Dhayana, the Chief Practice

Sri Ramana Maharshi

There was a group of three middle-aged Andhras on a visit to Sri Bhagavan. One of them kneeled and asked: I am performing hathayoga, namely basti, dhauti, neti, etc. I find a blood vessel hardened in the ankle. Is it a result of Yoga?

M.: The blood-vessel would have hardened under any circumstances. It does not trouble you as much now as it would otherwise. Hathayoga is a cleaning process. It also helps peace of mind, after leading you to pranayama. 

D.: May I do pranayama? Is it useful? 

M.: Pranayama is an aid for the control of mind. Only you should not stop with pranayama. You must proceed further to pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi. Full results are reaped finally. 

Another of the group asked: How are lust, anger, acquisitiveness, confusion, pride and jealousy overcome? 

M.: By dhyana. 

D.: What is dhyana? 

M.: Dhyana is holding on to a single thought and putting off all other thoughts. 

D.: What is to be meditated upon? 

M.: Anything that you prefer. 

D.: Siva, Vishnu, and Gayatri are said to be equally efficacious. Which should I meditate upon? 

M.: Any one you like best. They are all equal in their effect. But you should stick to one. 

D.: How to meditate? 

M.: Concentrate on that one whom you like best. If a single thought prevails, all other thoughts are put off and finally eradicated. So long as diversity prevails there are bad thoughts. When the object of love prevails only good thoughts hold the field. Therefore hold on to one thought only. Dhyana is the chief practice.

A little later Sri Bhagavan continued:

Dhyana means fight. As soon as you begin meditation other thoughts will crowd together, gather force and try to sink the single thought to which you try to hold. The good thought must gradually gain strength by repeated practice. After it has grown strong the other thoughts will be put to flight. This is the battle royal always taking place in meditation. One wants to rid oneself of misery. It requires peace of mind, which means absence of perturbation owing to all kinds of thoughts. Peace of mind is brought about by dhyana alone.