fingers or cotton
plugs. Try to hear the inner astral sounds such as the
music of the flute or violin, keffledrum, thunderstorm,
chiming of bells, blowing of conch, humming of bees,
etc. Hear only one kind of sound. Withdraw the mental
rays from other objects and merge them in the sound you
are trying to hear. You will get one-pointedness of mind.
94 FOURTEENLESSONSONRAJAYOGA
The mind can be controlled easily because it is enchanted by sweet notes.
29. Concentrate on the tik-tik sound of a watch.
30. Sit by the side of a river at a secluded spot.
Concentrate your mind on the rushing sound of the river.
You will hear the roaring of Om. This is very thrilling
and inspiring.
VI. THE SUFI METHOD
31. Place a mirror in front of you. Concentrate on
the space between the eyebrows of yourreflection in the
mirror.
VII. ON TRIKUTI
32. The mind can be easily controlled by
concentrating on the Trikuti, because it is the seat of the
mind.
33. When there is deep concentration on Trikuti,
you will experience great joy and spiritual intoxication.
You will forget the body and the surroundings. All the
Prana will be taken up to your head.
34. Gazingon a crystal or a Saligram induces concentration.
35. You can concentrate on the breath in your nostrils (Soham sound). There is 'So'during inhalation and
'Ham' during exhalation.
When irrelevant thoughts enter the mind, be
indifferent. They will pass away.
39. Do not drive them forcibly. They will persist
and resist. It will tax your will. They will enter with redoubled force. But substitute divine thoughts. Evil
thoughts will gradually fade out.
40. Be slow and steady in the practice of
concentration.
41. Apply some Brahmi-Amla oil to the head if
there is much heat.
42. Take butter and sugarcandy. This will cool the
system.
43. If you want to succeed in any walk of life, you
must develop concentration It is a source of spiritual
strength. It is the master-key for opening the chamber of
knowledge
When irrelevant thoughts enter the mind, be
indifferent. They will pass away.
40. Be slow and steady in the practice of
concentration.
41. Apply some Brahmi-Amla oil to the head if
there is much heat.
42. Take butter and sugarcandy. This will cool the
system.
43. If you want to succeed in any walk of life, you
must develop concentration It is a source of spiritual
strength. It is the master-key for opening the chamber of
knowledge
WHAT IS DHARANA?
1. Dharana is concentration. It is fixing the mind
on an external object or an intemal point.
2. Concentration is purely a mental process. It
needs an inward turning of the mind.
3. If you concentrate your mind on a point for 12
seconds, it is Dharana. Twelve such Dharanas will be a
Dhyana (meditation). Twelve such Dhyanas will be
S amadhi (superconsciousness).
4. Concentration is fixing the mind; meditation is
allowing one idea to flow continuously.
AIDS TO CONGENTRATION
5. Cultivate attention; you will have good
concentration.
6. A serene mind is fit for concentration. Keep
the mind serene.
7. Be cheerful always. Then alone you will
concentrate.
8. Be regular in your concentration. Sit in the
same place, at the same time, 4 a.m.
(e0)
DHARANA (CONCENTRATION) 9l
9. Celibacy, Pranayama, reduction of wants and
activities, dispassion, silence, seclusion, discipline of
the senses, Japa, control of anger, giving up reading
novels, newspapers and visiting cinemas, are all aids to
concentration. Give up TV watching.
10. Japa (recitation of Lord's Name) and Kirtan
(singing of Lord's Name and His Glory) will develop
concentration.
11. Stick to one centre when you concentrate.
12. Concentration demands patient and protracted
practice.
13. Do not leave the practice even for a day. It is
very difficult to rise up again.
HOW TO CONCENTRATE
14. Silence the bubbling thoughts. Calm the
surging emotions. Then alone you will be able to concentrate.
15. Concentrate on a concrete form in the beginning,
on a flower, on the form of Lord Buddha, on any dream
picture, on the eftrlgent light ofthe heart, on the picture of
any saint, or your Ishta Devata.
16. Have 3 or 4 sittings: early moming, 8 a.m.,
4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
17. Devotees concentrate on the heart, Raja
Yogins on Trikuti (the seat of mind), Vedantins on
Sahasrara or top of the head. Trikuti is the space
between the eyebrows.
