-Deep Meditation Secrets

The Originel-Yoga of The Path rests on four pillars: Service or “nonaction,” a daily practice of mental control. Satsang, the teaching of the master and the sharing, by him, of insights inspired by his experience of the Holy Name. Meditation (dhyana), an essential practice for harmonizing the mind. The angas, moral recommendations corresponding to the “yama” and “niyama” of the Yoga Sūtra.

This text does not exactly follow the eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga, first because the Original Yoga is not Ashtanga Yoga, and second because the focus of this text is meditation, not the Ashtanga Yoga.

Purpose of Meditation

The purpose of meditation is the recalibration of the mind (puruṣa) in relation to a reference. This reference is the fundamental harmony of life. In “technical” terms, meditation can be described as the harmonization of the mind with the values of “sattva,” one of the three gunas characterizing the human mind at birth. Sattva is the guna of light, reason, harmony, wisdom, bliss, and unlearned knowledge.

The Three Phases

It is customary to divide meditation into three phases: Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi, with or without “seeds” (bija). The seeds are anything in the mind that can disturb meditation: thoughts, emotions (vrttis). The three phases follow one another in a precise order. The entirety of these three phases of meditation is, in the Yoga Sūtra, grouped under a single term: samyama.

Each of these phases (Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi) has its own distinct characteristics.

Dharana

Dharana is the beginning of meditation: when you sit on your meditation cushion, close your eyes, and start focusing to calm the mind, that is Dharana.

Pratyahara, defined in the Yoga Sūtra II.54 as the withdrawal of the senses from their objects, requires conscious discipline to redirect attention from external stimuli (sounds, images, sensations) toward inner awareness. Here are concrete techniques to develop this practice:

Choose a quiet space: Find a place with minimal distractions (no loud noises, screens, or visual stimuli). A dedicated room or a quiet corner in your home is ideal for beginners.

Turn off your phone, disable notifications, and keep electronic devices away during practice. This limits the senses’ attraction to technological stimuli.

An eye mask, earplugs, or noise-canceling earmuffs can help block visual and auditory stimuli, facilitating the withdrawal of the senses in the early stages.

It’s like preparing for a “romantic date”; you need to get ready for meditation. If you arrive at your meditation cushion dirty from work, sweating, and wearing everyday clothes, you won’t be in favorable conditions. Take a wash or shower as needed, and wear clothes dedicated to meditation.

The meditation space should be as calm as possible. Meditating in the middle of the living room when others are in the house is not ideal. If you choose a time when you’re alone and have no other room to meditate except the bedroom, then the living room will do.

If the bedroom is your only option for meditation, set up a space where you can place a zafuton and a zafu. Look online to learn about zafutons and zafus. If you can’t afford them, place a firm, high cushion on a small mat against a wall.

The meditation posture should be comfortable enough to maintain for a long time without discomfort. Some, who are more flexible or experienced, adopt the lotus or half-lotus position. These postures are described online. Sitting simply cross-legged can work, provided you place two small cushions, one under each knee. A crescent-shaped bolster supporting both knees will also do.

For someone with back or leg issues, joint problems, or for an elderly or disabled person, a comfortable armchair will suffice. Keep your back as straight as possible, using a cushion for support if needed. Your feet should rest on the floor.

If the environment is noisy, equip yourself with noise-canceling earmuffs, like those used by people working in loud settings, such as when operating a chainsaw or gas-powered brush cutter. These devices are available at garden centers, hardware stores, or online. With earmuffs on, you’ll be insulated from noise and able to meditate.

For those with nasal issues or breathing difficulties, such as “snorers,” use anti-snoring devices available online, like nasal strips or inserts that facilitate airflow.

In India, yogis perform “upjali” before meditating. They draw warm, slightly salted water through the nose, one nostril at a time. There are nasal irrigation devices perfect for this, available online on platforms like Amazon, for example. The key is to breathe well.

You’re ready. Comfortably seated, in silence, and breathing well? You can begin meditating, practicing Dharana.

Without an “object of meditation,” you cannot meditate. Some use a mantra. Personally, I never use a mantra. Repeating a sound, word, or phrase doesn’t seem effective enough to focus your mind: it’s your mind repeating the mantra. The goal is to rest your mind, and repeating a mantra doesn’t seem the best method for that.

Instead of a mantra or mandala, I prefer breathing: no need to think or speak to breathe. Breathing is natural; it doesn’t require us to happen. You’re comfortably seated, so close your eyes. You can use those black sleep masks used on airplanes, available at pharmacies or online.

Take your breath as the object of meditation. The Original Yoga teaches a technique (among the four taught) based on breathing. This technique is taught via video call to those who request it. I cannot teach it in writing. If you don’t know it, I’ll give you an alternative technique until you request the one from the Original Yoga: Breathe calmly, listening to the sound of your breath.

Wearing noise-canceling headphones will help you hear your breath clearly and focus on it. Don’t force it; this isn’t pranayama as practiced by some, where breathing is controlled with timed counts or breath retention.

