Dharana - the 6th step of Yogi School
I found Manly P. Hall's booklet called An Essay on the Fundamental Principles of Operative Occultism several years ago when I was looking through his booklets at his Philosophical Research Society bookstore in LA. I had been searching for something, anything, that described what I could do, and this description fit so well. According to this booklet, the ability that I have developed is the 6th step of the Yogi School. I will add some more words for further explanation below, but here is the unedited text (I added the bold):
The sixth step is Dharana. The mind, having been controlled, is now directionalized. It is turned to this point, or to that and held there unwaveringly. In order to be most useful to man, the mind must be capable of pointing. It must reach such a condition that, like a single beam of light, it can be turned in any direction and held there for any desired length of time. When placed in a certain position, the mind remains there until the will of the operator moves it. When the stage of Dharana is achieved, the center of intelligence seemingly can be moved so that it is centered in almost any part of the body. The sense of feeling can be restricted to any given area. By this means, the mind also can be forced to turn inward and see the internal parts of the body. It profoundly influences whatever point to which it is directed, because it is so finely pointed that its shaft is almost solid enough to affect the physical organs. When all thought can be enclosed and limited to certain areas at will, it is called the accomplishment of Dharana.
Now, you may be wondering what the first 5 steps are. Since I didn't do any of them, I will give you a brief synopsis here:
Yama. This sounds like control of the body - control of what and how much is eaten, our thoughts, our clothing. The idea is to find perfect peace, but in my experience, this is not how that is achieved.
Niyama. This sounds like more control - of energy, of speech, of sex. And requires an unwavering surrender to God.
Asana. This is gaining control over the physical body through body postures - the form of Yoga most of us are aware of.
Pranayama. Control of the breath.
Pratyahara. Control of the mind by separating it from the illusions of the senses. Basically, the opposite of what I have done.
Dharana, as described above.
Dhyana. Consciousness of itself.
Samadhi. Enlightenment.
Now, let's look at the description of Dharana again in more detail.
"The mind, having been controlled, is now directionalized. It is turned to this point, or to that and held there unwaveringly."
I would not describe what I did as control of the mind. I would say that my mind became relaxed as I released more tension. So I was able to focus more easily on sensations as opposed to thoughts.
"In order to be most useful to man, the mind must be capable of pointing. It must reach such a condition that, like a single beam of light, it can be turned in any direction and held there for any desired length of time. When placed in a certain position, the mind remains there until the will of the operator moves it."
The idea of the mind pointing is an interesting one. I've examined inside to see what exactly is doing what. Where is the mind, exactly? What is it? I am not sure, but it is awareness that I am moving around inside. What I refer to as the sensing mind. What the text refers to as the Sense of Feeling. But "I" am directing the awareness. I am telling it where to go. That "I" is sensing from somewhere in the center of my head, what many people think could be the pineal gland, but I am more inclined to think is the sphenoid body.
It's not like it's a beam of light going all the way from the center of my head to the area in question. It's more like it is a laser beam of energy bathing the area of my focus.
The directionality aspect is interesting. I can focus in any direction. So, if I am working on tension in my left cheek, my usual area, I can focus the energy from outside, inward, from inside outward, from above through to below, or any other angle. Each different angle activates tension in different areas. Imagine pushing a pin through a matrix of connective tissue (or rubber bands). Each direction you poked the pin in would result in the stretching of different threads of tissue. I tend to find the direction that has the most tension and hold my awareness there, or work my awareness through the tension, until there is a release, at which point I start again ("the will of the operator moves it.").
When the stage of Dharana is achieved, the center of intelligence seemingly can be moved so that it is centered in almost any part of the body. The sense of feeling can be restricted to any given area.
Reading this for the first time was an exciting experience - I had never expected to see the words that described this thing that I would do. I had actually written about it in an early draft of my book, and had a picture I had created to go with it, but I removed it because it sounded so weird.
One way of releasing tension that I use - not as often these days as I did early on - was to focus on the area of tension, then put my whole self there at that place of tension, and relax myself there. It's so hard to put into words. I would imagine that a miniature me was sitting in the tension, and fully put myself there, sit inside this tension and relax there. When I could be fully present right there, the tension would release.
By this means, the mind also can be forced to turn inward and see the internal parts of the body.
I no longer call it "see", but more a sensing. I can sense light or dark, and sense tension, so it isn't really the same as "seeing" through our two eyes. I know where I am inside in 3D space, but I can't tell if I am in an organ or not - I can only sense the tension. Bones and teeth feel denser. I can point to the area I am in, but cannot say "I'm in the thyroid", because there is no difference in sensing except for the tension or lack thereof.
It profoundly influences whatever point to which it is directed, because it is so finely pointed that its shaft is almost solid enough to affect the physical organs.
Yes, it does affect the physical organs - it releases tension and adhesions in the connective tissue. The connective tissue runs through and around our organs and bones, so releasing tension in the connective tissue will release tension in the organs.
When all thought can be enclosed and limited to certain areas at will, it is called the accomplishment of Dharana.
I don't know that I would say "all thought", as it is really awareness, sensing. There is no thought, just feeling, but yes, it can be limited to certain areas at will.
So, this is Dharana. I would like to know a clear explanation of the next step, Dhyana. I have not read one yet that speaks to me in a way I can relate to, but I keep looking.