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There are various types of meditation that are being marketed
in the western world by various Ashrams and their disciples,
who have branched out on their own. There are genuine
teachers to help the humanity with free discourses and these
need not be doubted.
Meditation is not a simple thing. Every body is exhorted
to sit in a straight pose and close eyes and concentrate on
a particular section or a symbol. It is not as easy to
practice.
In meditation the ultimate objective is the state of
Dhyana, which means one-pointed concentration. Can anyone
attain that status immediately? The answer is No.
In the olden days and even these days with great yogis,
there is still a practice to observe the disciple for a year
and only then impart the ways and means to achieve the state
of Dhyana. What are the requisites for that? Before
analyzing Dhyana let us digress from here.
In Dhyana, the first thing that is achieved is complete
relaxation. Then, practice withdrawing the senses from
outside, which is called Pratyahara. Then comes Dharana
which is an effort to concentrate. During Dharana,
concentration goes out and in, just like an electric bulb
switched off and on. When concentration is finally obtained,
it is called Dhyana. Dhyana is real meditation.
Now we go back to the fourth paragraph. Each human being
is quite separate in temperament, sensibility, ego and has
his own Vasanas and Karmas embedded in the mind. The same
type of meditation will not be suitable for all. There are
different categories of mind as follows:
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