Samyama or Mind Control by Swami

Sivananda
by Swami Sivananda

1. WHAT IS SAMYAMA

The three (Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi) together constitute Samyama.

NOTES

Samyama means perfect control of the mind. Here it is a technical name for three
inseparable processes of Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi taken collectively. By the
practice of Samyama, the Yogi gets knowledge and powers. The three processes are
practised on any one object successively at the same time. The five Angas of Yoga are
intended to purify the body, Prana and the senses. These three practices purify the
mind. They constitute the very basis of Yoga. With the help of these three, the Yogi
dives deep within and brings out the pearl of knowledge of anything. Samyama is the
name given to the combined practice of Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi at one and the
same time. By Samyama on external objects he gets various Siddhis and hidden
knowledge of the universe of Tanmatras, etc. By concentration on Indriyas, Ahamkara
and mind, etc., he gets various powers and experiences. These things are explained in
the subsequent Sutras.

2. SAMYAMA AS ANTARANGA SADHANA

The three (Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi) are more internal than the preceding
(Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama and Pratyahara).

NOTES

These three constitute the Yoga proper. The five accessories are the external means
of Yoga. These three directly bring Samadhi. The other five purify the body, Prana
and Indriyas. Hence these three are called Antaranga Sadhana.

3. SAMYAMA AS BAHIRANGA SADHANA

Even that (Samyama) is external to the seedless Samadhi.

NOTES

Nirbija Samahi or Asamprajnata Samadhi is the final goal of Raja Yoga. Compared to
that, this Samyama (Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi) also is external or indirect. It is also
preparatory. Here there is Alambana or something for the mind to depend upon;
whereas in Nirbija Samadhi, there is nothing for the mind to depend upon. It is
Niralambana. It is Nirbija (seedless) Samadhi.

4. BENEFITS OF SAMYAMA

By the conquest of Samyama, comes the stage of cognition.

NOTES

As Samyama becomes firmer and firmer, so does the knowledge of Samadhi become
more and more lucid. This is the fruit of the practice of Samyama. Samyama should
become very natural. Then the knowledge flashes like anything. Samyama is a
powerful weapon for the Yogi. Just as the archer aims at the gross objects at first,
and then takes to subtle objects, so also the Yogi does Samyama on gross objects and
then takes to subtle objects. He does great deal of practice and ascends the Yogic
ladder rung by rung.
Practice of Samyama
The three-Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi-together constitute Samyama. Samyama is
the name given to the combined practice of Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi at one and
the same time. By Samyama on external objects the Yogi gets various Siddhis and
hidden knowledge of the universe of Tanmatras, etc. By concentration on Indriyas,
Ahankara, mind, etc., he gets various powers and experiences.

These three (Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi) are more internal than the preceding
Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama and Pratyahara. These three constitute the Yoga
proper. The five accessories are the external means of Yoga. These three directly
bring Samadhi. The other five purify the body, Prana and Indriyas. Hence these three
are called Antaranga Sadhana.

By the conquest of Samyama comes the stage of cognition. As Samyama becomes

firmer and firmer, so does the knowledge of Samadhi become more and more lucid.
This is the fruit of the practice of Samyama. Samyama should become very natural.
Then the knowledge flashes like anything. Samyama is a powerful weapon for the
Yogi. Just as the archer aims at the gross objects at first and then takes to subtle
objects he does great deal of practice and ascends the Yogic ladder rung by rung.

By Samyama on the sun comes the knowledge of the worlds. By Samyama on the
moon, comes the knowledge of the region of stars. By Samyama on the Pole Star,
comes the knowledge of the movements of the starts. By Samyama on the strength of
elephants and others, comes their strength.

By Samyama on the signs (of others), comes the knowledge of their minds. By
Samyama on the relation of the ear and ether, comes the divine hearing. By Samyama
on the relation between ether and body, to the Yogi attaining the lightness of cotton,
comes the power of passage through ether (air).

By Samyama and direct perception of the Samskaras (impressions of mind), comes the
knowledge of the previous birth. By Samyama on the distinctive relation between
Sattva (purity) and Purusha (the soul), comes the power of omnipotence and
omniscience. By Samyama on the Chakra (plexus) of navel, comes the knowledge of
the body.

By Samyama on the Chakra at the pit of the throat, comes the removal of hunger and
thirst. By Samyama on the light of the head, comes the Darshan of Siddhas.