Dhyana (The Seventh Limb of Yoga)

“Dhyana is retaining one’s tranquil state of mind in any circumstance, unfavorable as well as favorable, and not being disturbed or frustrated even when adverse conditions present themselves one after another.” By D.T. Suzuki

Dhyana is the seventh limb of yoga and comes from the Sanskrit word dhyai, which means “to think of” or meditate.  In many traditions, dhyana is about contemplation on the self or God.  In the Yoga sutras, Patanjali declares we can eliminate our afflictions such as egoism, attachment, and ignorance with the help of meditation.

Since our mind is mostly focused on external things, Dhyana can help us pay attention to our thoughts and feelings.  When we quiet our mind, we can reflect on our reactions and responses and our motives behind our actions.  Meditation can help us control our thoughts and with practice respond to situations arising in our lives with intelligence and thoughtful consideration.

With practice you can meditate anywhere, but to start pick a quiet space where you have little or no distractions.  Sit in a comfortable pose and begin to notice your breath.  Scan your body and relax.  Close your eyes and start to move inward.  Notice where your mind wanders, just observe and bring it back to the present. 

“The quieter you become the more you can hear.” by Ram Dass

While meditating some people like to focus on an object like a candle, some like to focus on a mantra (word or phrase), others may use this time to reflect and pray.  Practicing dhyana daily for five to ten minutes helps to calm our minds and realign our inner self.  There are so many benefits of a meditation practice; research has shown that mediation can lower high blood pressure, reduces anxiety, increases serotonin production that improves mood and behavior, improves immune system and increases energy.  Meditation also increases creativity and happiness.

            We encourage you to take a few minutes out of each day to be still and listen to your inner self.  You might be surprised to hear what your “self” is telling you and what the Universe has to share.

                                                                      

“What a liberation to realize that the “voice in my head” is not who I am.  Who am I then? The one who sees that.” by Echhart Tolle

                                                                                                                                             References:  Hinduwebsite.com

Namaste,

Betsy and Jesse