Dhyāna
ध्याननपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter) · √ध्यै धातु (dhyai — to contemplate, meditate) + ल्युट् प्रत्यय
dhyāna
Practices and Paths
Meditation — continuous flow of attention upon an object
Dhyāna is the continuous, uninterrupted flow of attention upon an object of meditation. In Patañjali's Yoga Sūtra, dhyāna is the seventh of eight limbs (aṣṭāṅga). In Vedānta, dhyāna may refer both to preparatory meditation (upāsanā) and to final contemplation (nididhyāsana). Dhyāna is not 'emptying the mind' but directing the mind in a sustained way — like oil poured without interruption.
Using this in academic work? Get formal citation
Vishva Vidya (2026). Dhyāna (ध्यान). Vishva Vidya — Vedanta. https://vedanta.com.br/en/glossary/dhyana
Vishva Vidya. "Dhyāna (ध्यान)." Vishva Vidya — Vedanta, January 1, 2026, https://vedanta.com.br/en/glossary/dhyana.
Vishva Vidya. "Dhyāna (ध्यान)." Vishva Vidya — Vedanta, January 1, 2026. https://vedanta.com.br/en/glossary/dhyana.
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