what is dharana

Dharana is a Sanskrit term that means "collection or concentration of the mind". It is the sixth limb of eight in Patanjalis Ashtanga Yoga or Raja Yoga in his Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Dharana is the practice of holding the mind on a particular object, either external or internal, with single-pointed concentration and focus. The object of concentration can be an image, a deity, a chakra, a candle flame, a mantra, the breath, or even tasks that you undertake throughout the day. The practice of Dharana is the initial step of deep concentration meditation, where the object being focused upon is held in the mind without consciousness wavering from it. Practicing Dharana leads the practitioner to Dhyana, which is the next stage of Ashtanga yoga. To practice Dharana, one should choose a calm place and assume a comfortable seated position. The eyes can be kept shut to focus on a chakra or mantra, or they can remain open to fix the vision and mind on an external object. Beginners can practice Dharana for about 10 minutes, then increase the duration as they advance.