I appreciate that a majority of youngsters Mansi Vaish talked to on meditation for krrisha.com opined that it should be included in the syllabuses. That is very nice to hear. But, I found there are certain misconceptions about meditation. We often confuse it with focus or concentration! In fact, it is something deeper than them.
Let’s know what’s what
What is focus? Is it Dhyan? Not really. Is focus concentration? Not really. In fact, they (concentration and dhyan) are physically opposite realities—one is zeroing in on and the other is zeroing out. But, of course, one leads to the other.
I want my youngsters to understand them. If I may put it scientifically, concentration is the basic state. Focus is the result of it. Dhyan is the radiant state of focus where energy is expanding from a focal point to infinity—zeroing out. Samadhi is the state of being in that resolved infinite expansion. Let me simplify the ashtaangyoga for my dear youngsters, it is an elaborate topic though.
What is ashtaangyoga
It is described by Maharishi Patanjali as —Yam, niyam, asan, pranayama, pratyahaar, dhaarna Dhyan, samadhi.
In the present context, we are practically talking about Pratyahar (concentration), Dhaarna (focus) as the basics. Dhyan and Samadhi will be discussed for academic interest. Concentration and focus are a build-up to dhyan. The word meditation isn’t appropriate to describe dhyan. It should rather be understood as a “river pouring into the sea infinite”. So I would call it Intellectual Culmination.
Concentration: We have already understood that we have an orbital structure. That means we have body circle, sensory circle, mind circle and intellect circle and then universal centre, called Intelligent Energy’s focal point in our system.
If you arrange these circles in the right order, they appear like a concentric which has a centre in the middle. Reaching the centre from the peripheries is called concentration or pratyaahar. Sanskrit word Pratyahaar is made up two words प्रतिand हृ, which basically means reversing and collecting at the centre. That means moving from the periphery (परिधि) to the centre ( केन्द्र). This movement is called concentration. Remember it is the movement to the centre.
Focus (Dhaarna): It simply means the state at the centre. When your attention from the periphery to the centre is retained at the centre, the event is called Dhaarna or focus. Here the flow of consciousness (which is energy itself) collects at the centre. This is the state when your consciousness or mind is fixed, settled and is not running into the vrittis—- they stand for the circles (body to intellect) you have crossed to reach the centre. Technically speaking when your mind circle is established in the intellect circle, it is called Dhaarna—here the mind is held (धारण किया जाता है) by the intellect, like a container holds the content. All these circles are drawn around the intellect in our body system. The intellect has the universal focal point called Intelligent Energy.
Dhyan (meditation): When this intellect gets collected at the universal focal point, it expands universally and infinitely to the dimensions of Intelligent Energy—as a river flows into the sea. This state is called Dhyan. The state when धी (the intellect) is expanding with the dimensions of Intelligent Energy is called ध्यान्. Here your intellect is expanding from a point to all the directions till infinity, while during the concentration it all circles was collecting at the centre—the intellect here.
Samadhi: This is the state when the intellect resolves into Intelligent Energy—the river loses itself in the sea. It becomes one with the sea.
Therefore, I suggest we shouldn’t and can’t jump to dhyan right away. We have to take the right and scientific course by practising concentration and focus the Gita way. These two can be taught in the institutions. These steps when perfected will automatically lead to Dhyan.
Vivek Sharma
Editior-In-Chief
krrisha.com
Meditation is the seventh stage of ashtang yoga, called "dhyaan" or concentration in Hindi.
I don't meditate usually, except at school during yoga class.
Yes, as it is a part of yoga and if yoga is taught, then it is incomplete without meditation.
Inference: Meditation is the seventh stage of ashtang yoga. Though I do not regularly practice meditation but I believe it should be included in school syllabuses.
Aakriti Sinha
I think meditation is simply concentrating all your energies into one thought, it's almost a state of being because you are completely focused on whatever you're doing, which is not just limited to sitting silently with your eyes closed. But every kind of meditation, I believe, has its own purpose.
