THE THREE TYPES OF PRACTICE DHARANA, DHYANA AND SAMADHI DHARANA DHARANA IS HOLDING THE MIND ON TO SOME PARTICULAR OBJECT. DHARANA (CONCENTRATION) IS WHEN THE MIND HOLDS ON TO SOME OBJECT, EITHER IN THE BODY, OR OUTSDE THE BODY, AND KEEPS ITSELF IN THAT STATE . DHYANAM AN UNBROKEN FLOW OF KNOWLEDGE TO THAT OBJECT IS DHYANA. THE MIND TRIES TO THINK TO ONE OBJECT, TO HOLD ITSELF TO ONE PARTICULAR SPOT, AS THE TOP OF THE HEAD, THE HEART, ETC, AND IF THE MIND SUCCEEDS IN RECEIVING THE SENSATIONS ONLY THROUGH THAT PART OF THE BODY, AND THROUGH NO OTHER PART, THAT WOULD BE DHARANA, AND WHEN THE MIND SUCCEEDS IN KEEPING ITSELF IN THAT STATE FOR SOME TIME IT IS CALLED DHYANA (MEDITATION). SAMADHI WHEN THAT, GIVING UP ALL FORMS, REFLECTS ONLY THE MEANING, IT IS SAMADHI. THAT IS, WHEN IN MEDITATION ALL FORMS ARE GIVEN UP. SUPPOSE I WERE MEDITATION ON A BOOK, AND THAT I HAVE GRADUALLY SUCCEEDED IN CONCENTRATING THE MIND ON IT, AND PERCEIVING ONLY THE INTERNAL SENSATIONS, THE MEANING, UNEXPRE...
THE OBSTACLES IN MEDITATION THE BIGGEST OBSTACLES OF JAPA MEDITATION ARE MONOTONY, SLEEP AND ANGER. MIND BECOMES BORED OF REPEATING THE SAME MANTRA AGAIN AND AGAIN. TO MAINTAIN INTEREST A VARIETY CAN BE CREATED BY DOING AUDIBLE, WHISPERING, MENTAL AND WRITTEN JAPA OF MANTRA. VARIETY PRODUCED BY THE CHANGE IN VOLUME OF MANTRA WILL AVOID FATIGUE TO A GREAT EXTENT. REPETITION OF MANTRA TIRES THE MIND HENCE THE MIND ENTERS SLEEP VERY EASILY. ANGER IS ALSO ONE OF THE BIGGEST OBSTACLES THAT JAPA MEDITATION SADHAKA FACES. THE BEST SOLUTION TO OVERCOME ONE'S ANGER IS SURRENDER TO GOD "NOTHING IS MINE, EVERYTHING IS YOURS! SURRENDER YOURSELF, YOUR BELONGINGS AND ALL YOUR ACTIONS AND THEIR OUTCOMES TO THE LOTUS FEE OF GOD. IN TODAY'S WORLD, THE MIND IS CONSTANTLY BOMBARDED WITH MASSIVE EXTERNAL STIMULI. PROLONGED WORKING HOURS, TRAFFIC JAMS AND OTHER SUCH SITUATIONS IN DAY TO DAY LIFE INCREASE THE STRESS LEVEL BY OCCUPYING MIND UNNECESSARILY. EVEN IN SLEEP SOME PERSONS ARE PHYS...