Dhyana
From Free Encyclopedia of Thelema
Dhyāna means meditation in Sanskrit. Equivalent terms are jhana in Pāli, chán in Chinese, and zen in Japanese.
It is a key concept in Hinduism and Buddhism. According to the Hindu Yoga Sutra dhyana is one of the eight methods of Yoga, (the other seven methods are Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, and Samadhi). Theravada Buddhism recognizes eight progressive states of dhyana.[1]. In East Asia, several schools of Buddhism were founded that focused on dhyana, under the names Chan, Zen, and Seon. According to tradition, Bodhidharma brought Dhyana to the Shaolin temple in China, through Tibet, where it came to be known first as ch'an, and then zen.
Dharana is the preceding stage of Dhyana. In Dhyana, the meditator is not conscious of the act of meditation (i.e. is not aware that s/he is meditating) but is only aware that s/he exists (consciousness of being), and aware of the object of meditation. Dhyana is distinct from Dharana in that the meditator becomes one with the object of meditation and is able to maintain this oneness for 144 inhalations and expirations.
See also
References
- Wikipedia (2005). Dhyana. Retrieved March 6, 2005.
External links
- Digital Dictionary of Buddhism (log in with userID "guest")
- Dhyana is the stage of meditative trainings that lead to Samadhi.
- The Buddha's descriptions of the first four states of dhyana in the Pali Canon (Anguttara Nikaya V.28)
- Leigh Brasington's extensive material on the web on jhana and related practices
- Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi, and Meditation by Swami Nirmalananda Giri
| Topics in Hinduism | |
| Primary Scriptures: |
Vedas | Upanishads | Mahabharata | Bhagavad Gita | Ramayana |
| Other texts: |
Puranas | Tantras | Sutras | Smritis | Hatha Yoga Pradipika |
| Deities: |
Brahma | Vishnu | Shiva | Rama | Krishna | Ganesha | Indra | Gayatri | Lakshmi | Sarasvati |
| Concepts: |
Avatar | Brahman | Dharma | Ishta-Deva | Karma | Moksha | Maya | Murti | Reincarnation | Samsara | Trimurti | Turiya |
| Schools & Systems: |
Early Hinduism | Samkhya | Nyaya | Vaisheshika | Yoga | Mimamsa | Vedanta | Tantra | Bhakti |
| Traditional Practices: | |
| Rituals: |
Aarti | Bhajans | Darshan | Mantras | Puja | Satsang | Stotras | Yagnya |
| Major Sects: | |
