Dhyana


 Two words in English that are often used (wrongly) whilst describing meditation are:

Concentration: Which is a narrowing and focusing the mind on one object. It is a forced state and not one associated with meditation. Concentration is working through the mind

Contemplation: Comes from the root “temple” -i.e., to become a temple, becoming prayerful and working through the heart.    

Both concentration and contemplation are “activities”- either of the head or the heart.

Meditation instead, is a state of no activity, neither thinking nor feeling. Its origin is from “medicine”. Meditation is a medicine to take care of the Soul, just like medicine is to take care of the body.

The word meditation comes closest to the Sanskrit word: Dhyana”

Dhyana is to do nothing, just sitting quietly. It is an absolutely relaxed state of consciousness.

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From “The Shadow of the Whip” page 70



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