Dhyana is a form of meditation and the seventh of the eight limbs of yoga.

When you practice dhyana, you

focus your mind on a particular object or concept with the goal of becoming one with it. The best way to
prepare for a dhyana practice is to first do some yoga to bring your body to a calm and relaxed state. Then
you'll be ready to shut down your senses and focus your mind.[1]

1. Move to a comfortable position. You may think that you need to be seated in the standard cross-legged
posture to meditate, but it's more important that you're in a position where you feel comfortable and
supported.[2]
 You don't want your position to distract you, so sit in a comfortable chair or leaning against the wall if the cross-
legged lotus position is a struggle. You also can do dhyana while lying down – just make sure you don't fall
asleep.
2.

Relax your muscles incrementally. Yoga practice prepares your body to relax for dhyana meditation. Starting
with your feet, gradually release tension in your muscles going all the way up to the crown of your head.[3]
 Breathe deeply and adjust your body as necessary to accommodate your relaxed muscles. If you're holding
tension anywhere, focus on that part of your body and try to release that tension before you continue further.

Turn your mind to your breathing. Once your body is relaxed, begin meditation by focusing on your breath.
Clear your mind of all other thoughts and think only of your breathing. Breathe deeply and slowly in through
your nose and out through your mouth.[4]
 Think of filling your lungs from the bottom to the top, then pause for a moment before slowly emptying your
lungs from the top to the bottom.
 Continue breathing like this for 10 to 20 breath cycles, keeping your mind focused on your breath. If other
thoughts intrude, acknowledge the thought and then let it go, gently pulling your mind back to your breath.

Observe your object in a detached way. Maintaining your deep breaths, stare at your object. If you aren't
using a physical prop, hold your object in the center of your mind until it becomes the only thing you're thinking
about. Unless you have a physical object to look at, closing your eyes may make it easier for you to focus.[6]
 For example, suppose you have chosen a small statue of a lion as your object. You might observe the material
the statute is made out of or the lion's facial expression. Observe these things as they are without attachment
or judgement. Make it as simple as possible. Maybe the corner of the lion's mouth are turned upward – this
doesn't mean the lion is "smiling" or is "happy" – these are judgements.
 If your object is nature, you might think about the colors of grass and sky and water. Observe those qualities
without making any assumptions or judgements. You might think "the grass is green," but without thinking "that
grass is healthy" or "that grass needs water."

Practice for 5 to 10 minutes when you're starting out. When you first start dhyana, you likely won't be able
to meditate in this state for very long before your mind starts to wander. Start slow, and gradually work your
way up to longer periods of time.[8]
 Controlling the mind is a big part of dhyana practice. The more often you do it, the more control you'll have and
the longer you'll be able to meditate.
 Make your dhyana practice a part of your daily routine. For example, you may want to do it in the morning after
you wake up, to give you more focus throughout the day.

Fix your mind at the Lotus Feet of Lord Hari. Then rotate the mind on His silk-cloth (Pitambara), Srivatsa,
Kaustubha gem on His chest, bracelets on His arm, ear-rings, crown on the head; then conch, disc, mace and
lotus, on His hands and then come to His feet. Repeat the process again and again. Think of His attributes
also. In this way you can do Dhyana on Krishna, Rama or Siva.

Uddhava asked: "In what form and with what rites should the devotee think of You? Please inform me of the
same fully. " Sri Krishna said: "Seated comfortably in a seat neither high nor low, keeping the hands near the
body unmoved, control the eye from wandering outwards. (Fix it on the tip of the nose to prevent distraction).
Control the breath by taking it through one nostril and letting it out through the other and vice versa. Control the
senses. Pronounce the letter OM continuously and with deep devotion both while inhaling and exhaling.

"The above practice daily at the three periods (morning, noon and dusk) will enable the Jiva to get perfect
control of breath within a month. Imagine in the heart the lotus flower with its petals as seat, and fancy the sun,
moon and fire to be the three lights, at their proper places. Concentrate your mind and imagine My present
form as seated in the flower, with calm, dignified, smiling face, the cheeks resplendent with the lustre of the
gold ear-rings; of beautiful neck, of sky colour, wearing a white cloth of spotless purity, with the ornament
Srivatsa and the Goddess Lakshmi on the chest. With the weapons and other usual appendages, Chakra,
mace, conch and lotus flower in My four hands, My feet shining with diamonds; with the splendour of the
various ornaments on My body, crown, Kaustubha (diamond) on the chest, waist-ring, and the amulet at the
shoulder, overflowing with grace towards My devotees.

"Run your fancy over the whole form till you complete all the details and then fix your mind on the same without
thinking of anything else. By thus looking at the form and fixing the mind from wandering elsewhere, the face
will gradually wear an ecstatic look. When thus the mind oblivious of everything else (forgetting even the triple
differences, conscious at the starting point viz. , the person concentrating the mind, the form on which the mind
is concentrated and the act of concentration) gets fixed in concentration of My form (Dhyeyam), the Jiva
becomes completely merged in Me (in the Turiya or conscious Anandic ecstatic state), just as a ball of fire gets
merged in a big bonfire. By constant practice of this Samadhi or ecstasy the Jiva very soon gets rid of all
delusion caused by diversity and attains bliss. "