Differentiate between relaxation and meditation with reference to classic Yoga texts
Meditation = concentration beyond senses – no body, no breath, no senses.
According to Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras (a classic Yoga text, which derives from the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita), Yoga is Dhyana (meditation). Yoga is Dhyana and Dhyana is Yoga. In the Sutras meditation is the seventh rung or step in the ladder of Yoga; meditation is referred to as ‘Dhyana’ in Sanskrit scriptures. Dhyana like Yoga is both the means and the end (Saraswati, 1984).
Withdraw Senses. The progression of Yoga to meditation is really first to withdraw one’s mind from the objects of senses (pratyahara), practice concentration, prolong the period of concentration (focusing and refocusing) under proper guidance to reach the stage of meditation (beyond contemplation or relaxation) and finally become one, unite (Yoga to join to unite) with the Supreme Reality, the TRUTH; simply being present in the practice (Bharati, 200;, Saraswati, 1984).
Concentration (focus). Thus, one cannot attain this state of meditation unless he knows the art of “Concentration” and is able to concentrate on one object/point/subject continuously to then move beyond the senses (pratyahara) changing the practice into meditation (Sivananda et al 1999; Bharati, 2004). Concentration (Dharana) is fixing the mind on an external object or an internal point continuously; according to Sivananda for at least 12 seconds (Sivananda et al 1999), meditation manifests when this process of concentration turns effortless (Birch, 2000).
Merging of Concentration to Meditation to Samadhi. Also, according to Sivananda when the concentration is prolonged for 144 seconds, it is called meditation and when extended to 144 multiplied by 144 i.e. 20736 seconds = 345.6 minutes, it is said to reach the state of Samadhi (Sivananda et al 1999); at this point there is no longer any separation between the mediator and the object. As stated by Birch: “Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi are, like the river, continuous and part of the same process of inward turning. Concentration merges imperceptivity into meditation, and meditation into contempt ion.” Birch (2000, p200). Dhyana is a completely still mind and just the experience of a state of being.
Relaxation - release stress/tension, conserve energy, letting go of control. The principle differences is that in relaxation we relax the body and mind (letting go of stress and tensions, letting go of controlling the mind), whereas in meditation the emphasis in on strengthening and focusing the mind (McCartney, 1969; Saraswati, 1998). . In relaxation is natural for the mind to wander from thoughts to feelings to daydreams to sleepiness which is all rather vague and out of control. Thus, meditation differs from relaxation simply because your mind remains alert – you are both relaxed and alert in meditation (Harrison, 2002). As stated by Eric Harrison (2002): “You could say meditation is the art of staying awake as the body goes to sleep.”
Nevertheless, some methods of meditation are only methods of relaxation; it depends on how they are practiced (depths of practice that lead to higher, truer states of consciousness or being are more meditative):
“As an example, meditation on the mechanical aspects of breath may be the basis for a system of meditation. This can be extremely relaxing and may bring some peace of mind, as well as improved physical health. Yet, if the practice is limited to the Gross breath alone, the higher aspects will be missed; and
Similarly, one may practice meditation on the sensory experience throughout the body, which is a very useful practice. However, Subtler than the physical sensation is the energy (prana), the senses themselves (as Objects of examination), the mind which is doing the experiencing, and the deeper mental aspects beyond the conscious thinking. If one chooses to progress beyond the sensing stage, the sensory meditation can be used effectively near the beginning of a specific meditation session, following this with the Subtler meditation practices.” (Bharati, 2004)
Further differences between meditation and relaxation are detailed in the relaxation article.
