MENTAL PURIFICATION AND CONSTRAINT THROUGH DHYANA
1. Super-Consciousness through the Constraint of the Mind
Dharana is the seed; dhyana is the tree, and samadhi is the fruit. These three are
inseparable, constituting an integral whole. Sage Patanjali has termed this trio samyama
(constraint). Samyama is the direct means; in the practice of yoga, while the preceding
five steps, including yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, and pratyahara are the indirect
means. However, in comparison with the highest state of nirbija samadhi, even samyama
is considered to be an indirect means for mastering yoga.
Having withdrawn the mind from the sense organs, the seeker, through samyama, has to
focus his attention on an object of contemplation and concentrate his mind on a presented
idea so that nothing but that exists in his consciousness. During the practice of samyama,
the seeker’s mind passes through various states before reaching the state of dhyana or
perfect concentration, and finally attaining perfect knowledge through samadhi or super
consciousness.
2. Knowledge Is Dependent on Mind
It is not possible to accomplish real knowledge about the secrets of various lower and
higher stages of yoga without regular practice. Knowledge obtained through books is
indirect, while knowledge attained through rtambhara prajna, which is the outcome of
samadhi is direct. The former is born of scripture, the latter of yoga. Real knowledge is
that which is born of the actual experiences of yoga, while that which is obtained by
studying the scriptures is just superfluous knowledge.
Lord Krsna says: “There is nothing so sacred in this world as true knowledge; a perfected
yogi finds it from within his ‘Self’ at the proper time”.1 The perfected yogi referred to in
this stanza is the accomplished yogi of Karma Yoga or savikalpa samadhi because true
knowledge dawns only after mastering these. In fact, Karma Yoga is the basis for Jnana
Yoga. One does not attain fitness for practicing Jnana Yoga without first mastering
Karma Yoga. Thus karma or action precedes jnana or knowledge.