Dhyana, or meditation, is the seventh limb of Ashtanga Yoga and one of the most subtle stages of the practice. Patanjali defines it as “the uninterrupted flow of attention toward a single object”—a continuation of Dharana (concentration), but with less effort and more stability. The difference between Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi can be difficult to grasp because they form a continuum, not a set of distinct steps.
Think of Dharana as holding the mind on the object—there is effort, redirection, and occasional distraction. In Dhyana, that effort smooths out. The attention flows on its own, with increasing ease and depth. Samadhi, then, is when even the sense of separation between the observer and the object dissolves. Dhyana is the bridge. It’s important not to force this experience, but to cultivate the conditions: steadiness, simplicity, and patient awareness. Let concentration become natural, and allow meditation to unfold.
