Samyama
Patanjali brings together the final three limbs under Samyama. Samyama is Sanskrit for holding or tying together. It consists of the three inner practices of Dharana or concentration, Dhyana or absorption and Samadhi or union. These three limbs also tie together all of the previous limbs and are why the yogic meditator has worked through the previous five limbs.
Dharana and Dhyana
Dharana is the act of fixing our inner awareness in a state of concentration. In the yogic tradition, this means that the meditator sits in asana with eyes closed and slowly brings her gaze to the point between the eyes. This point is the 6th Chakra, the 3rd eye or the Spiritual Eye.
To learn where this point is make a fist with your right hand and point your thumb straight up in the air as if you are giving someone the thumbs up sign. Extend your arm straight out in front of you at chest level. Slowly raise your arm up at a 45 degree angle. Gaze at this point and through it as if you were gazing at a distant mountain top. Slowly close your eyes. It is important to remember that your eyes are in a soft comfortable gaze, not trying to bore a hole through your forehead. This combined with the sitting instructions earlier are the foundations of a meditative practice.
Dhyana is absorption and for the yogi, the heart of meditation. It is the reason for our engagement in the other six limbs. I have read that most meditators do not reach this state but only experience tastes of it in their practice. It is this taste that keeps us going.
For the conjurer, Dharana and Dhyana is becoming absorbed into our work, the piece that we are practicing, rehearsing and honing. We want to know the piece, to have it knitted into our being and being able to perform it without thought, hesitation, or inner worry.
This state of absorption is a flow state where we are fully engaged in our work and practice. We are seemingly lost in our work but really fully present and awake.
Reflection in Action:
- What pieces have you knitted into your being and can perform without inner worry?
- What do you need to do to move other pieces to this place?
