One Term at a Time · 22
Dharana
धारणा
Concentration.
Seeing only the target, nothing else.
Definition: Swami Jyotirmayananda, Integral Yoga glossary
Swamiji on Dharana
Our summary of the lecture passage in the film below. These are our words, not Swamiji's.
Dharana is concentration: seeing only the target and nothing else. In this Tulsi Ramayana talk Swamiji turns to the Mahabharata, where Dronacharya tests his students with one question before anyone shoots: what do you see? The student who sees everything, the guru, the others, even the guru's sandals, is told he is not fit. Arjuna sees only the eye, and he is told to shoot. Swamiji tells the story to describe meditation, and that is the key to dharana. Concentration is the narrowing Arjuna shows, the moment every other object drops out of view; meditation is staying there. You cannot hold a focus you have not first made, and you make it by letting go of everything that is not the target. The story is allegorical, he says, meant to give a message. When the mind is highly purified, your very soul becomes the arrow, Brahman becomes the target, and nothing else exists.
I see only the eye, the target.
See also: Dhyana, Samadhi, Brahman, The Four Paths, Lesson 13: The Mind: Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi
One Term at a Time
One Sanskrit term at a time: a short definition, then Swamiji using the word in a lecture.
Start at the beginning: Vāsanā
- 01Vāsanāthe trace a desire leaves behind
- 02Vairāgyathe loosening of a grip
- 03Satsaṅgathe company you keep
- 04Vivekatelling the real from what only looks real
- 05Brahmanthe one reality behind every object
- 06Māyāwhy the world seems so real
- 07Jnanathe wisdom that sees through it
- 08Sadhanathe practice that carries you there
- 09Vicharaasking who you really are
- 10Ragathe pull toward what pleases you
- 11Dveshathe push away from what displeases you
- 12Samskarathe impression each like and dislike leaves on the mind
- 13Karmaaction and the result produced by action
- 14Gunathe three fundamental modes or qualities of nature
- 15Pranalife force; vital energy
- 16Samadhideep absorption in truth
- 17Jivaindividual self
- 18Chittamental process
- 19Japarepetition of mantra
- 20Dhyanameditation
- 21Muktiliberation
- 22Dharanaconcentration
- 23Atmasoul
- 24Bhavanafeeling
- 25Jnanithe wise one
- 26Sthita-prajnaone established in wisdom
- 27Aham brahmasmiI am Brahman
- 28Pranayamabreathing exercises
- 29Bhaktidevotion
- 30Sattwaa harmonious, focused state
- 31Rajasa restless, distracted state
- 32Tamasinertia
- 33Shravanalistening
- 34Mananareflection
- 35NididhyasanaVedantic meditation
- 36Tapasausterity
- 37Pratyaharawithdrawal of the senses
- 38Swadhyayastudy of scriptures
- 39Ishvara Pranidhanasurrender to God
- 40Shauchapurity
- 41Santoshacontentment
- 42Ahimsanon-violence
- 43Satyatruthfulness
- 44Asteyanon-stealing
- 45Brahmacharyacelibacy
What is The Four Paths?
Swami Jyotirmayananda's teaching on the four paths of yoga, in his own words, one short lesson at a time.
What it does for you
Swamiji teaches that the personality has four sides: action, emotion, will and reason. Each path cultivates one of them, and the course covers all four, so none is left out.
- Karma Yogaaction
unfolds one’s hidden potentialities
- Bhakti Yogaemotion
cultures the feelings and brings about emotional integration in the personality
- Raja Yogawill
allows one to develop a strong will and a controlled mind
- Jnana Yogareason
trains and renders the reason sharp and subtle
In order to succeed, all these four must be cultivated in a balanced and integrated manner.
Swami Jyotirmayananda, The Four Paths, Lesson 3
It is free and comes by email: a lesson every other day, 19 core lessons on action, devotion, meditation and wisdom, then 10 lessons called Going Deeper.
Every lesson is Swamiji's own text, so you learn the four paths from him, not from a summary.
Swamiji teaches dharana in Lesson 13 of The Four Paths.
Prefer to look first? Read Lesson 1 of The Four Paths.