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Analysis of Meditation and Dhyäna in the Context of Buddhism

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Analysis of Meditation and Dhyäna in the Context of Buddhism Internationa Journal of Complementary & Alternative Medicine Analysis of Meditation and Dhyäna in the context of Buddhism Abstract Review Article Meditation has been a spiritual and healing practice in many parts of the world for Volume 9 Issue 3 - 2017 more than 5,000 year. Historically, religious or spiritual aims were intrinsic to any 1 form of meditation. These traditional practices hold some type of spiritual growth, Department of Bioenergy, S-VYASA Yoga University, India 2 enlightenment, personal transformation, or transcendental experience as their Division of Yoga and Physical Science, S-VYASA Yoga ultimate goal. During the past 40 years, the practice of meditation has become University, India increasingly popular and has been adapted to the specific interests and orientation of Western culture as a complementary therapeutic strategy for a variety of health *Corresponding author: related problems. Guru Deo, Department of Bioenergy, S-VYASA Yoga University, S-VYASA Yoga The aim of the review is to understand concept of meditation and its different University, Bangalore, India, Tel: Cell No. +918088489025; techniques described in classical ancient Indian and Buddhist literature. The review and dhyäna Received:+919935701516; Email: | Published: has the following objectives: to compile authentic information about meditation from Indian and Buddhist traditional texts; to understand difference between February 23, 2017 November 14, meditation; to present different techniques of meditation from classical spiritual lore, 2017 being used in scientific research. To achieve these objectives aphorisms and verses andfrom Vedic ancient Indian and Buddhist classical literature relateddhyäna to topic were collected, compiled and presented systematically. The aforementioned classical Yogic texts sources were studied and referred to understand and its different Keywords:techniques described in dhyänathese texts. Meditation; ; Buddhism; Classical; Techniques; Vedic Etymological Meaning of Meditation meditation is a fully conscious process, an exercise of the will. Secondly, meditation means concentration on spiritual idea which In the English dictionary the word ‘meditation’ is defined as to presupposes that the aspirant is capable of rising above worldly ruminate, to reflect upon, or to contemplate. In Sanskrit, Tibetan, ideas. And finally, meditation is usually carried out at a particular Chinese and Japanese languages, the word ‘meditation’ has been center of consciousness [3]. used in a very specific way: it is to make the mind free of disturbing thoughts. It is a method that makes one aware of Reality. This is Most people have heard about meditation, few have any true an inward journey from the gross, to the subtle, to the most subtle conception and even fewer have actually experienced depths of aspect of one’s being [1]. meditation. Much as in other subjective experiences, it cannot words; meditari really be described. The experience is real whereas a description The English word ‘Meditation’ is derived from two Latin mederi which means to andis really eventually a non-experience, to transcend especially the mind in thecompletely. case of meditation. In the higher The which means‘Dhyäna’ to think, ponder, dwell upon, aim of meditation is to explore the different regions of the mind theexercise root wordthe mind, ‘dhyäti’ focus meaning attention; to contemplate. and Over a long period heal. Meditation is called in Sanskrit, which comes from stages of meditation, consciousness moves to the higher state or region which is termed super consciousness. The meditator enters of time, meditation has been loosely used to describe a variety of the dimensions of inspiration and illumination. The culmination broadly similar practices, across cultures and traditions, ranging Purposeof meditation of Meditationis self-realization [4]. from techniques designed to promote relaxation or a state of aswell-being Dhäraëä ,to Dhyäna techniques, Samädhi designed and Bhävanä, to achieve which enlightenment. are used to Meditation is also being used in place of Sanskrit words such One purpose of meditation is to transcend the usual limitations of human consciousness and expand to higher levels of awareness. Japan,describe Chen various in China, stages Dhyäna of meditation. in India, andDifferent ‘contemplative words have prayer’ been used in different countries to describe meditation such as Zen in In other word, its goal is to lead one to the center of consciousness by stilling the mind, from where consciousness flows in various in the Western world [2]. degrees and grades. This can be accomplished by focusing concentration and meditation. By the word ‘meditation’ dhyäna one’s mind which allows one to temporarily step aside from its It is important to know the difference between ordinary constant chatter. The mind can then go beyond its normal scope into a vastness that cannot be described, only experienced. This is or contemplation is referred to. However, it is not just ordinary because language is geared towards the physical and the tangible. concentration. It is special type of concentration. In the first place, It cannot describe where the sky ends, or describe visualizing Submit Manuscript | http://medcraveonline.com Int J Complement Alt Med 2017, 9(3): 00298 Copyright: Analysis of Meditation and Dhyäna in the context of Buddhism ©2017 Deo et al. 2/6 how many grains of sand there are on all the beaches or deserts of incessant thinking processes of the mind are eliminated and the the words. The mind can only experience the totality of creation practitioner experiences a state of deep mental silence. This state through the process of meditation [5]. can be achieved by the practice of ‘meditation’. In the last 200 years, many meditation techniques are derived Although today a large variety of meditation practices have and revived from the ancient Yoga texts and promoted by numbers emerged, some of them aim to achieve nothing beyond relaxation. inof thespiritual Vedäs yoga masters and yogis to calm the mind. In Indian However, the original goal of meditation is the elimination or philosophy meditation is a distinct practice which is described reduction of thought processes, the cessation or slowing of the , the oldest scriptures of HinduVedäs, culture.Upaniñad, This Bhagavad practice internal dialogue of the mind, the ‘mental chatter’. This elimination Gétä,was a Pataïjali part of dailyYoga Sütra,life and Haöha known Yoga to Pradépikäeveryone duringand Tantra Vedic age. of the thinking process has been reported to lead to a deep sense TantraMeditation has been expounded in of physical and mental calm while at the same time enhancing Texts. pure awareness, untainted by thoughts and perceptual clarity. presents 112 meditation techniques to realize the ultimate Rubia has reported the effects of meditation at different reality. Meditation is keeping the mind uninterruptedly on a levels which are thought to be therapeutic and have attracted subject for a certain length of time. It is a mental process by which the interest of Western Science. These reported long-term trait Meditationmeditator becomes Defined: one with Classically the object of meditation. effects of meditation practices include: a) at a physical level: feelings of deep relaxation and stress relief; b) at a cognitive dhyäna level: enhanced concentrative attention skills, improved self- The following are the definitions/terms used for mediation/ control and self-monitoring and better ability to inhibit irrelevant in the classical texts. Meditation is keeping the mind interfering external and internal activity; c) at the emotional focused uninterruptedly on a subject for a certain length of time. level: positivepersonality mood, changes emotional such stability as enhanced and resilience overall topsycho- stress It is a mental process by whichdhyäna meditator becomes one with the and to negative life events (detachment); and d) at a psychological object of meditation. Meditation is the seventh step of Añöaïga tÇYoga àTyyEktanta of Pataïjali. He Xyanm! defines as follows [6]: emotional balance. These are the subjectively reported benefits of Tatra pratyayaikatänatä dhyänam meditation. Relatively few studies have investigated the objectively measurable psychological, physiological, and neurophysiological , (Pataïjali Yoga Sütra III.2) changes that correlate with the subjectively reported benefits of dhyäna in his commentary to Yoga meditation [8]. dhyäna’ is the seventh anga or SütraUninterrupted. flow of the mind towards an object is meditation. Sage Vyäsa further explains According to Sage Patanjali, ‘ dhyäna. Although widely tiSmNdeze xeyalMbnSy àTyySyEktanta s†z> àvah> limb in eight-fold Yoga. It is generally translated as meditation àTyyNtre[apram&òae Xyanm! . sensewhich suchdoes thatnot itsbring descriptive full meaning power of is greatly decreased. One used, the term ‘meditation’ is often employed in a highly imprecise Tasmindeçe dheyälambanasya pratyayasyaikatänatä sadåçaù pravähaù pratyayantareëäparämåñöo dhyänam. underlying reason for the term’s inadequacy is that, in its typical usage, it refers genericallydhyäna to an extremelyand meditation. wide range of practices [9]. In this context, it is necessary to throw light and understand sana Meditation is continous flow of knowledge which has the the distinction between präëayäma ‘objecttatra of meditation as its support; i.e. continuous dhäraëäflow of When one goes into ä , one is shifting away from the knowledge untouched by any
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