Yoga, a tool to realise the Devine........Dhyana yoga.

Dhyana is a double action technique used for the realisation of God.

The first action  is conditioning the body. 

The second action is realisation of God, by purifying the Mind.

As I have written in the blog, "Dhyanam the purifier"-  Meditation is the gateway of the Spiritual world, by practicing which one's body and mind both get cleaned from taint leading towards spiritual upliftment.

Dhyanam is of three types:

                        Sthuladhyanam, Brahmadhyanam,and bindudhyanam.

Sthuladhyanam:  Meditating on the favourite God's idol or painting.

Brahmadhyanam : Meditating on Brahman,imagining Brahman as light.( Jyothi )

           This is also called ThEjodhyanam or Jyothirdhyanam.

By  Practicing   Brahmadhyanam,  yogi gets Athmasakshathkara (visualises athma).

How to do Brahmadhyanam will be explained later.This form of meditation is also named  Sukshmadhyanam. Lord Krishna advocates this technique in bhagavadgita (Gita. This is Nirguna dhyanam,which means non idol worship.

Bindudhyanam :  Awakening the Kundalini shakti,by using Shambhavi mudra is bindudhyanam.By doing this Kundalini dhyanam, the subtle kundalini shakti comes out of the eyes.This is visible to siddha yogis only.This technique  of meditation is not advocated,nor even mentioned in Gita. This is a very very tough method used to realise  

God.Only those born with purva Janma sukrutham can alone attain Realisation by Kundalini awakening. Though thousand times effective than brahma dhyanam,this  method is not advised in Gita ,because this is not  practicable for every body.

Sarala Sukshma Dhyanam is practicable for every body.

How to practice Brahmadhyanam?

Lord in the sixth chapter of Gita says:

                      SArvEndriyaNi samyamya Mano Hrudi nirudyacha 

                       Murdnadayathmanaha praNamasthitho yoga dharinam

        Sit on the seat firmly in a clean place,body straight erect,head erect,concentrating on the region between the two eyebrows ( brukuti ) ,while controlling the thoughts and senses and by disciplining the mind, watch the (inhalation  and exhalation) breath.

                        Sparshankruthva bahirbrahmyam chkshuksheivantharo bhruvoh 

                         PraNapana samovkruthva nasabhyantharachariNov

This is the simplest Dhyana marga prescribed by Lord Sri Krishna, by practicing which anybody can attain the Brahma sakshathkara (self realisation ).

Here, the important aspect is, controlling the mind by seizing the thoughts.Fine tuning the mind to thoughtless state is a little difficult task. Why?

      Whether consciously or subconsciously, mind works continuously even without our knowledge. One has to kill the thought at the beginning itself to bring back to the calm empty state,. This exercise should be done deliberately.

When the  mind is calm, gaze is on Brukuti, contemplation is on the breath, Cosmic energy floods into the body, clears all the defects in the system and prepares it ready to experience the ParaBrahman. In both the slokas yoga dharaNa through breath is emphasized. We should know the importance of PraNapana in Yoga sAsthrA.

Regulating the breath, silencing the mind,contemplating on the brukuti are the prime factors of Dhyana yoga. Less price technique to gain priceless benefits.

That is why everyone should allot at least 10 minutes for dhyanam in their  daily routine.Those few minutes of meditation will take care of your health.

Meditation transforms the ordinary self to a spiritual self and links to the Universal self.

Sthuladhyanam should be practiced by following some conditions, rules and mantras.

But, Sukshmadhyanam can be practiced by anybody,anytime,irrespective of caste,colour,creed,poor or rich.

Any one,belonging to any country,any language,any religion can do Gita's meditation,and reap the benefits.

This ThEjodhyanam (Brahmadhyanam )when practiced regularly, the soul experiences

the eternal and super sensuous joy which can be apprehended only through the purified intellect.At this state of mind,the Yogi adheres to the Truth unflinchingly. He becomes brahmagnani and Never shakes by any sorrow. By regular practice of Meditation, one attains tranquility, Peace and cheerfulness which are the symptoms of Dhyaana Siddhi. 

With this serene mind who is sinless,whose passion is subdued, and who is identified with Brahman,the embodiment of truth, knowledge, and bliss,supreme happiness comes as a matter of course.The Yogi,who is united in identity with the all pervading, 

Infinite consciousness, sees the Self everywhere and everything in the Supreme Self.

This is the ultimate goal of Meditation. Dhyana yogi starts feeling "Aham brahmosmi".

Self is Brahma, and everything is in unity, is experienced by him.

   A singing saint of 17th-18th century, Sri swami Thyagaraja, sang in one of his Telugu composition :

                  " Thalapulanni nilipi nimishamyna tharakarupuni nija thathwamunu

                    Thelici RAMA chinthanatho namamu SEyave O manasa"

At least,one minute you stop your mind from thinking, pray Lord Rama,knowing his nature as nothing else than a glowing star.

In another song which he sang on his last day, Saint said in a conforming manner,

                    " Paramathmudu veluge "

Means,' Paramathma' is Light only, one experiences the Paramathma in Jyothi form only.

Hence,among all  the techniques of Yoga, Jyothi Dhyana or Brahma dhyana is the best and simplest mode,one can practice and reach the Almighty.

Among all yoga techniques, Bhakti yoga,Gnana yoga,Karma yoga and Dhyana yoga, 

The last one is very easy to do, and quick in results.

                         Om that sath

                                                                                                                                    -  Gitauvacha