Dhyāna

Dhyāna (ध्यान) is the practice of sustained, uninterrupted meditation — a cornerstone of all Indian contemplative traditions. The Yoga Sūtras (1.2) defines yoga as:

योगः चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः
Yogaḥ citta-vṛtti-nirodhāḥ
“Yoga is the cessation of the modifications of the mind.”

Dhyāna is the seventh limb (anga) of the eight-limbed path (ashtanga yoga) outlined by Patañjali, following dharana (concentration) and preceding samādhi (union).

The progression: Dharana → Dhyana → Samadhi

The Yoga Sūtras (3.1–3.3) describe the progression:

1. Dharana — fixing the mind on a single point (e.g., breath, mantra, visualized form)
2. Dhyana — uninterrupted flow of attention toward the object
3. Samādhi — complete absorption, where the distinction between subject and object dissolves

Buddhist dhyana

In the Buddhist tradition, jhāna (Pali: jhāna, Sanskrit: dhyāna) refers to the four (or eight) meditative absorptions. The Satipatthāna Sutta describes the practice of mindfulness of breathing (ānāpānasati), which leads to:

1. First jhāna — applied and sustained thought, rapture, happiness born of seclusion
2. Second jhāna — inner serenity and single-pointedness, with rapture and happiness
3. Third jhāna — happiness born of equanimity, with mindfulness and clear comprehension
4. Fourth jhāna — purity of equanimity and mindfulness, neither happiness nor pain

The Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang documented that this system was well-established in India by the 7th century.

Dhyana in the Bhagavad Gita

The Gita (2.58) uses the image of a tortoise to describe the withdrawal of the senses that supports dhyana:

यदा संहरते चायं कूर्मोऽङ्गानीव सर्वशः ।
इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ॥
Yadā saṃharate cāyaṃ kūrmo ‘ṅgānīva sarvaśaḥ / indriyāṇīndriyārthebhyas tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā
“When one withdraws the senses from their objects completely, like a tortoise drawing in its limbs, one’s wisdom is firmly established.”

The Gita (6.2) teaches the means of dhyana yoga:

आरुरुक्षोर्मुनेर्योगं कर्म कारणमुच्यते ।
Āruruksor muner yogaṃ karma kāraṇam ucyate
“For the sage who seeks to attain yoga, action is said to be the means.”

The role of the witness (Sakshi)

In Advaita Vedānta, dhyana culminates in the recognition of the sakshi (witness) — the pure consciousness that observes all thoughts, emotions, and sensations without being affected by them. Vedāntic texts describe this as the mind resting in its own source, pure consciousness itself.

Verification notes

• The Yoga Sūtras verses are from the critical edition (GRETIL, Deussen 1921).
• The Bhagavad Gita verses (2.58–2.59, 6.1–6.2) are from the Nilakantha critical edition (GRETIL).
• The Satipatthāna Sutta jhāna descriptions follow the standard Pali Text Society edition (Rhys Davids & Oldmeadow).
• The four jhāna states are corroborated across early Buddhist texts.
• Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).