How to Concentrate?

Practice concentration of mind. In trying to concentrate your mind or even project a thought, you will find that you require naturally forming images in your mind. You cannot help it. Fix the mind on one object, on one idea. Withdraw the mind, again and again, when it runs away from the Target and fix it there. Do not allow the mind to create hundreds of thought-forms. Introspect and watch the mind carefully. Live alone. Avoid company. Do not mix. This is important. Do not allow the mind to dissipate its energy in vain on vain thoughts, vain worry, vain imagination and vain fear and forebodings. Make it hold on to one thought-form for half an hour by incessant practice. Make the mind to shape itself into one shape and try to keep the shape for hours together through constant and incessant practice.

WHAT IS CONCENTRATION?

Concentration is holding the mind to one form or object steadily for a long time (Yoga Sutras, III-1). “It is fixing the mind on an external object or an internal Chakra or one abstract idea (Yoga Sutras, III-1).

CONCENTRATION ON THE INTERNAL CHAKRAS

A Raja Yogi concentrates on the Ajna Chakra, the space between the two eyebrows which is the seat of the mind in the waking state. You can easily control the mind if you can concentrate on this region. Meditation and concentration on the Ajna Chakra lead to control of mind very easily. Light is seen during concentration in this region very quickly, even in a day’s practice, by some persons. He who wants to meditate and he who wants to help the world should select this region for his concentration.

A devotee should concentrate on the heart, the seat of emotion and feeling. He who concentrates on the heart gets great Bliss. He who wants to get Bliss should concentrate on the heart. A Hatha Yogi fixes his mind on the Sushumna Nadi, the middle path in the spinal canal and on a specified center, viz., the Muladhara or the Manipura or the Ajna Chakra. Some Yogis ignore the lower Chakras and fix their mind on the Ajna Chakra only. Their theory is that by controlling the Ajna Chakra, all the lower Chakras can be automatically controlled. When you concentrate on a Chakra, a thread-like connection is formed in the beginning between the mind and the Chakra (centre of spiritual energy). Then the Yogi ascends along the Sushumna from Chakra to Chakra. The ascent is made gradually by patient efforts. Even a mere shaking of the opening of Sushumna causes a great deal of Ananda (bliss). You become intoxicated. You will entirely forget the world. When the opening of Sushumna is shaken a bit, the Kula-Kundalini Shakti tries to enter Sushumna. Great Vairagya comes in. You will become fearless. You will behold various visions. You will witness the splendid internal light.”

You will get different Siddhis (spiritual powers) , different types of Bliss and you will get different kinds of knowledge by controlling and operating on different Chakras. If you have conquered the Muladhara (Base) Chakra, you have conquered the earth-plane already. If you have conquered the Manipura (Solar plexus) Chakra, you have already conquered fire. Fire will not burn you. Five kinds of concentration will help you to conquer the five elements. Learn them under a Guru who is a developed Yogi.

A NOTE OF CAUTION

If you get headache or pain by concentrating on the space between the two eyebrows by turning the eyes upward, give up the practice at once. Concentrate on the heart. If you find it difficult to concentrate on your heart or the space between the two eyebrows or top of the head, if you experience headache or pain in the skull, shift your center of concentration to any object outside the body.

CONCENTRATION ON EXTERNAL OBJECTS

It is easy to concentrate the mind on external objects. The mind has a natural tendency to go outwards. You can concentrate on the blue sky, light of the sun, the all-pervading air or ether or sun, moon or stars.

TRAINING IN CONCENTRATION

Train the mind in a variety of ways in concentration in the beginning. Concentrate on the Anahata sounds of the heart by closing the ears. Concentrate on the breath with Soham repetition. Concentrate on any concrete image. Concentrate on the blue sky. Concentrate on the all-pervading light of the sun. Concentrate on the various Chakras of the body. Concentrate on the abstract ideas of Satyam (Truth), Jnanam (Wisdom), Anantam (Infinity), Ekam (One), Nityam (Eternal Essence), etc. Lastly, stick to one thing only.

REFERENCE

Mind – Its Mysteries and Control by Sri Swami Sivananda