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ASIAN JOURNAL OF
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Asian Journal of Science and Technology

ISSN: 0976-3376 Vol. 08, Issue, 08, pp.5402-5404, August, 2017

REVIEW ARTICLE
MEDITATION IN INDIAN PHILOSOPHY

*Amit Singh
Department of Philosophy, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, India

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

Article History: This article is a about mediation. Meditation is also known as Dhyana. The word Dhyana has been
Received 20th May, 2017 taken from a Sanskrit world Dhi, which means to contemplate, reflect, think or be occupied in thought.
Received in revised form Scientifically, mediation is the unification of conscious union (yoga) of an individual soul (jeevalme)
29th June, 2017 with the universal soul (Paramatman). In mediation, we try to make our mind free from all disturbing,
Accepted 14th July 2017 distressing and distracting emotions, thoughts and desires. Meditation is an uninterrupted flow of mind
Published online 31st August, 2017 towards a particular object.
Key words:
Dhyan, Hinduism, Bhagavad Gita,
Upanishad, Vedant, Buddhism, Jainism,
Yog Sutra Rupa Jahana, Arupa Jhana.

Copyright©2017, Amit Singh. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use,
distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

INTRODUCTION To further complicate the issue, comparative studies between

meditative states and trance consciousnesshave been made. It
Dhyana is the generic Sanskrit term for meditation. The Yoga suggests that even earlier precursors to the Asian meditative
Sutras refers to both the act of inward contemplation in the arts can be found in Shamanic culture such as those in Siberia
broadest sense and more technically to the intermediate state and Africa (Miccra Eliade and Joseph, 1959). Dhyana in
between mere attention to an object (dharana) and complete Hindunism, Buddhism, Jainism mean contemplation and
absorption in it (samadhi) (Monier-Williams, 1951). The meditation, though their technical context is different (Maurice
earliest known reference to such practice on the Indian Bloomfield). Dhyana is taken up in yoga exercises (Paul
subcontinent occurs on one of the seals. A figure seated in the Deussen) and leads to Samadhi and self knowledge. Various
lotus posture was found in the ruins of the pre-Arya concepts of dhyana and its practice originated in the Vedic era
civilizations at Harapa and Mohenjodaro which existed prior developed further in the Buddhist, Hindu and Jain tradition, in
to 1500 BCE. Most of the orthodox Hindu schools of partial form and partly influencing each other there have been
philosophy derive their meditation technique from yoga, but influential within the divine traditions of Hinduism (William
superimpose their own theoretical understanding of Cenkner). It is in Hinduism, a part of a self-directed awareness
consciousness onto the results of the practice (Zimmer, 1951). and unifying Yoga Process by which the Yogi realizes self
The original meditative traditions in China and India should be (Atman, Soil), one’s relationship with other living. The term
considered as separate and indigenous. To further complicate dhyanam appears in Vedic literature, such as hymn 4.36 of the
the issue, analogies between meditative arts can be found in Rigveda and verse 10,11 of the Tanttiriya Aranyaka (Winthrop
Shamanic cultures such as those in Siberia and Africa (Mircea Sergeant). The term, in sense of meditation has occured in the
Eliade, 1970). Mediation is also refered as spiritualism that is Upanishads. The Kauhitiki Upanishad uses it in the context of
practiced in China. Chinese forms of mediation have their mind and meditation in veses 3.2 to 3.6 (Lochtefield, 2002) for
origin in the early roots of popular. Taoism it existed long example with mind, meditate on me as being prana. The
before the codification of Taoism as a formal philosophy Brahmasutra, which distills the teachings of the Upanishads
during the seventh century B.C. However, there is no concrete and is one of three foundation texts of the Vedanta school of
available data to prove that meditation came first across in Hinduism, states that Dhyana is not a prativedam (or one for
Hindu culture and then spread elsewhere. Thus, for the time each Veda). But meditation belongs to all Vedic schools. Adi
being the original meditative traditions in China and India Shankara further elaborates it in chapter on meditation. In his
should be considered a separate and indigenous. commentary on the Brahma-Sutras Sadhana is as essential to
spiritual practice. His discussion on this is similar to his
*Corresponding author: Amit Singh extensive commentary on Dhyana as we find in Bhagavad Gita
Department of Philosophy, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, India.
5403 Asian Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 08, Issue, 08, pp.5402-5404, August, 2017

