More then likely Patanjali taught a form of concentration (Dharana) leading to meditation (Dhyana) and culminating in Samadhi, this is true Samyama. MMY, and more than likely Guru Dev taught a form of 'japa meditation' which also has a noble tradition. With japa one falls asleep and can experience 'conscious sleep' and can glimpse pure consciousness. With dharana or concentration one *does not* fall asleep but maintains conscious *control* all the way up to Samadhi and the body 'does not fall' but remains taut or erect in the meditation posture. Though more difficult, IMO, it is the superior technique because it is controlled by your own will and can be done at will over time. Both techniques are laudable and bring one to Samadhi over time. Swami Yogananda teaches Kriya concentration using the life force (prana) to interiorize the awareness and awaken the serpent fire which lifts the consciousness to the Sahasrara (thousand petaled lotus) in the brain.... MMY never taught the full 8 limbs of Yoga as recommended by Patanjali.
---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, <turquoiseb@...> wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com mailto:FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wgm4u wrote: > > Maharishi doesn't teach concentration (dharana), Kriya Yoga does! In Kriya, it's the concentration that LEADS to a state called meditation (dhyana). I would say instead that concentration is ONE method that leads to the meditative state. There are many. TMers are taught to regard "concentration" as almost a dirty word, and a dirtier concept. Their loss, which one tends to see the effects of in their spaced-out-ed-ness. IMO both concentration and letting-go ("effortlessness") have a role in the practice of meditation. Interestingly, I have found the best results through the alternation of them, often in the same session. Focus, then letting go. Rinse and repeat. Strong, deep, clear meditations as the result, with FAR less just sitting there lost in thoughts and thinking one is "meditating." > ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com mailto:FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, > emptybill@ wrote: > > Here is proof that MMY adhered to Patanjaliâs definition of sanyama. > > YS 3.1 deÅ¡a-bandhaÅ¡-cittasya-dhâranâ > : deÅ¡a = locus, place, spot > : bandha = bind, fasten, cohere > : chitta = individual consciousness > : dhâranâ = holding, focusing > Dhâranâ is binding the mind to a place (or âHoldingâ is the placement of consciousness) > > Vyasa sez: > Dharana is binding the mind to a place. It is binding the mind, AS A PURELY MENTAL PROCESS, to the navel circle, the heart lotus, the light in the head, the tip of the nose, the tip of the tongue, and other such locations; and to external objects. > > Shankara sez: > Dhâranâ is binding the mind to one place. Binding to one place means binding it there and it is the mind that is to be bound. > > The commentator (Vyasa) gives details, binding to the navel circle all the vital currents meet there in the form of a circle, so it is called the circle of the navel. On the form of the heart lotus, the light in the head. The door of the nadi nerve-channel of the head is radiant, and so it is called a light. To the tip of the nose, the tip of the tongue, and to other such locations, and to external objects, such as the moon. To these the mind is bound. > > The mental process (vritti) of the mind, held in those places without being dispersed, is called dhâranâ, as a purely mental process. It functions simply as the IDEA of that place without any disturbance or viksepa. > > > YS 3.2 tatra pratyaya-ekatânatâ dhyânam > tatra = therein or âin regard toâ > pratyaya = idea, notion > eka = one > tânatâ = extension, stretching > (here one-directionality) > > dhyâna = meditative absorption > Continuity of the mind there is meditation. >
