Hour 9 Meditation – Meditation in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and Gheranda Samhita
Meditation in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and Gheranda Samhita
Introduction
Dear Seeker,
In our exploration of meditation within the vast ocean of yogic wisdom, we now enter the domain of Hatha Yoga, where meditation is not just an isolated practice but an integral part of a comprehensive path to spiritual awakening.
In the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and the Gheranda Samhita, two of the most influential Hatha Yoga texts, meditation is approached not as a simple mental discipline but as a spiritual alchemy that is intertwined with asana, pranayama, mudra, and bandha to cleanse the body, mind, and soul.
These works are like beacons in the sea of Yogic philosophy, providing practical, step-by-step techniques to attain the highest planes of consciousness.
1. Hatha Yoga Pradipika: A Gateway to Meditate
Background of the Text
The Hatha Yoga Pradipika is among the oldest known texts on Hatha Yoga. It was written in the 14th century by Swatmarama, a follower of the renowned yogi Gorakhnath. The book is a working manual for the practices of Hatha Yoga and is concerned with methods of physical purification and preparing the body for more advanced spiritual practices.
The eight limbs of Hatha Yoga, as set out by Swatmarama’s work, are:
Asana – Physical poses to build up the body.
Pranayama – Breath control exercises.
Mudra – Postures and seals to direct energy.
Bandha – Body locks to regulate energy.
Dhyana – Meditation and concentration.
Pratyahara – Withdrawal of the senses.
Dharana – Concentration.
Samadhi – Union or merging into the Divine.
The central theme in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika is that Hatha Yoga—by purifying the body and mind—readies the practitioner for the advanced practices of Raja Yoga and Jnana Yoga (path of knowledge).
Meditation in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Dhyana: The Role of Meditation
In Chapter 4 of Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Swatmarama puts emphasis on Dhyana (Meditation) as the final objective of Hatha Yoga. Meditation is not only a mental exercise but a vital part of the process of purification of the physical and energetic body. The book emphasizes that through body and mind purification, the practitioner is made fit to realize higher states of meditation and spiritual perception.
The book defines meditation as:
“Dhyana is uninterrupted stream of consciousness on the meditation object. It has to be continuous and constant, ultimately attaining the stage of Samadhi.”
Major Observations regarding Meditation in Hatha Yoga Pradipika:
Body and Mind Unison: Meditation in Hatha Yoga is a spontaneous progression from the physical practice. The body gets purified and empowered through Asanas and then the mind gets concentrated through Pranayama and Dhyana.
Purification as Preparation: Before one can fully experience meditation, the practitioner is instructed to practice Neti, Dhauti, Basti, and other cleansing practices in order to cleanse the body. Only a clean body, Swatmarama contends, can contain the intensity of spiritual energy that is produced in the course of meditation.
Asana and Meditation: A firm asana (posture) is required to sustain prolonged meditation. In the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Swatmarama recommends Padmasana (Lotus posture) or Siddhasana for successful meditation. These postures calm the nervous system, invite prana to ascend, and establish a steady, undistracted concentration.
Mastering the Prana: Swatmarama writes at great length about the need for pranayama (breath control) as a preparation for meditation. By controlling the breath, one quiets the mind, enabling it to settle into calmness and concentration. Pranayama brings about the conditions for Dhyana to manifest.
The Mind in Meditation: The Hatha Yoga Pradipika also speaks about the role of the mind during meditation. It emphasizes that the mind is naturally agitated and distracted, and concentration practices (Dharana) serve to stabilize the mind, which ultimately results in a deeper state of meditation (Dhyana).
Major Meditation Techniques in Hatha Yoga Pradipika
A few of the meditation practices emphasized in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika are:
Pranayama (Control of the Breath): Techniques like Kapalbhati and Anulom Vilom (alternate nostril breathing) are used to concentrate the mind and cleanse the body’s energy channels.
Trataka: Staring at a single point, most often a flame, to cultivate concentration and bring the mind to a quiet state.