and the early Upanishads. Meditation in the Bhagavad Gita is a contact, feeling, perception, desire, decision, persistence,
means to one’s spiritual journey, requiring three moral values mindfulness, equanimity & attention.
– Satya (truthfulness), Ahimsa (Non-violence) and
Aparigaraha (Non-covetousness). Third Jhana: One half of bliss (joy) disappear and the
remaining qualities are “equanimity pleasure, unification of
Meditation in Yoga Sutras mind, contact, feeling, perception, intention, consciousness,
desire, decision, persistence, mindfulness, equanimity &
In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is a key of the Yoga School of attention.
hider philosophy (The Yoga Philosophy). Dhyana is the
seventh limb of this path following Dharana and preceding Fourth Jhana: The other half of bliss (happiness) disappears,
Samadhi. Dhyana is integrally related to Dharana became it leading to a state with neither pleasure not pain, which the
leads to other. Dharana is a state of mind and dhyana is the Buddha said is actually a subtle form of happiness (more
process of mind. Dhyana is distinct from Dharana became subline than piti and Sukha). The remaining qualities are
meditator is actively engaged with its focus on it. Patanjali “feeling of equanimity neither pleasure nor pain, an unconcern
defines contemplation (Dhyana) as the mind forces, where the due to serenity of awareness, unification of mind, contact,
mind is fixed as something, and then there is “a course of feeling, perception, intention, consciousness, desire, decision,
uniform modification of knowledge” (See Vyn Bailey). Adi persistence mindfulness, equanimity and attention.”
Shankara, in his commentary on Yoga Sutra, distinguished
Dhyana from Dharana, by explaining Dhyana is the yoga state Beyond the four jhanas lie four attainments referred to in the
when there is only the “stream of continuous thought about the early texts a druppas. The four formless jhanas are
object, uninterrupted by other thought of different kind for the
same object.” Dharanais the and state Shankara is focused on 1. Dimension of infinity space
one object, but it is quite aware of many aspects and ideas 2. Dimension of infinite consciousness.
about the same object. Shankara gives the example of a yogin 3. Dimension of nothingness
in a state of dharana on morning sun may be aware of its 4. Dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.
brilliance, colour and orbit. On the other hand, the yogin in
dhyan state contemplates an sun’s orbit alone for example Dhayan in Jainism
without being interrupted by its colour brilliance or other
related ideas. In Patanjali’s Raja yog is also called “meditation Jain meditation has been the central practice of spirituality in
yog” Dhyana is “a refined meditative practice”, a “deeper Jainism along with the three Jewels (Acharya Mahapragya,
concentration of the mind”, which is taken up after preceding 2004). Meditation in Jainism aims at realizing the self, attain
exercise. In Hinduism, dhyana is considered to be an salvation, take the soul of complete freedom (Acharya Tulsi,
instrument to gain self knowledge. It becomes a part of self 2004). Broadly speaking Jainism texts identity four types of
directed awareness which unifies yoga process by which a meditation base on the nature of objects (Paul Dinda, 2002).
world that by default is experienced as disjointed. And this Ariha dhyana is state Jain meditation literature, occurs when
comes to one experience as self and an integrated oneness with one’s focus is on aguish and unpleasant things. Raudra
Brahman. The Brahman has been variously defined in dhayana focuses on religious idea or virtuous objects while
Hinduism, ranging from non-theistic to non dualistic God. Shukla – dhyana is the focus on pure ideas or bright objects.
This classification of four Dhyana types may have roots,
Meditation in Buddhism suggests Paul Dundas, in the earlier Hindu texts Kashmir
Shaivism. Scientifically, mediation is the unification of
In Buddhism, Dhyana (Sankrit) or Jhana (Pali) is a series of conscious union (yoga) of an individual soul (jeevalme) with
cultivated state of mind, which lead to “state of perfect the universal soul (Paramatman). In mediation, we try to make
equanimity and awareness.” (Vetter Tatmann, 1988) It is our mind free from all disturbing, distressing and distracting
commonly translated as meditation, and is also used in emotions, thoughts and desires. Meditation is an uninterrupted
Hinduism and Jainism. The Pali canon described eight flow of mind towards a particular object.
progressive states of Jhana Four are called meditation of form
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