Yog Parampara Mein Dhyan Ka Swaroop: Darshanik Aur Vaigyanik Pariprekshya

The Nature of Meditation in the Yogic Tradition: Philosophical and Scientific Perspectives

Abstract

In the Indian yogic tradition, meditation is an important practice, which involves an attempt to keep the mind constantly and evenly on one single object or on one aim of concentration. Generally, to consider meditation as simply the process of concentration of the mind on a specific point is not enough since the unique feature of meditation is that the modifications of the mind (chitta-vritti) should be continuous and uninterrupted. In Yoga philosophy (as taught by Patañjali), meditation (Dhyāna) is considered to be a higher level of concentration (Dhāraṇā) where the mental modification is created upon a particular locus or object and continues as uninterrupted flow. The nature of meditation is described in detail in the Gheraṇḍa Saṁhitā in three different ways: gross meditation (Sthūla Dhyāna), luminous meditation (Jyotir Dhyāna), and subtle meditation (Sūkṣma Dhyāna). In all of these, the meditations seem to evolve from the image of a large visual object, or a deity, to the meditation on inner light, and then subtle spiritual principles.
Meditation is no longer seen as purely religious or spiritual practice from the point of view of modern science. Several studies have explored how the brain, attention, cognitive functions, emotional intelligence and neurological processes change during meditation. Some studies have also indicated the possibility of improvements in cognitive abilities and changes at the biological level associated with regular meditation practice. Comparative studies of Dhāraṇā and Dhyāna also indicate that the activities of the mind while in Dhāraṇā and Dhyāna are not the same. Thus, first an understanding of the philosophical perspective on meditation as found in Indian yogic literature, and second, the psychological and neuroscientific impact of meditation as explored by contemporary science, can be gained together with a more comprehensive understanding of meditation. The aim of the present study is to try to find some correlation between the philosophical character of meditation, the way it is practiced, and the results claimed by the current scientific research based on the above.