Japa: Mantra repetition to concentrate the mind and root the awareness.
Visualizations: Visualizing light or energy traveling up the spine to engage higher levels of consciousness.
2. Gheranda Samhita: A Comprehensive Approach to Meditation
Background of the Text
The Gheranda Samhita is another influential treatise on Hatha Yoga, written in the 17th century by the sage Gheranda. This text is more detailed and practical compared to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, providing a step-by-step guide to the practice of Hatha Yoga.
The Gheranda Samhita is organized into seven chapters:
Asana – Postures for physical strength and health.
Pranayama – Techniques for breath control.
Mudra – Gestures to control energy.
Bandha – Locks for energy management.
Dhyana – Meditation and concentration.
Pratyahara – Withdrawal of the senses.
Samadhi – The ultimate goal of Yoga.
Unlike the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, which places emphasis on physical purification, the Gheranda Samhita integrates meditation directly into the practice of mental control and concentration.
Meditation in the Gheranda Samhita
The Role of Meditation
In the Gheranda Samhita, meditation is described as the fifth and most crucial step of the yogic path, after physical cleansing and the control of Pranayama, Mudras, and Bandhas.
Gheranda insists that meditation is the door to direct realization and must be practiced after the control of the physical and energetic part of Yoga. It insists that:
“One who practices meditation after mastering the body and breath becomes capable of controlling the mind.”
Key Points on Meditation in the Gheranda Samhita:
Relationship Between Body, Breath, and Mind: Similar to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the Gheranda Samhita places a strong emphasis on body cleansing and regulation of the breath prior to trying meditation. It also emphasizes the need for stability of mind and mental control for successful practice of meditation.
Asana for Meditation: In the Gheranda Samhita, certain asanas like Siddhasana and Padmasana are specifically indicated for meditation. These postures not only condition the body for long periods of stillness but also aid in calming the mind and inducing the flow of prana (life force).
Dhyana as an Ever-Going Process: Meditation has been illustrated here as an ever-going process of concentration. Mind must be practiced to concentrate upon a particular thought or object steadily without any oscillation, bringing about the condition of Samadhi(spiritual absorption). In contrast with previous traditions, the Gheranda Samhita insists on this process to be followed unremittingly with a determinate will.
Meditation Techniques in the Gheranda Samhita
Some of the most important meditation practices outlined in the Gheranda Samhita are:
Dhyana on the Chakras: Meditation on certain energy centers (chakras) within the body to awaken higher levels of awareness.
Trataka (Concentration on a Flame): This practice is covered in more detail here, with a focus on cultivating mental clarity and concentration.
Japa and Mantra Meditation: Sounding a repeated mantra is depicted as a practice to soothe the mind and intensify meditation.
Visualization: Imagining the energy flowing upwards along the spine (Kundalini) or concentrating on particular images for triggering higher awareness.
Conclusion: The Synergy of Meditation in Hatha Yoga Pradipika and Gheranda Samhita
Both the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and the Gheranda Samhita provide the foundation for meditation as a core practice on the yogic path. But the method in each text is slightly different:
The Hatha Yoga Pradipika makes meditation the peak of physical disciplines and control over the breath, inviting the practitioner to achieve effortless awareness through sustained postures and regulation of the prana.
The Gheranda Samhita is more methodical in its approach to meditation, detailing a step-by-step process that includes both mental and physical cleansing. Both books do concur on the crucial nature of meditation as a means of achieving spiritual awakening and liberation, however. The body, breath, and mind need to be cleansed and aligned first before the mind is able to reach profound states of Dhyana and Samadhi.
Thus, these books not only direct us in practice of meditation but also in readiness of our entire self to know the deep calm and clarity of self-realization.
Reflective Questions:
How does the concept of purification presented in both texts apply to your own meditation practice?
Which among the asanas, pranayamas, or mudras would you introduce into your practice of meditation for the purpose of increasing stillness?
Did you go through the transition from difficult concentration to natural meditation in your practice?