Simply listen to your breath, eyes closed, as if they were aimed at a point in front of you, between your eyebrows. You inhale normally, exhale normally, and listen to the sound the air makes as it enters and leaves your nose.

It’s important to stay completely still. That’s why the meditation posture must be comfortable and sustainable for a long time. This first phase, Dharana, is filled with disturbances and distractions, like scratching your nose, throat, or moving your knees.

When you manage to stay perfectly still, down to your fingertips, you’re in meditation. To enter deep meditation, Dhyana, you must lower your mental activity: each time a thought arises, return your attention to the sound of your breath. Don’t hesitate to “cut off” the words “spoken” in your head.

The role of Dharana is to reduce mental fluctuations (citta vrittis): according to the Yoga Sūtra I.2, yoga aims to calm the mind’s disturbances (yogaś cittavṛttinirodhaḥ). Dharana is a key step in achieving this by limiting stray thoughts.

The role of Dharana is to prepare for deep meditation: by fixing the mind on a single point, such as the sound of breathing, Dharana trains the practitioner to maintain continuous attention, a prerequisite for entering Dhyana, deep meditation.

Strengthening mental discipline: like a muscle, the ability to concentrate improves with practice, making the mind more stable and calm in life.

Beginners can start with 5 to 10 minutes, gradually increasing the duration with practice. An optimal duration would be around twenty minutes. But everyone will adjust based on how meditation goes. Not everyone progresses the same way or has the same life or worries.

Caution: if you’ve spent your day getting angry, rushing, or giving in to moods and emotions without mastering your mind, meditation will be harder, and Dharana will take longer. That’s why daily, practical spirituality isn’t limited to meditation. From waking to sleeping, it’s about maintaining control over your mind as much as possible.

This is the purpose of one of the four pillars of the Original Yoga of The Path: service or non-action, to maintain mental control. Another pillar, the angas, supports this mental control, favoring reason (sattva) over passion (rajas). If you arrive at your meditation cushion or chair with a serene mind, you’ll meditate all the better.

Regular practice of Dharana offers many benefits, both spiritual and practical:

Mental clarity: by reducing mental fluctuations, Dharana enhances the ability to stay present and focused in daily life.

Strengthened mental discipline: like a muscle, concentration improves with training, making the practitioner more effective and stable.

Dharana is the gateway to Dhyana and Samadhi, enabling access to elevated states of consciousness and, ultimately, liberation (kaivalya).

Stress reduction: by calming the mind, Dharana helps manage emotions and find inner peace, even in moments of crisis.

Improved daily performance: enhanced focus can boost productivity and the quality of actions.

Dhyana

When you’ve calmed your thoughts and emotions, are perfectly still, and focused on your breath, you’re in Dhyana, deep meditation.

Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi form the samyama, a continuous process of mental control. Here are their distinctions:

Dharana: Active concentration on a single point, with possible interruptions. The mind may still be aware of multiple aspects of the object (e.g., the color and shape of a flame).

Dhyana: Continuous meditation where the mind is fully absorbed in the object, without effort or distraction. It’s an uninterrupted flow of consciousness.

Samadhi: Total absorption where the practitioner becomes one with the object of meditation, transcending ego and duality.

In the modern world, practicing Dharana can be particularly difficult due to constant distractions (smartphones, social media, etc.). The mind is naturally restless, and our concentration ability has declined over time.

Thoughts, fear of failure, expectations, and judgments can disrupt concentration. Dharana aims to transcend these obstacles to reach deeper awareness.

Constant visual and auditory stimuli make focusing difficult. Pratyahara is thus crucial to prepare the mind for Dharana.

Patience and practice: achieving sustained concentration requires time and regular practice under the guidance of an experienced guide (guru).

Dharana isn’t limited to formal meditation. It can be applied in daily activities to enhance presence and efficiency: in daily tasks, focus your attention on one task at a time (e.g., reading a book without checking your phone). This is the essence of service.

Start with Dharana, fixing the mind on the chosen object. For example, focus on breathing.

When the mind becomes stable and distractions fade, let the concentration flow naturally. Don’t force attention; allow the mind to “flow” toward the object effortlessly.

If thoughts arise, let them pass like an isolated cloud drifting across the sky without attachment.

Beginners can aim for 10 to 20 minutes, gradually increasing with practice. Dhyana may arise spontaneously after several minutes of Dharana, when the mind “locks” onto the object.

Master yogis can remain in Dhyana for hours, but for most, short, regular sessions are more accessible. Personally, when I was young, with no obligations and living in an ashram in India, I meditated ten hours a day.

The hardest part when starting is… starting. After some time, meditation becomes easy. It’s like a long-distance runner: the first few miles are tough, you get a “stitch,” but with perseverance, you find a “second wind,” and running becomes effortless. In meditation, the more you meditate, the easier it gets: my first hour is the least easy.

Since I’ve had obligations, I meditate less, often settling for two hours a day. Obligations and duties always come before meditation. The more you meditate, the greater the impact on your consciousness.

