The yoga sutras of Patanjali: dhyana and samadhi

July 22, 1:54 PMSeattle Yoga ExaminerAnnette Rivlin-Gutman

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Dhyana is the seventh limb of Ashtanga Yoga. It means to “worship” or “religious meditation”. Dharana is focusing on one intention. Dhyana involves focusing on one point with the intent to know its truth. Dhyana is the connection to the focus you meditate on. Dhyana helps us reach our intent of what we want our life’s mission to be.

Samadhi is the eighth limb of Ashtanga Yoga. Sama means “even” and dhi means “intellect”. It is a state of total equilibrium of a detached intellect. When we reach the state of becoming so absorbed in something that our mind becomes completely one with it, we are in a state of Samadhi. Such cognitive absorption is in perfect placement of consciousness.

It is about self-awareness. And this is Kriya: the practice of doing Yoga.
Namaste.