The Power of Concentration

The distracted mind is our greatest obstacle, and concentration (Dharana) is our greatest tool.

Many people confuse meditation with mindfulness, but these are two different practices.

In the traditional path of yoga, meditation = deep concentration on an object. This object could be a mantra, deity, Om, a sense organ, or something like this. Meditation is not about watching the thoughts; it’s about overcoming the mind to experience and witness the true Self.

In contrast, mindfulness is about observing the mind while being present with the thoughts and the body. This is an incredibly beautiful practice. It can be a form of meditation, but it’s not meditation itself, at least not in the traditional yogic path.

Mindfulness is so relevant in the modern world because it teaches us how to move through life with greater awareness in the things we do - whether it be working, cooking, speaking, breathing, thinking, or exercising. We don’t need to sit still to practice mindfulness; we can practice throughout the day.

It only becomes meditation when it leads us past those things, past the mind, past the body, and into our hearts and souls. It becomes meditation when the mind is quiet and we begin to hear whispers from that part of ourself that is normally buried deep under the mind.

Mindfulness is accessible for everybody to practice in any given moment, while meditation can require a certain devotion or discipline. The advanced practice is to do it all! Sit in meditation as a ritualistic spiritual practice, and find mindfulness as a human with responsibilities. They actually complement each other perfectly.

When our mindfulness practice is working, we may feel called to slow down and sit in meditation. When our meditation practice is working, we should feel called to be mindful in our actions once we emerge from our seat.

At the end of the day, it’s less about what we call it, and more about the fact that we’re practicing something that carries us forward along the path.