In the classical system of Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga, Dhyana occupies a crucial transitional position between disciplined mental focus (Dharana) and complete absorption (Samadhi). Sutra 3.2 defines Dhyana as the continuous flow of cognition toward a single object—pratyaya ekatanata. This is not merely mindfulness in the general sense, but a cultivated meditative absorption grounded in earlier yogic disciplines.
From the perspective of Indian philosophical systems, Dhyana represents a synthesis of Sankhya metaphysics and yogic psychology. It is through Dhyana that the practitioner transcends both sensory engagement and conceptual thought, allowing for direct engagement with purusha—the witnessing consciousness. Importantly, this meditative absorption is not a passive state but an active and alert clarity of mind, cultivated through steady, ethical, and embodied practice. It is here, in the still stream of Dhyana, that the yogic journey approaches its experiential climax.
