What is Samyama

The three (Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi) together constitute Samyama.

Samyama means perfect control of the mind. It is a name for three inseparable processes of Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi taken collectively. By the practice of Samyama, the Yogi gets knowledge and powers. The three processes are practised on any one object successively at the same time. These three practices purify the mind. They constitute the very basis of Yoga. With the help of these three, the Yogi dives deep within and brings out the essence of knowledge of anything he contemplates.

By Samyama on external objects one gets various Siddhis (powers) and hidden knowledge of the universe of Tanmatras (subtle form of energy), etc. By concentration on Indriyas (the senses), Ahamkara (ego) and mind, etc., he gets various powers and experiences. These things are explained in the Sutras.

Fixing the consciousness on one point or region is concentration (Dharana).

A steady, continuous flow of attention directed towards the same point or region is meditation (Dhyana).

When the object of meditation and the meditator become one, and self-awareness is lost, this is samadhi.

From mastery of samyama comes the light of awareness and insight.

Samyama is what prayer is when it is taken to its deepest level of communion with the divine that is within us.

Samyama Practice

With samyama, we are initiating meaning in silence. We do it in a simple, easy, systematic way. First we create an impulse of meaning in silence, and then we let it go in silence.

Let's begin with "Love." It is a good place to start with samyama. We start with the heart chakra.

In silence pick up just once, the feeling of the word "Love". Don't deliberately make a clear pronunciation, or mental images of this or that scene or situation that represent Love to you. Just have a remembrance of Love, and then go into silence.

Don't contemplate Love or analyze it during practice. Don't think about it. Just come to it once in a subtle way, and then let it go into silence.

Having thought "Love" once remain in silence for about fifteen seconds. If any thoughts come, let them go. Don't look at the clock. With a little practice your inner clock will tell you with good enough accuracy when fifteen seconds is up, then pick up on the meaning of "Love" again, and let it go again into your silence for about fifteen seconds again.

That is two repetitions of samyama – twice picking up Love at its subtlest level of thought, and twice letting it go into inner silence.

What is the effect of this? What will happen?

To the extent that we are picking up meaning on the border of inner silence (the subtlest level of thought), and then letting go into our silence, the effect will be very powerful. Inner silence is like an amplifier of the subtle thought. It is the only amplifier of thought. It is the source of thought.

Usually our thoughts come out of silence stimulated by all that is lodged in our subconscious mind. So many habitual patterns are lodged in our obstructed subconscious mind, and these are what distort and weaken the flow of divine energy coming out from inner silence into our everyday life.

Samyama greatly strengthens our presence in the silence of pure bliss consciousness. It promotes the integration of the inner and outer aspects of our nervous system. Samyama stimulates the nervous system to purify and open it to stages of enlightenment, as well as enhancing our inner silence (first stage) in everyday life. Samyama makes the overall power of our desires much stronger. When we want to accomplish something that is in tune with the divine flow, resistance will be much less and obstacles will seem to melt away.

Samyama

Samyama as mentioned is comprised of, concentration, meditation, and samadhi. In simple words, attention is focused on an object or subject, leading to meditation on the object or subject, and then to absorption or samadhi, a state of oneness, being, into ‘the I am’.

Beginners may be encouraged to start the process by focusing on an idea, meditate on it until they experience a sense of absorption. Absorption results in total stillness and inner peace and joy.

Let's practice the process by beginning with focusing on the feeling of Love

Don't create mental images that represent love to you, just bring a feeling of love into your heart centre, and then go into silence or meditation.

Stay alert, but don't contemplate or analyze the idea of love. Don't think about it, just open yourself up to the feeling and don’t become attached to any results. If thoughts come, just let them go.

What is the effect of this?

We will first experience very subtle feelings of joy and peace. When we are fully absorbed in this state of consciousness, we actually become one with joy and peace.

It is important to realize, that everyone will experience this state of consciousness in accordance with one’s own state of spiritual awakening. Persistence is the key to unlock one’s inner experience with oneness.

Being connected to the Source, we then can let our light shine as wisdom and love guided beings, in service to human kind and truly doing, as the scriptures say, the Father’s work as partakers of the evolutionary process, or co-creators.

We are changing from the inside out, from the divine level of silence in us into external manifestation.

Samyama is what prayer is when it is taken to its deepest level of communion with the Divine. It brings us into unbounded pure bliss consciousness.