Dhyana (Hinduism, Buddhism)

This is the practice of intensive concentration of the mind, when distractions through intruding thoughts have been eliminated. It is the stage beyond concentration known as dharana when distractions still appear. It is a refinement of perception which leads to a smooth flow of awareness when the duality of perceptor and perceived is merged. In Hindu philosophy, in Book VII of the Chandogya Upanishad, dhyana in placed between citta or mind's mother substance and vidya or wisdom, as worthy of worship. According to Patanjali, this is the seventh stage of the eightfold path of raja yoga, leading to samadhi.

In Buddhism, dhyana is the fifth of the six (and later ten) paramita (virtues) a bodhisattva perfects on the path of enlightenment, and the fifth of five perfections or paramitas of Zen which, when achieved, render the mind ready for the sixth – maha paramita or great perfection, prajna. In Buddhism there are four degrees of dhyanas or jhanas, with preliminary practices of the first five constituents of yoga as preparatory to the first. At this stage one is accustomed to a concentration of the mind in which the senses are suppressed and the state of ecstasy is achieved which may be equivalent to dhyana. The first dhyana is described as joy and gladness at being separated from sensuality and sin and as being reflective and investigative. The second is deep tranquillity with the suppression of reflection and investigation; thought is tranquillized and intuition predominates. In the third there is tranquil serenity and patience when passion is destroyed, an awareness in the body of joyful and conscious delight. The fourth is without sorrow or joy, pure equanimity and recollection where previous gladness and grief are destroyed. Attainment of these four dhyanas determines one's position in the rupaloka (world with form) heavens. The first three dhyanas belong to the first seven grades of holy paths, while the final is that of an Arhat.

Further developments in Mahayana Buddhism distinguish many more kinds of dhyana, being the way of bodhisattvas but not an Arhat. While Zen - the very name of which derives from the Sanskrit "dhyana" through the Chinese Ch'an - makes dhyana – zazen – central to the entire teaching.

One of the essential steps in jnana yoga, the way of knowledge.