92 FOURTEENLESSONSONRAJAYOGA
18. You can also concentrate on the tip ofthe nose,
the navel, or the Muladhara (below the last vertebra of
the spinal column.
I. ON ISHTA DEVATA
19. Sit on any comfortable pose. Place a picture of
your Ishta Devata in front of you. Look at the picture
with a steady gaze. Then close your eyes and visualise
the picture in the centre of your heart or in the space between the eyebrows.
20. When the picture fades out in your mental vision, open the eyes and gaze at the picture again. Close
your eyes after a few seconds and repeat the process.
II. FOR CHRISTIANS
21. Devotees of Lord Jesus can concentrate on the
picfure of Lord Jesus or on the cross, in the same manner
as stated above or on Blessed Virgin Mary or idea of
God.
III. ON GROSS FORMS
22. Concentrate on a black dot on the wall, a candle flame, a bright star, the moon, on the picture of Om
or any other object pleasant to you.
23. When you feel strain in your eyes, then close
them for a minute and mentally visualise the object.
When the mind runs, again and again bring it back to the
object of your concentration.
DHARANA (CONCENTRATION) 93
24. Concentration on the moon is beneficial to
those of emotional temperament. Concentration on candle flame will give vision of Rishis and Devatas.
IV. SUBTLE METHODS
25. Concentrate on divine qualities such as love,
mercy, compassion, or any other abstract idea such as
infinity, omnipotence and omnipresence of the Lord,
etc.
26. Read two or three pages of a book. Then close
the book. Focus your attention carefully on the subject
you have read. Abandon all other thoughts. Allow the
mind to associate, classiff, group, compare and combine the subject. You will get now a fund of knowledge
and information on the subject. You will develop good
memory.
27. Lie on yourbed in the open air and concentrate
upon the blue expansive sky above. Your mind will expand immediately. You will be elevated. The blue sky
will remind you of the infinite nature of the Self.
V. ON SOUNDS
28. Sit on any comfortable pose. Close your
eyes. Plug the ears with your index fingers or cotton
plugs. Try to hear the inner astral sounds such as the
music of the flute or violin, keffledrum, thunderstorm,
chiming of bells, blowing of conch, humming of bees,
etc. Hear only one kind of sound. Withdraw the mental
rays from other objects and merge them in the sound you
are trying to hear. You will get one-pointedness of mind.
94 FOURTEENLESSONSONRAJAYOGA
The mind can be controlled easily because it is enchanted by sweet notes.
29. Concentrate on the tik-tik sound of a watch.
30. Sit by the side of a river at a secluded spot.
Concentrate your mind on the rushing sound of the river.
You will hear the roaring of Om. This is very thrilling
and inspiring.
VI. THE SUFI METHOD
31. Place a mirror in front of you. Concentrate on
the space between the eyebrows of yourreflection in the
mirror.
VII. ON TRIKUTI
32. The mind can be easily controlled by
concentrating on the Trikuti, because it is the seat of the
mind.
33. When there is deep concentration on Trikuti,
you will experience great joy and spiritual intoxication.
You will forget the body and the surroundings. All the
Prana will be taken up to your head.
34. Gazingon a crystal or a Saligram induces concentration.
35. You can concentrate on the breath in your nostrils (Soham sound). There is 'So'during inhalation and
'Ham' during exhalation.
When irrelevant thoughts enter the mind, be
indifferent. They will pass away.
39. Do not drive them forcibly. They will persist
and resist. It will tax your will. They will enter with redoubled force. But substitute divine thoughts. Evil
thoughts will gradually fade out.
40. Be slow and steady in the practice of
concentration.
41. Apply some Brahmi-Amla oil to the head if
there is much heat.
42. Take butter and sugarcandy. This will cool the
system.
43. If you want to succeed in any walk of life, you
must develop concentration It is a source of spiritual
strength. It is the master-key for opening the chamber of
knowledge
When irrelevant thoughts enter the mind, be
indifferent. They will pass away.
40. Be slow and steady in the practice of
concentration.
41. Apply some Brahmi-Amla oil to the head if
there is much heat.
42. Take butter and sugarcandy. This will cool the
system.
43. If you want to succeed in any walk of life, you
must develop concentration It is a source of spiritual
strength. It is the master-key for opening the chamber of
knowledge