THE ESSENCE OF DHARANA & DHYANA
During the experience of samsara, attention is focused on something that appears to be other than itself, thus becoming broken. It perceives the observed as separate from itself—a false perception. Attention, as the eternal, solitary awareness, involuntarily identifies with the observed, creating the illusion of duality where things seem separate from oneself, though in truth there is only itself. How then can we correct this false perception?
When attention fixates on something perceived as different, such as thoughts, it forces further illusions and allows attention to identify with layers that is automatically projected into its illusion of externalities, reinforcing the sense of separation. This identification with various layers perpetuates samsara. It's when attention drifts among these layers, believing itself to be an individual entity residing within them, that bondage is sustained. This drift occurs as attention moves from one thought to the next, perceiving a linear progression and falsely believing it fulfills desires—none of which would occur if attention were undivided. Therefore, to break free from this conditioning and the bondage it imposes, attention must redirect its awareness away from these layers and toward the formless field from which the illusion of disturbances arises. When done correctly, the perception of linearity diminishes, allowing attention to transition from broken to unbroken.
In the journey of spiritual growth, evolution hinges on stabilizing attention to prevent it from wandering amidst perceived disturbances. Realization of one’s true self cannot arise without meditation. Meditation, or dhyana, is the state where attention becomes perfectly still, unaffected by the perception of thoughts which introduce disturbances and mental objects.
True meditation isn't merely about physical stillness and silence; it entails keeping attention completely steady, maintaining an unbroken flow of stillness and peace. The moment attention breaks and thoughts arise, the meditative state is lost. Therefore, to prevent attention from breaking, one must cultivate concentration, known as dharana.
Dharana is concentration. One must continuously practice concentration by preventing attention from diverging elsewhere, towards the illusion of thoughts and objects. If concentration is not practiced, the illusion of multiplicity is sustained, and one’s attention continues to drift among disturbances, perpetuating the deluded experience of fulfilling desires, no matter their nature. All spiritual practices aim to strengthen concentration by fixing attention in one place rather than allowing it to wander. This is what it means to make the mind one-pointed. Through a one-pointed mind, attention stops wandering and eventually retraces itself back to its pure self, signifying its true nature, free from illusion.
To achieve meditation, sufficient concentration is required, which involves controlling desires that may otherwise divert attention. The method of controlling these desires varies based on one's practice methodology. When desires no longer grasp attention, one becomes more open to experiencing an uninterrupted flow or continuous stream of pure attention, free from drifting between perceived moments. This stillness enables staying grounded in the present moment, avoiding the pull of thoughts about the past or future.
If attention breaks, it indicates that concentration needs further refinement. Only when the stream of stillness flows continuously without interruptions does it qualify as meditation. Any interruptions signify the reinforcement of samsara or illusion, which persists if one indulges and dwells in that mode of existence, thus succumbing to desire. Therefore, strive to maintain firm concentration so that it remains continuous even amidst activities.
When meditation becomes effortless, the meditator ceases to be someone who is actively meditating, and what remains is the pure, undisturbed field of awareness. Immersion in this field is known as samadhi, the culmination of all spiritual efforts.