Dhyāna and the Yoga of Meditation
By the time we reach the early centuries BCE, the ancient Indian search for liberation had already taken on many forms—ritual, mantra, asceticism, and the insights of the Buddha. Yet out of this spiritual mosaic, a clear and structured pathway began to crystallize and bridge the Vedic and Buddhist roots of meditation into a more formalised system: the Yoga of Patāñjali, known as Rāja Yoga, or the “Royal Path.”
Around 200 BCE – 400 CE, a sage named Patañjali compiled centuries of yogic teachings into a concise text of 196 aphorisms known as the Yoga Sūtras. In it, he outlined an eightfold path (Ashtanga Yoga) for achieving inner freedom. At the heart of this path lies Dhyāna, or meditation, the seventh of eight limbs, and a vital step toward samādhi, or spiritual absorption.
Dhyana, is a Sanskrit word meaning “contemplation and meditation.” The term dhyana derives from the two Sanskrit root words – dhi, which means “mind,” and yana, which means “moving.” Dhyana may also originate from the Sanskrit word dhyai, which means “to think of.” The ancient Hindu scripture Bhagavad Gita lists dhyana yoga as one of the four yoga disciplines along with bhakti yoga, jnana yoga, and karma yoga. In the Gita, the deity Krishna describes dhyana as the “yoga of meditation.”
While today we see “yoga” more often synonymous with only movement, in its classical form, yoga was a profound system of meditative stillness. Yoga really ‘was‘ meditation. The earlier limbs, ethical discipline, posture, breath control, and sensory withdrawal, prepared the practitioner for the deeper internal practices of concentration (Dharana), meditation (Dhyāna), and ultimately absorption (Samādhi).
In Dhyāna, there is effortless continuity, a sustained stream of awareness toward an object, without distraction. This is not passive relaxation; it is alert stillness, cultivated through devotion (Ishvara pranidhana), self-inquiry, and deep inner refinement.
Meditation Practice: Classical Yogic Dhyāna
In the classical model, meditation follows Dharana, the practice of focused attention. Here’s a simplified version of Dhyāna practice inspired by Patanjali’s system.
“Yoga is the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind.” – Yoga Sūtras I.2
A gentle Dhyāna practice:
- Sit in a stable, upright posture (Sthira Sukham Asanam).
- Focus your gaze inward—perhaps on the breath, a mantra, or a visualized flame or light at the heart.
- Bring the mind to rest on this object. This is Dharana, or initial concentration.
- Add a mudra with a hand pose to help focus your attention. With palms facing up, place your right hand over your left hand in your lap. Bring your thumbs together to form a triangle representing the three jewels of Buddhism; Buddha, sangha (community), and dharma (divine law).
- As your awareness deepens and distractions fall away, allow the focus to soften into spacious stillness. No pushing, no analysing. Just presence.
- Rest in this continuity for 10–15 minutes. If the mind wanders, return gently to your object. Let the breath remain your guide.
This is Dhyāna: a meditative absorption that prepares the mind for the sacred stillness of samādhi.
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Type of Meditation: Yoga Dhyana / Raja Yoga
Root Tradition: Patanjali Yoga
Key Region: northern Indian subcontinent
Rough Timeframe: 400 BCE – Present
Mountain of Light
Breath of the Beloved
Into the Silence
Letters of Light
Flowing Stillness
The Path of Insight
The Vedic Era
Whispers from the Ancient World
The Evolving Art of Meditation