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Line 24: − + − + − + + + + + + + + + − The practice of meditation is paramount in bringing about a transformation in one’s cognitive style, dispositions, and emotional feeling.+ − − It is a means of achieving transcendence, i.e., overcoming the limitations surrounding the human condition. − − Purpose of Meditation: − − The purpose of meditation, we are told by Patañjali and the successive Rāja Yoga practitioners, is to control the wanderings of the mind (citta vṛttis) and empty the mind of its thought content. In fact, “silencing” of one’s thoughts is an important sign of progress in meditation. − − Also, there are several hindrances to practicing meditation such as fatigue, doubt, delusion, and instability of the mind (Yoga Sūtras, I.30). Successful practice of meditation implies that these hindrances are overcome at least to some degree. Therefore, emotional well-being, reduced anxiety, and overcoming ego-involvement may be expected to correlate with progress in successful meditation. − − Meditation is believed to lead to enlightenment and self-transforming peak experiences.<ref name=":1" /> − − Means to increase the fire of intelligence: − + + − + − Meditation is the means of increasing our fire of intelligence. For this our thoughts are the fuel and the witness consciousness is the fire. By remaining in the state of the seer, all things become fuel for awareness.<ref>David Frawley (1999), [https://archive.org/details/yogaayurvedaselfhealingandselfrealizationdavidfrawley_757_/mode/2up Yoga & Ayurveda], Wisconsin: Lotus Press.</ref>+ Line 72:
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→ध्यानस्य प्रयोजनम् ॥ Benefits of Dhyana: Editing and adding content with reference
* Wakefulness<ref name=":0" />
* Wakefulness<ref name=":0" />
== ध्यानस्य प्रयोजनम् ॥ Benefits of Dhyana ==
== ध्यानस्य प्रयोजनम् ॥ Purpose of Dhyana ==
The benefits of practising Dhyana are manifold.
The purpose of meditation, as emphasizd by Maharshi Patanjali, is controlling the wanderings of the mind (chitta vrttis) and empty the mind of its thought content. In fact, “silencing” one’s thoughts is an important sign of progress in meditation.
* It helps one to get rid of negative emotions like fear, anger and helps one to develop positive emotions like love, compassion, friendliness and cheerfulness.
Also, there are several hindrances to practicing meditation such as fatigue, doubt, delusion and instability of the mind.<ref name=":1" /> <blockquote>व्याधिस्त्यानसंशयप्रमादालस्याविरतिभ्रान्तिदर्शनालब्धभूमिकत्वानवस्थितत्वानि चित्तविक्षेपास्तेऽन्तरायाः ॥ १.३० ॥<ref>Yoga Sutras, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7 Pada 1 (Samadhi Pada)]</ref>
vyādhistyānasaṁśayapramādālasyāviratibhrāntidarśanālabdhabhūmikatvānavasthitatvāni cittavikṣepāste'ntarāyāḥ ॥ 1.30 ॥</blockquote>Successful practice of meditation implies that these hindrances are overcome at least to some degree. Therefore, emotional well-being, reduced anxiety and overcoming ego-involvement may be expected to correlate with progress in successful meditation.<ref name=":1" />
== ध्यानस्य फलानि ॥ Benefits of Dhyana ==
Dhyana is a means of achieving transcendence, i.e. overcoming the limitations surrounding the human condition. It is believed to lead to enlightenment and self-transforming peak experiences.<ref name=":1" /> The benefits of practising Dhyana are manifold.
* It helps one to get rid of negative emotions like fear and anger
* It helps one to develop positive emotions like love, compassion, friendliness and cheerfulness.
* It keeps the mind calm and quiet.
* It keeps the mind calm and quiet.
* It increases concentration, memory, clarity of thought and will power.
* It increases concentration, memory, clarity of thought and will power.
