The 3 Stages of Meditation
Learn the fundamentals as you move through concentration, absorption, and self-realization
The Flowering of the Mind
Meditation goes beyond just finding calm or closing your eyes—it's a practice that reveals the layers of the mind and clears our perspective. How we perceive ourselves and the world around us shapes our reality. A mind filled with worries creates that reality, while a focused mind shapes a different one. This focus empowers discernment, essential for distinguishing between our innate thoughts, feelings, and ideas and those that are conditioned.
In Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, he outlines a systematic meditation journey, discussing three stages of practice. Below, we'll explore these stages, followed by a Prana Dharana practice—a foundational practice to enhance concentration and turn inward. This practice is fundamental and frequently featured in our membership.
Stage One: Dharana (Concentration)
Dharana the practice of creating single-pointed concentration. During this stage, you choose a specific point of focus to anchor your attention. This point of focus could be an object, a word or mantra, the breath, a visualized image, a sensation, or even a concept. The goal is to bring the mind's attention to this chosen focal point and sustain it there, while minimizing distractions.
The process of Dharana:
Choose your focus (eg a mantra) > keep bringing mind back to mantra when it’s distracted > maintain endurance to create an unbroken stream of presence.
The purpose of Dharana:
Dharana is crucial because it helps train the mind to overcome its natural tendency to jump from thought to thought. It cultivates discipline and control over the mind's wandering tendencies. This is important if you want to progress your practice.
Stage Two: Dhyana (Meditation)
Dhyana is the stage of meditation where your concentration becomes more refined and effortless. The distinction between you and the object of meditation begins to blur as the you enter a state of absorption.
The process of Dhyana:
Concentrating on your chosen object (eg. a mantra) > let go of effort and allow your attention to naturally rest > distractions will fade and absorption with the object arises.
The purpose of Dhyana:
Dhyana is a deepening of Dharana. It allows you to experience a profound state of focused awareness and begin to glimpse the subtler aspects of their chosen object. This is where your chosen object becomes important as you will begin to merge your mind with this object. Over time and practice you merge with the qualities of this object and dictates how you think, feel, and act.
Stage Three: Samadhi (Self-Realization)
Samadhi is the ultimate state of meditation, representing a merging of your mind with the object of meditation or a higher state of consciousness. It's a state of profound stillness, bliss, and self-awareness. We are simply existing. If we can be in constant touch with this part of ourselves, its then we can be guided through life by our higher selves.
The process of Samadhi:
You become absorbed and feel a sense of unity with your meditation object > the qualities of your meditation object merge with you > you may feel a heightened sense of awareness, peace, and one-ness with the universe.
The purpose of Samadhi:
It's a state of profound insight and spiritual realization that can bring lasting positive changes to your life. You may feel a sense of everlasting peace and joy that is inherent to you, shaping your perspective on the world and influencing your path forward.
Mantra is the most supreme object of meditation
Mantras can be ‘locked’ or ‘unlocked’. An unlocked mantra means you can access the full shakti (power) of that mantra. Traditional mantras hold a greater potency for healing, transformation, and insight. Meditating on an unlocked mantra means that the shakti (power) of that mantra is released into the mind, and the mind becomes absorbed with it’s power. There are only 5 unlocked mantras, these are the only mantras I would recommended meditating with (unless you have been initiated into one with a master teacher).
AUM (OM): Connection and Oneness with Life/Ishvara/Source.
RAMA: Courage, Willpower, Self-reliance and Healing.
SO HUM: Remembrance of higher Self/Purusha. I am that.
GAYATRI: Embodying Sattva and dissolving the influence of negative karma, illuminates the divine light of wisdom and truth within.
MAHA MRITYUNJAYA: Becoming fearless and calling forward the full force of Soul. Equal levels of power and compassion. Provides protection, healing, and liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Remember, progress does not follow a set time line but practicing with the same mantra for a minimum of 6 months is a good place to start. Your relationship with the mantra will deepen and develop over time. Prana Dharana is important as this awakened field of prana is what allows the mantra to come to life inside of you.
Trust that the tradition is guiding you.
Prana Dharana Practice
Leonard Jacobson —
“When you are present, you are transcendent of the mind and ego and so you can witness your mind and ego. You can be conscious of your thoughts without being lost in them when they arise.”