The thoughts could be our greatest good friend or our worst enemy, relying on how we select to answer it. Our day by day lives are full of distractions in media, pulling our power away from us by means of the eyes and ears. That’s the reason the time is now for implementing practices for enhanced focus, or Dharana.
Dharana, translated from Sanskrit, means “management of the thoughts” or “proper consideration,” a time period that’s described with clear intention within the Yoga Sutra’s of Patanjali because the sixth limb of yoga (throughout the Eight Limbs of Yoga). Although controlling the thoughts appears like a tall order, there are sensible steps we will take to assist us on this journey to realize Dharana.
Placing Dharana in Observe: select a selected level of focus that isn’t going to create extra distractions, like a mantra Om, visualization, or candle gazing.
Focusing the gaze (Drishti)
Drishti is a gaze of focus when the eyes preserve a set level. This may increasingly happen whereas holding a yoga asana (posture) or observing a candle flame (Tratak meditation). To observe focusing the gaze, one may attempt to begin by creating consciousness across the habits of the eyes when interacting with the world. For example, talking to others whereas wanting them within the eyes, because it feels pure, can carry extra presence and focus to the dialog. Conversely, overconsumption can occur by means of the eyes as nicely. Noticing when our eyes are distracted, leaping round mindlessly, and responding by calming our gaze accordingly can stop overconsumption and overwhelm.
Visualization
Strategies for visualization can contain fixing your thoughts on a deity or a precept of reality that brings you peace. Our thoughts is a robust instrument which may create our actuality. By connecting to the divine, nonetheless you consider it to exist, you’ll be able to domesticate a life that channels your highest self in concepts, actions, and targets. One visualization method that may assist with detaching from the fluctuating thoughts is imagining the attachments within the thoughts shedding out of your physique, and permitting them to fall into the earth. Attachments which will come up all through the day may very well be clinging to the previous, future or judgements. Imagining these attachments leaving your being will help with calming the monkey thoughts, creating house for stillness and tapping in to higher consciousness and focus.
Mantras
Mantras are a observe of devotion and an ideal repetition for controlling the thoughts. Repetition of Om, the common sound that connects us all, could be spoken aloud for brief intervals of time when beginning out a mantra observe. By observe of Dharana over time, persistence for repeating mantras will increase, and the time spent on them can too.
The thoughts is straight linked to the senses, that’s the reason Dharana follows management of the senses, Pratyahara, within the Eight Limbs of Yoga. Dharana could be practiced all through the day by coming into every second with the fullest quantity of presence doable, forsaking judgement and attachment. This permits us to answer the exterior in a manner that’s most related, adaptable, and clear.
Because the observe of focus strengthens, focus transforms into meditation, or dhyana. Dhyana is uninterrupted focus. Think about wanting on the world with a lens that has no expectations, judgements, or distractions, that is Dhyana.
Cultivating a mindset that’s spacious and clear permits us to be ripe for meditation and able to carry power to our passions or take away power from distractions. We hope you should utilize Dharana to direct your power extra deliberately and improve your focus and readability:)
Understanding and implementing the primary 5 limbs of yoga will help with the journey to Dharana. When you’re concerned about studying concerning the prior 5 limbs of yoga, look into our articles:
fifth limb–Completely happy Thoughts, Wholesome Soul: Pratyahara
4th limb–Awakening Vitality with the Breath: Pranayama
third limb–The Energy of Posture: Asana
2nd limb–Yoga’s Information to Self Self-discipline and Non secular Observe: Niyamas
1st limb–Yoga’s Moral Information for Social Conduct: The Yamas
The reality of those philosophies has held the take a look at of time, although it requires trendy variations for our life in the present day. We hope these interpretations serve to assist nourish your thoughts, physique and soul.
References
Frawley, David. Yoga and Ayurveda. Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. Lotus Press. 1999.
Article by Kaylee
Printed 4/1/2025
