Absorption (Dhyana)

Dhyana is actual, legitimate meditation. Everything prior to this are the steps to meditation.

Dhyana is a state of integrity. Normally our mind is dispersed and clouded, but in dhyana, peace and clarity reign.

The scriptures talk about many different levels of dhyana (Sanskrit) or jana (Pali). This state is so important that the Chan and Zen schools both derive their name from dhyana.

In the prior state, dharana, there is some effort and separation between the mind and the consciousness. Now, when concentration is perfect, the mind, we can say, dissolves. No more thinking, no more comparing, wondering, believing. There is just pure awareness, flowing, without effort.

When one is firmly established in dhyana, the efforts and mindfulness and vigilance are gone. They are no longer needed. In fact, if you applying such efforts you bring yourself out of dhyana.

When one is firmly established in dhyana, there is clarity and insight. There is nothing dull, blank, or incoherent. The emergence of visual imagery is inevitable, although it may be subtle at times.

On the way to dhyana you will often experience great difficulty, extreme obstacles of concentration, mental laxity and excitement, etc., for extended periods.

Sometimes, it is little by little that the obstacles subside. Other times they suddenly evaporate. It can be striking how quickly obstacles to concentration dissolve, and what remains is expansive peace and clarity.

At first experience of this, one may think, “this is so wonderful… I’m meditating…” Then, you will find, that thinking this is enough to such a state to collapse.

Let us be clear though, for most people beginning meditation, it will take a lot of work to reliably get to this stage. Perhaps 5, 7, 10 years? It depends on a lot of factors. Some say that a person on retreat could attain it in a few months of intense practice….

(to be continued…)