The Original Yoga of The Path has four meditation techniques, including one that allows you to see the inner light (jyoti) and another to hear unproduced sounds (nadas) (anahata). These four techniques are practiced one after another, extending meditation time. They are taught to those who request them via video call during the “Revelation,” which lasts about two hours. This Revelation is free.

Breathing: Slow, steady breathing supports mental stability. Patience: Dhyana is not a forced state. You cannot force meditation; you let it happen.

Following teachings (satsang) with an experienced teacher helps develop Dhyana.

Regular practice of Dhyana offers profound benefits:

Mental clarity: by calming mental fluctuations, Dhyana enhances the ability to think clearly and make conscious decisions.

Inner peace: the state of Dhyana brings deep serenity, reducing stress and anxiety.

Spiritual connection: Dhyana transcends the ego, connecting the practitioner to universal consciousness, bringing them closer to realizing the Self.

Improved concentration: by fostering a continuous flow of attention, Dhyana strengthens mental discipline in daily life.

Dhyana is the final step before total absorption, opening the way to elevated states of consciousness.

Achieving Dhyana is difficult because the mind is naturally restless, especially in the modern world with constant distractions (smartphones, noise, etc.). Challenges include:

Mental distractions: thoughts, emotions, or memories can interrupt the flow of meditation. Mastering Dharana is essential to overcome this.

Impatience: Dhyana cannot be forced. Beginners may get discouraged if the meditative state doesn’t manifest immediately.

Physical and mental condition: a restless body or stressed mind makes Dhyana difficult. Preliminary practices, service, and satsang are crucial.

Selective attention: Practice Pratyahara by fully focusing on a daily task (e.g., eating, writing, or listening to someone) without letting the senses wander. For example, when eating, focus on the taste and texture of the food, ignoring surrounding noises and chew each mouthful for a long time. Followers of The Path know how to do this: they practice a technique called “Holy Name” for this. This technique is taught during the “Revelation.”

Reducing distractions: Limit exposure to unnecessary sensory stimuli, like constantly checking your phone, and create moments of “sensory silence” in your day.

Example: During a break at work, sit for 2 minutes, close your eyes, and focus on your breath. If thoughts or sounds arise, note them without reacting, then return to your breath. Followers make several “Holy Name pauses” throughout the day, like large stones that allow safe passage through the day, just as stepping stones allow crossing a river.

Samadhi

Samadhi is the ultimate state of meditative practice, where the mind becomes so absorbed in its object of meditation that there is no separation between the subject (the meditator) and the object. It’s a state of pure consciousness where mental fluctuations (vrttis) are completely stilled. A common metaphor for Samadhi is a drop of water merging into the ocean: individuality vanishes, and only the fundamental harmony remains.

Samadhi builds on Dharana (concentration) and Dhyana (meditation), forming the samyama with these two stages.

There are two main types of Samadhi in the Samadhi Pada: Samprajnata Samadhi (with seeds) and Asamprajnata Samadhi (or “nirvikalpa-samadhi”) (without seeds).

Samprajnata Samadhi, also called sabija samadhi (“with seeds”), is a state of absorption where the mind is fully focused on an object but retains cognitive awareness. It is structured in four progressive levels.

“With seeds” characteristic: in this state, samskaras (subconscious impressions or karmic seeds) persist, meaning the yogi can return to an ordinary state of consciousness. These seeds are the remnants of desires, attachments, or karma that maintain individuality.

Asamprajnata Samadhi (Samadhi without consciousness or without seeds)

Asamprajnata Samadhi, or nirbija samadhi (“without seeds”), is a state where the mind is completely still, without cognitive activity. All karmic impressions (samskaras) are dissolved, and the yogi reaches a state of pure consciousness, free from duality and ego.

Samadhi is the ultimate goal of yoga according to Patañjali, representing the state where:

Mental fluctuations cease entirely: the mind achieves complete stillness, fulfilling the goal of yoga (cittavṛttinirodhaḥ).

The ego is transcended: the distinction between the subject (meditator) and object vanishes, allowing an experience of unity with the fundamental harmony.

Samadhi is the culmination of the progression begun by Dharana and Dhyana:

Dharana: Active concentration on an object, with possible interruptions. The mind is fixed deliberately, like holding a horse by the reins.

Dhyana:

Continuous meditation, where the mind flows uninterrupted toward the object, without effort or distractions.

Samadhi: Total absorption, where the mind becomes one with the object, and the ego vanishes. Only the object’s essence shines in consciousness.

Caution: Avoid ambition. Aspiring to Samadhi, awakening, or illusory powers (siddhis) prevents attaining the consciousness of bliss (çitananda). The spiritual ego is the main trap for the ascetic.

The awakening that makes the buddha (awakened) comes through nirvikalpa-samadhi. Awakening is not the goal of life: the goal is Realization. Realization is the act of making fundamental harmony real in one's life and maintaining awareness of Grace, of living bhakti, devotion. Liberation from the chains of sàmsara, the cycle of incarnations, follows Realization, not awakening.

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