Phases of Focus Part 1
I was asked the question the other day, “Is it possible to meditate while doing a thing?” The student suggested while doing dishes or working out. Below is my response and I think it’s important to understand the different types of focus and their effects in the mind.
Response~ “The experience is different but absolutely possible. Hatha Yoga is based off of this idea, that one could achieve a state of unification while performing an action. The experience is often different than when just sitting in silence. Late in the first chapter of the Yoga Sutra, Patanjali discussed these two paths. Savitarka- deep focus with the use of an object and Nirvitarka- deep focus without an object.
Nirvitarka is more challenging and it’s affects more profound. Though savitarka (Hatha Yoga, washing dishes etc.) is a means to achieve a deep state of focus it’s often not as effective as Nirvitarka.”
Commentary on my response 🤣~ Really, I should clarify. In these two cases Patanjali is talking about the mind and it’s activity on gross thoughts. When we are practicing meditation using an object (be it a candle flame or a picture of your dog or anything in between) the mind can achieve a state of focus with activity on the object itself. It’s shape, texture, color, form etc.. After advancement of the practice one might experience Nirvitarka. This is when the mind reaches into a deeper state of focus and the gross attributes of the object slip away from the mind. In my practice I often use the breath as the object on which I begin to focus. I notice it’s depth and rhythm at first but after some time those qualities fall away and my mind, although still aware of the breath, settles, becomes quiet and may even become still.
The practice of Savitarka is the first essential step in obtaining a successful meditation practice. When we practice yoga we are offered the chance to practice these states of focus. For many of us the object is the body and the sensations while practicing asana and even more so in Vinyasa as the breath (when well coordinated with the body) can be a vehicle to deep focus.
Beyond Nirvitarka are two more deeper levels the mind may achieve in a meditation practice. We’ll get into those next week.
