dhyana

Dhyana is a Sanskrit term meaning contemplation, meditation, or profound reflection. It is used in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions to describe a disciplined practice of mental stillness and concentration. In Buddhist usage, the related Pali term is jhāna, often translated as “meditative absorption,” referring to a series of increasingly deep states of concentration.

In Hinduism, dhyana is one of the steps toward spiritual realization. In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, dhyana is the seventh of the eight limbs, following dharana (concentration) and preceding samadhi. It involves sustained, single-pointed attention on a chosen object, gradually quieting discursive thought and allowing deeper awareness to emerge.

In Buddhist practice, dhyana/jhāna denotes deep states of meditative absorption attained through focused attention and mindfulness. Traditional lists describe four form jhānas and, in many schools, four formless attainments; these states are cultivated as part of the path toward insight and liberation. The term is sometimes used more broadly to include other tranquil- or insight-based meditation practices.

Differences across traditions reflect how each conceptualizes mind, attention, and the relationship between concentration and insight. Across contexts, dhyana generally denotes a deliberate, sustained practice aimed at transcending ordinary mental activity and realizing a higher level of awareness.