Kundalini Yoga Glossary
Dharana
Concentration: holding the mind steady on a single point or object.
Meaning
What Dharana Means
Patanjali's Yoga Sutra III.1 describes concentration as achieved by focusing the mind on a single point. It is consistent penetration of thought, a steady projection, holding the mind within one center of consciousness or on one object.
Concentration means keeping the mind stable and constant while thinking about a particular object, whether the surrounding environment is favorable or not. That object can be something concrete, a concept, an idea that's easy to access, or something that goes beyond thought altogether.
In Practice
How It’s Used
In yoga, the first step toward focus is observing the body and the breath. The first five limbs of yoga relate to the body, breath and senses; Dharana marks the shift into the mental, psychological and contemplative dimension that continues through Dhyana and Samadhi.
In Kundalini Yoga, Dharana is one of the practices, alongside Pratyahara, Dhyana and Samadhi, used to develop the neutral mind, the part of the mind capable of observing rather than reacting.