I almost never meditate in the typical way, but otherwise the closest I get to meditating is while I'm praying for something.
Absolutely! It's known to be a modern stress reliever as well apart from its millions of other benefits, so why not inculcate the practice from school days itself.
Inference: Meditation is concentrating all your energies into a thought. It should be included in our school syllabuses since it is known to be a great stress reliever.
Shruti Sinha
Meditation is done to calm our mind, to give peace and for focusing on a particular topic.
To be stress free and to build concentration on my work
No it's not taught at school level at all. It should be taught at least once in a week.
Inference: Meditation should at taught at school level since it is useful in calming down once mind.
Sakshi Mishra
Meditation is a relaxation technique that involves rhythmic breathing, which helps you calm your mind and increase focus. I meditate to have access to the subconscious part of my mind in order to find answers to my question, which are not easy to find when you are dealing with a lot in daily life, due to some or the other reason. Also I meditate to let go of the negative thoughts and feel light. Yes, meditation should be taught at school level because many teenagers deal with issues that affect their mental health and sometimes self-realization is all what one's need to break the boundaries.
Inference: Mediation should e taught at school level since a good amount of teenagers have issues relating to their mental health. I do it to relieve myself of negativities and tap the subconscious part of mind
Jayshree Mishra
According to me meditation is duration of time when you remove all the thoughts from your mind and try to relax yourself, with no random thoughts popping up in your mind.
I being a student have a very busy schedule from school to tuition to studies, so I meditate to relax myself and to give myself a break from this busy and hectic schedule.
Yes, I think so it's important to teach technique using which you can relax and calm down your mind as this refreshes your mind and gives you a fresh start to do something new.
Inference: Meditation is duration of time when you remove all the thoughts from your mind and try to relax yourself, with no random thoughts popping up in your mind. Yes, I think so it's important to teach technique using which you can relax and calm down your minds.
Atharv Patil
For me meditation is a state to be conscious about that very particular moment.
Reasons to practice varies, for some to explore and learn about themselves while for others it is to be still ,for some to experience the highest being.
Yes , meditation must be introduced at school level this will not only boost the child's memory but also teach them to be calm and compose. From the very beginning they will learn about their true nature and the art to respond.
Inference: For me meditation is a state to be conscious about that very particular moment. Meditation should be introduced at school level
Chandni Poddar.
Meditation is a form of exercise which results in a unification of senses and enables us to reach the highest realm of our consciousness eliminating all our insecurities and fears allowing us to attain purest form of our spirit which unites us to the universal spiritual energy .
I used to meditate but then suddenly I stopped because I have a hectic schedule. But now I am planning to add it in my daily regime as it definitely will help me to take on the day on a positive note and cleanse my mind of all toxicities. What we perceive is a reflection of what is already present in our mind and it is mandatory to filter our mind so that we can view the world with neutral mindset
Yes meditation should be taught in schools but it is important to incorporate this practice since childhood so that the child recognises the advantages of meditating and it’s contribution to create a healthy personality. Parents should also meditate with their children to facilitate a happy intimate family life where every member nurtures in him or her sense of belonging and unity.
Inference: Meditation is a form of exercise which results in a unification of senses and enables us to reach the highest realm of our consciousness. Meditation should be taught in schools but it is important to incorporate this practice since childhood so that the child recognises the advantages of meditating and it’s contribution to create a healthy personality.
Meghna Beri
Mediation is a way to purify one's mind. I meditate for the same reason. The earlier one learns to purify one's mind of defilements like anger, jealousy, the like, the better it is for the individual in all the ways, it betters concentration in studies and helps in day to day life, that is why it has been introduced in many schools of Maharashtra.
Inference: Mediation is a way to purify one's mind. it betters concentration in studies and helps in day to day life, that is why it has been introduced in many schools of Maharashtra.
Nivedita chaturvedi
Compiled by Mansi Vaish