* It rejuvenates body and mind.<ref name=":0">Yoga - Level B ([https://nios.ac.in/media/documents/OBE_indian_knowledge_tradition/Level_B/Yoga/Yoga_(Level-B)_ch-4-final.pdf Chapter 4]), Open Basic Education Programme (Bharatiya Jnana Parampara), Noida: National Institute of Open Schooling.</ref>
* It rejuvenates body and mind.<ref name=":0">Yoga - Level B ([https://nios.ac.in/media/documents/OBE_indian_knowledge_tradition/Level_B/Yoga/Yoga_(Level-B)_ch-4-final.pdf Chapter 4]), Open Basic Education Programme (Bharatiya Jnana Parampara), Noida: National Institute of Open Schooling.</ref>
In fact, the practice of meditation is paramount in bringing about a transformation in one’s cognitive style, dispositions and emotional feeling.<ref name=":1" />
Yoga conceives human existence in the form of five sheaths or Koshas viz. annamaya kosha, prāṇamaya kośha, manomaya kosha, vijnānamaya kosha and Anandamaya kosha.<ref>Pandey A. (2022), [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362889666_Chapter_2_Human_Self_Work_and_of_Human_Being_Indian_Worldview_and_Implications_for_Management_Practices_and_Scholarship Human Self, Work and of Human Being: Indian Worldview and Implications for Management Practices and Scholarship], Indigenous Indian Management, Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.</ref> Each of the five koshas or encasements of the atman has a different form of agni responsible for its development.
=== Means to Increase the Fire of Intelligence ===
Yoga conceives human existence in the form of five sheaths or Koshas viz. annamaya kosha, pranamaya kosha, manomaya kosha, vijnanamaya kosha and Anandamaya kosha.<ref>Pandey A. (2022), [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362889666_Chapter_2_Human_Self_Work_and_of_Human_Being_Indian_Worldview_and_Implications_for_Management_Practices_and_Scholarship Human Self, Work and of Human Being: Indian Worldview and Implications for Management Practices and Scholarship], Indigenous Indian Management, Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.</ref> Each of the five koshas or encasements of the atman has a different form of agni responsible for its development.
The agni of intelligence is the fire of discrimination; the fire of the Vijnanamaya kosha, through which we can discern truth and falsehood, good and bad, right and wrong. The fire of the outer mind, manomaya kosha, is neutral morally. It simply digests impressions. The fire of intelligence digests these further, extracting their meaning, quality or content – their underlying idea. From it our basic values and beliefs are constructed. The agni of intelligence builds up the body of dharma, our field of insight and understanding.
The agni of intelligence is the fire of discrimination; the fire of the Vijnanamaya kosha, through which one discerns truth and falsehood, good and bad, right and wrong. The fire of the outer mind, manomaya kosha, is morally neutral. It simply digests impressions. The fire of intelligence digests these further, extracting their meaning, quality or content – their underlying idea. One's basic values and beliefs are constructed from it. The agni of intelligence builds up the body of dharma, one's field of insight and understanding.
And meditation is the means of increasing one's fire of intelligence. For, the thoughts are the fuel and the witness consciousness is the fire. By remaining in the state of the seer, all things become fuel for awareness.<ref>David Frawley (1999), [https://archive.org/details/yogaayurvedaselfhealingandselfrealizationdavidfrawley_757_/mode/2up Yoga & Ayurveda], Wisconsin: Lotus Press.</ref>
== Neurophysiological view of Meditation ==
== Neurophysiological view of Meditation ==
(d) there is personal transformation which involves closing the gap between knowing and being, and overcoming the dissociation between belief and behavior.<ref name=":1" />
(d) there is personal transformation which involves closing the gap between knowing and being, and overcoming the dissociation between belief and behavior.<ref name=":1" />
== Effects of Meditation ==
== ध्यानस्य परिणामाः ॥ Effects of Meditation ==
Contemporary research does suggest, if not establish, that practice of meditation may indeed produce some cognitive, emotive and conative effects that are not only interesting in themselves but also have positive applications for one’s health and well-being.<ref name=":1" />
Contemporary research does suggest, if not establish, that practice of meditation may indeed produce some cognitive, emotive and conative effects that are not only interesting in themselves but also have positive applications for one’s health and well-being.<ref name=":1" />