The Unchanging Joy of the Self

From Concentration to Meditation and Samadhi

The Bhagavad Gita verses 6.20 through 6.23 form one continuous description of the experience of superconscious meditation. Swami Nikhilananda translates them:

“That in which the mind, restrained by the practice of concentration, rests quiescent. That in which, seeing the Self through the self, one rejoices in one's own Self.

That in which one knows the boundless joy beyond the reach of the senses and grasped only by the understanding. That in which, being established, one never departs from reality.

That on gaining which one thinks there is no greater gain, and wherein established, one is not moved even by the heaviest of sorrows.

Let that be known as yoga, which is severance from the contact of pain or sorrow. It is to be practiced with perseverance and with an undaunted mind.”

These verses offer much to contemplate. We can begin with the essential instruction in verse 20: the mind becomes quiet through the practice of concentration.

This verse connects directly with Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and the Kriya Yoga or Raja Yoga system. Concentration, or dharana, is the essential preliminary practice that prepares us for meditation and samadhi. We learn to hold attention and awareness steadily on a single point of focus.

A classical metaphor compares concentration to a stream of water flowing from a faucet. If we look closely, we may notice small droplets separating from the main stream and moving in different directions. Similarly, when we first attempt to concentrate, our attention continually wanders. We repeatedly bring it back to the chosen point of focus.

This stage of practice requires effort. We are strengthening our capacity to concentrate through repeated practice, much as we strengthen a muscle through exercise.

As concentration develops, the restless modifications of the mental field gradually subside. Attention begins to flow more steadily, and a noticeable transition occurs. We move from the effort of repeatedly recalling our attention to the uninterrupted flow of meditation.

We can learn to recognize this shift from concentration into meditation in our own practice.

Meditation, or dhyana, is traditionally compared to the smooth, continuous flow of oil. Unlike water droplets separating from a stream, oil flows without interruption. Similarly, attention and awareness begin to flow steadily toward our point of focus.

That focus may be inner light, inner sound, awareness of peace, energy in the higher chakra centers, or contemplation of our essence of being beyond all objects of perception.

As meditation deepens and attention remains steady, it naturally unfolds into samadhi, superconscious absorption. In samadhi, attention and awareness merge completely with that which is being contemplated.

We may experience this with inner light, inner sound, Om vibration, or inner peace, or through direct realization of our essential nature beyond any object of perception.

The important instruction is to become proficient in concentration. Learn to sit still and continually return attention and awareness to the chosen point of focus. As concentration steadies, meditation unfolds, and samadhi can naturally arise from meditation.