Meditation is concentrating your conscious mind on a specific object.
In Raja Yoga there are two types of meditation: with and without “seed”; we needn’t worry about the latter for now!
Meditation with seed refers to focusing and thus quieting your conscious mind; over time you’ll sequentially subdue the three functions of your subconscious mind and relieve yourself of desire, sorrow and fear:
- Dharana is the initial state of meditation with seed in which you learn to focus on specific objects. Exercising this level of mind control subdues your grossest subconscious mental function: sensory processing or desire. The transition from this state to the next, Dhyana, coincides with the end of desire.
- Dhyana is the middle state of meditation with seed in which you learn to hold your focus on specific objects. Exercising this level of mind control calms your next subtler subconscious mental function: memory. The transition from this state to the next, Samadhi, coincides with the end of sorrow.
- Samadhi is the final state of meditation with seed, in which you “become one with” the object of your focus. This state of union or yoga with the object of your focus (i.e., this advanced level of mind control) suppresses your subtlest subconscious mental function: the “I am” aspect of ego. The transition from this state to meditation without seed, Nirbija Samadhi, coincides with the end of fear.
Simple. Not easy. Enjoy practicing!
