Dharana is the sixth limb of Ashtanga Yoga and marks the beginning of the internal stages of yogic practice. Patanjali defines it simply in Sutra 3.1: desha bandhah chittasya dharana — "Concentration is the binding of the mind to one place." In practical terms, Dharana means choosing a single object—such as the breath, a mantra, or a visual symbol—and continuously returning the attention to it whenever the mind wanders.
Classical commentators explain that Dharana is not about suppressing thoughts, but about creating a steady center of gravity in the mind. Vyasa, the most respected commentator on the Sutras, emphasizes that the mind becomes “bound” or held in place—not by force, but through repeated effort and refinement of attention. This stage is essential: without Dharana, true meditation (Dhyana) cannot arise. It’s through the cultivation of focused awareness that the mind becomes still, and the deeper layers of perception and insight begin to unfold. In this way, Dharana serves as the gateway to higher consciousness.
