Dharana - concentrate before you meditate

The yoga philosophy of Patanjali is broken down into eight limbs. Here we focus on the sixth pillar - Dharana.

Dharana means “concentration” in sanskrit. Dharana comes before Dhyana (meditation) on the eight-limbed path to self-realisation. It serves as a preparation for the subsequent stage of meditation (Dhyana) and the ultimate state of Samadhi, a state of unity and transcendence.

Dharana refers to the practice of focusing the mind on a single object or point of attention.

The purpose of Dharana is to cultivate one-pointedness of mind and to develop the ability to sustain attention without distraction. By concentrating the mind on a specific object, the practitioner aims to quiet the mental chatter and bring the mind to a state of focused awareness.

Through the practice of Dharana, the mind becomes more refined, steady, and absorbed in the chosen object of concentration. It helps to cultivate mental clarity, inner stability, and increased control over the fluctuations of the mind. The continuous practice of Dharana can lead to a state of deep absorption and concentration, known as Dhyana (meditation).

Patanjali yoga sutra mention “Deshbandhas chittasya dharana” which translates to concentration is binding the mind to a place. The Chitta (the mind) is extremely wavering; to engage it in a particular area is Dharana.