Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Dhyana included the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani that was translated into English in 1975. The Puranas have for centuries profoundly influenced Indian life and Culture and are defined by their characteristic features (panca-lakshana, literally, ‘the five characteristics of a Purana’).
Story of Dhyāna
(Meditation). Even from ancient times the people of Bhārata believed that heaven could be attained by meditation. There are scientific methods of meditating upon God. They are described below:
The root "dhyai", means "to think". Dhyāna (meditation) means thinking of God with concentration. God is invisible and figureless. We can meditate only upon some material that contains the attributes of God. So dhyāna (meditation) is to fix the mind on the object of meditation, and to imagine that particular object in a particular place and to concentrate the mind upon it. One who casts off his body, while engaged in meditation attains 'Sāyujya' (oneness with God).
He who can meditate upon God, with concentration of mind even for a moment or two can attain heaven. The fruits he attains are far greater than the fruits attained by performing great sacrifices and offerings. For meditation, there are four factors: Dhyātā (the meditator), Dhyāna (the act of meditation) Dhyeya (the object meditated upon) and Dhyānaprayojana (the attainment by meditation). He who indulges in meditation is the meditator. The act done by him is meditation. That which is meditated upon is the object of meditation. What the meditator obtains as a result of his meditation is the attainment. A meditator should be wise and virtuous, should have attention and patience, devoted to Viṣṇu and always energetic.
We can meditate upon God, walking, standing, sleeping and awake. God should be consecrated in the centre of the lotus chair of the heart and be worshipped with devotional meditation. It is to give practice in fixing the mind firmly on a particular object, that the sages say that some visible material object should be given to meditate upon, in the early stage of meditation. When concentration of mind is obtained by meditating upon a visible object, it will be possible for us to meditate upon an object which is not amenable to our senses. When engaged in meditation we should be thinking "Ahaṃ Brahmā jyotirātmā vāsudevo vimukta Oṃ". (I am Brahmā, the light, the Spirit, Vāsudeva, and Vimukta (having no connection with anything), OM). (Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 374).