Meditation

In Patanjali’s Ashtanga system, the last three limbs – Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi – are referred to collectively as sañyam. Sañyam describes the process meditation in all of its stages, increasing in intensity of focus and absorption.  They are also known as the Antaranga – the internal limbs of yoga – which occur at the level of the mind when it is turned completely inwards.

For one who is not yet a seasoned yogi – adept at moving effortlessly through each of these stages – it may help to approach our practice of meditation through an understanding of three ‘preliminary’ steps. These three practices of bringing attention to an experience – which are each useful, and serve different purposes.

In Mindfulness we maintain a witnessing presence, as an observer of the object or situation.  

In Samādhi we are completely absorbed in the experience, actually losing the sense of the self.

Both these involve a direct experience of the target of attention. And both mindfulness and absorptive meditations do eventually merge in advanced stages of practice.

In Svādhyaya, we simply reflect on the experience using our thoughts or words – engaging with the intellect, but without directly immersing in it.

In yogic Sanskrit – mindfulness is smrti-sādhana, absorption is samādhi, and contemplation is svādhyaya.