T
^he practices of dharana are designed specifically to purify the nadis and chakras of the psychic body through techniques of concentration and visualization. When you concentrate, the faculties of mind are made one-pointed. As there are fewer mental distractions, your psychic, astral and pranic bodies come into harmony and alignment with each other. When this alignment takes place you are able to cross over the threshold from outer to inner experiences.As soon as you become steady in dharana, you cross over this threshold and at this point many obstacles may arise to block your inner progress. These include visions, awakened kundalini, sensuality, illness, disillusionment and over- sensitivity. These are the obstacles which arise from within. There are also several obstacles which may arise from without. These include excessive socializing, too many practices, irregularity in lifestyle and practice, and imbalanced diet.
Visions are the first obstacle which one may face on the
path of dharana. Here you may see beautiful demigoddesses or apsaras from the other world coming to tempt you away from the practice. Visions may also appear in the form of snakes, lions, tigers, demons and vampires to frighten you. Only if you are able to remain calm and unaffected in such situations will your practice proceed unimpeded. T here are many descriptions of different mystics, saints and prophets who experienced such visions at the time of intensive sadhana.
When Christ was living in the desert for forty days, many such visions came to him. Similarly, Lord Buddha had many visions while sitting under the Bodhi tree before his enlightenment.
Kundalini awakening is the next difficulty which arises. In fact, you cannot enter into the stage of dharana without some degree of kundalini awakening. Dharana is usually practised on the different chakras, so this also indicates some degree of awakening which does not happen unless kundalini moves upward into the passage of sushumna. As the kundalini energy begins to penetrate the chakras, dharana begins. If the kundalini experiences become intense during the practice of dharana, you will require the guidance of an experienced guru and a conducive environment in order to continue the sadhana.
Sensuality is another obstacle which one may face on the path of dharana. When dharana occurs, strong sensual feelings develop spontaneously in the lower centres. This can be tolerated once in a while, but during dharana it may happen frequently. As the practice of dharana progresses and the mind becomes controlled, the pranas and chakras are purified. This purification leads to increased production of the sexual fluid. Therefore, sensuality is increased. When sensuality arises during the practice of dharana, you will again need the guidance of an experienced guru in order to clear your path.
Encountering illness is another difficulty which may arise. Often in the lower stages, physical impurities create obstructions. Normally, in the extroverted state of active life, rajo guna is predominant. Through the practice of dharana, however, the process of physical purification takes place very quickly. As a result the unhealthy elements in the body are generated in order to be eliminated as quickly as possible. These may assume the form of an illness that was previously lying dormant.
When illness manifests in the body in this way it is a result of the process of purification. Therefore, you need
not worry. The illness will automatically subside through the meditation process itself. Therefore, the dharana practice should not be abandoned at such times, but continued. Under such circumstances, however, medication should be avoided as it interferes with the purification process. You should also abstain from a rich, heavy diet. Take a simple, light diet or take only milk and fruit.
Disillusionment with the practice is yet another obstacle.
At this stage it is difficult to assess the degree of your progress correctly. Out of enthusiasm you may tend to overrate your attainment, thinking that dharana can be mastered quickly. However, as you advance you will become disillusioned to find that dharana is not so easy to master. It takes time to steady the mind and develop concentration, inner visualization and control over the image.
When the practice does not go well, you may become uneasy about your progress and begin to doubt whether any benefits have been gained. On the other hand, when some success is attained you may feel overjoyed, thinking that you are on the threshold of samadhi. These kinds of ups and downs will be there at times during the practice. Such illusions about the practice should neither depress nor elate you. It is only by persevering steadily regardless of such ups and downs that actual progress is made.
Oversensitivity develops when you begin to develop
concentration. The sound of a pin dropping may feel like a thunderbolt going through your brain. Certain smells, sounds, sights and feelings which you would not have noticed before will repel or irritate you. These are the stages through which you have to pass, but if you have perseverance you will succeed.
Adopting too many practices can create obstacles. There
is a danger of wasting your valuable energy and time by trying one practice and then giving it up for another new one. Whatever practice you take up should be continued until you reach the end of it. Before you have completed the practice you should not give it up and take up another. It is
better to persevere with one practice until you have mastered it. If you practise a little of this and a little of that, you will never attain the meditation experience. Different and new practices may excite your imagination, but there it will end. It is like the man who dug one hundred wells but never found water. Each time he would give up after digging a few feet and start digging in a new place. Therefore, stick to one practice and go deep, then you will reach the goal.
Excessive socializing is another obstacle to the practice
of dharana. If you wish to go deep into the practice, you will have to minimize your social commitments. Companionship with different types of people distracts the mind. Excessive talking also distracts the mind. All types of sensory diversion, excitement and intoxication block the pathway of dharana.
Irregularity in lifestyle and practice is one of the
biggest obstacles and for many people the hardest to over- come. In order to attain concentration, the mind and body must be balanced and steady. Irregularity creates imbalance and restlessness. It is important to create regular meal times, sleeping time, work time, recreation time and meditation time. Once you have decided upon your schedule do not deviate from it. A regular lifestyle and practice is the basis for spiritual progress and the development of concentration.
Imbalanced diet is another obstacle to dharana. The
digestive system is very delicate. When we enter into the deeper states of consciousness, the digestive power is often diminished. Therefore, in order to progress in dharana you should neither eat too much nor fast too often. A regular sattwic diet is essential. As your system becomes purified through the practice, the least irregularity will throw you out of balance. One portion more or less of food will disturb your entire system until you get perfect control, then you will be able to eat whatever you like.
Tension is also an obstacle. It must always be remembered
that concentration is not a state of tension. True concentra- tion of mind can only be achieved in a relaxed personality A tense person cannot concentrate. Only when you have
learned to maintain an easy and steady posture and to relax the body, nerves, brain an d m ind can you begin to concentrate. In fact, relaxation and concentration are interrelated. You cannot relax any part of your body unless you can focus your mental attention on it. Similarly, you cannot focus the mind unless it is completely relaxed. Trying to focus a tense mind is like tightening a string which is already too tight. Instead of concentration, fragmentation o r m ental breakdown may be the result. T h erefore, concentration must be developed gradually through a systematic meditative process. Do not force yourself to concentrate when you are feeling tired or tense.
Muscular and nervous tension have nothing to do with concentration. Success in the exercise is not to be measured by any bodily sensation or feeling whatever. Some people think that they are concentrating when they feel a tightness between and behind the eyebrows, but they are only producing headaches and other troubles for themselves. Attention without tension is what is required. Concentration must always be practised without the slightest strain. Control of mind is not brought about by fervent effort of any kind, but by constant, quiet, calm practice and avoidance of all agitation and excitement.
These are some of the major points which you will have to observe and be aware of if you wish to take up the practice of dharana in a serious way. O f course, even if you do not wish to develop the practice to such a great extent, it will still give you untold benefits. It will calm your nerves, clear your mind, improve your temperament and health, increase your lifespan and give you a new vision of life.