The Sixth Limb of Yoga: Dharana

Dharana: The Practice of Paying Attention

The sixth limb of The Eight Limbs of Yoga is dharana, concentration.

If pratyahara teaches us to gather our attention, dharana teaches us to place that attention somewhere deliberately.

Patañjali describes it simply: “Concentration is the binding of the mind to one place.” - Yoga Sutra 3.1 (Sutras Yoga)

• One place.

• One breath.

• One mantra.

• One sensation.

• One candle flame.

• One task.

This sounds simple until we try it. The mind wanders. (Of course it does.) The practice isn't about never wandering. The practice is noticing that we've wandered and gently returning. That return is the practice.

In yogic philosophy, concentration is not merely a productivity skill. It is part of the movement toward freedom. When the mind is constantly pulled in every direction, our experience of life becomes fragmented. Dharana begins to gather us back together.

Dharana in everyday life

Try doing one thing at a time.

• When you're eating, eat.

• When you're talking to someone, listen.

• When you're working, work.

• When you're walking, walk.

This sounds almost painfully obvious in a culture built around multitasking. But there is something deeply restorative about giving one experience your whole attention. You may discover that concentration isn't about forcing the mind to behave.

It's about repeatedly choosing where you want to place it.