#30: Dharana
“the binding of the mind to a single point of focus”
We turn this month to the first of the innermost limbs: Dhāraṇā - usually translated as “concentration” and it is about being completely absorbed with what we are doing.
Which, in our yoga practice, could mean being completely focused upon the breath or on a particular area of the body and a sensation that is occurring within it.
Alternatively, it could be focusing upon a mantra or holding an image in our mind’s eye, as we do during visualisation.
Using the preceding limbs to become ready to delve into dharana, this sixth limb is the start, I guess, of coming to intentionally meet with what is deep within us; our sense of soul, and how we mesh with everything around us, or the oneness of it all.
It is estimated that we have thousands of thoughts every day - many thousands - and yet we are hardly conscious of any of them.
It’s incredible really, isn’t it.
Our minds jump from one thing to another incessantly, and dharana is the complete opposite to the way we usually exist: endlessly distracted and constantly forgetting our true nature.
I can only liken my experience of dharana as the feeling I get when I am completely focused on something - like when I am writing - and I lose all track of time.
It can be rare (if I am not mindful), and it is always utterly blissful.
One of my favourite ways to intentionally practice dharana is with mantra and song and I have included some of my favourite tracks in this month’s playlist.
Give them a listen and try to sing along.
Let yourself go. Give in to it.
As we move further into these inward sutras, I can only reaffirm the guidance to explore them for yourself and to uncover your own meanings.
As ever, my words are only pointers; mere road signs for undertaking your own adventure.
Enjoy.
With kindness,
Louisa
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Further resources:
I really like this video and how dharana is explained.