bhāvana

Root: bhū Devanāgarī: भावन Translation: cultivation; imagining, fancying; forming in the mind; to occupy one's imagination with, conception Similar words:bhāvanā Opposite words:abhāva, abhibhava Related concepts:bhāva, anubhāvana, deśa

Appears in

Yoga Sūtra:

Chapter 1: 28 , 33
Chapter 2: 2 , 33 , 34

Gītārtha Saṃgraha:

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Commentaries around

“The Veda speak eloquently of the lotus in one’s heart, where Īśvara resides.
It is only when the mind is quiet, clear, and steady that we can
reach into and visualise this most intimate part of ourselves.
Yoga as a Saṃskāra leads to Yoga as a means to experience this.
The experience of Dhyānam, in this ideal sense,
eventually evolves into Samādhi – total absorption in Īśvara.”
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 2

”Another term for Citta Vṛtti Nirodha is Dhyānam,
the state of mind in which an individual focuses on,
visualises and remains with Īśvara.”
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 2

“In Sūtra 1.14 Patañjali outlines qualities he feels are
important in cultivating the intention within Abhyāsa.
What are these qualities and how can we
realise them within our efforts to remain there?”
– Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 14

“The greater the Śraddhā, the more meaning there is in the techniques such as Āsana, Prāṇāyāma, Dhyānam, Bhāvana and all the others. Without Śraddhā, these techniques have little effect on the state of the mind and the progress to Citta Vṛtti Nirodha.
However, sometimes some minor benefits that we get through Āsana or Prāṇāyāma practice, open up the Śraddhā within us. Śraddhā is within each of us but is covered. It could be any experience that uncovers it.”
– TKV Desikachar on Śraddhā in the Yoga Sūtra

“Diet has a great effect on Maitrī Bhāvana.”
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 23
cross referencing to Chapter One verse 33

“Bhāvana is a beneficial attitude that is consciously cultivated,
despite tendencies to the contrary”
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 33

Maitrī –
“Cultivating a feeling of friendliness
towards our own attempts,
let alone other’s demands,
to distract ourselves.”
– Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 33

Karuṇā –
“Cultivating a feeling of compassion
towards our bodies and minds,
whatever state we find them in.”
– Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 33

Muditā –
“Cultivating a feeling of looking,
from a joyful space in ourselves,
at what we can do well and now,
rather than what we can’t do well or now.”
– Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 33

Upekṣā –
“Cultivating a feeling of holding a distance from
the self-deprecation that can so often accompany
our attempts to improve the quality of our inner life
and old responses to inner tensions and memories.”
– Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 33

“In Yoga Sutra Chapter Two, the role for
Īśvara Praṇidhānā in the Kriya Yoga section, can
be as an appropriate Upāya for a Cikitsā situation.
Here, as one of a triad in the cultivation of helpful
lifestyle habits, its purpose is in reducing agitation.”
– Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 1

“What are the effects of Kriyā Yoga?
Samādhi Bhāvana –
The ability to pursue the right practice that brings one closer to Īśvara.
Kleśa Tanū Karaṇa –
Reduction of those obstacles that we have somehow acquired through wrong actions,
leading to undesirable and bitter experiences.”
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 2

“Its purpose is to cultivate a feeling
of integration and help placate
the dominance of the afflictions.”
– Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 2

“In Yoga Sutra Chapter Two, the role for
Īśvara Praṇidhānā in the Bāhya Aṅga section can
be as an appropriate Upāya for a Rakṣaṇa situation.
Here, as part of a cultivation of Niyama within the Bāhya
Aṅga Sādhana, its purpose is in accessing Antar Aṅga.”
– Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 32

“The Siddhi depends on the Bhāvanam.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 43

“When working with the Breath in Āsana,
it’s perhaps less appealing initially,
but ultimately more attractive, satisfactory
and effective, to integrate a Bhāvana on
the Samāpatti of Śaithilya and Ananta,
within a developmental Prāṇāyāma Sādhana,
focused towards the Siddhi of Dīrgha or Length,
supported by its counterpoint, Sūkṣma or Subtlety.”
– Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 50

“Dhyānam is the art of cultivating
a continuity of presence within
the activities in the psyche.”
– Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 2

“The paradox of being in a state of distraction
is that we are actually in a state of focus.
Its just that we are focused on being turned outwards,
as in the tendency of being scattered,
as in Vyutthāna Saṃskāra,
rather than being focused on being turned inwards,
as in the tendency of being contained,
as in Nirodha Saṃskāra.
Both Saṃskāra are acquired tendencies
and thus we can cultivate a choice within our oscillations.”
– Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 9

“The Yoga of acting without attachment.
What should be one’s attitude in action?”
– Paul Harvey Introduction to Bhagavad Gītā Chapter Five

“In the Bhagavad Gītā, Karma is defined as a Śodhana Kriyā where,
as actions are performed, they also offer a chance to refine oneself.
Thus, whatever I do and whatever happens is a chance to refine myself.
The Bhāvana here is Ātma Śuddha where all actions are an opportunity
for purification of that which inhibits the expression of our essence.”
– Paul Harvey on Bhagavad Gītā Chapter Five verse 11

“The journey with and through the Bhagavad Gītā
is one of a Vinyāsa Krama with three distinct stages.
Firstly, the Pūrva Aṅga aspect of our journey in the ascension
from confusion to clarity, as epitomised in the first hexad.
Here we start from being disturbingly yoked to Viṣāda
as in the first Chapter, and through a chapter by chapter
process, we deepen our self-inquiry into the nature of who.
In other words, this hexad is an exploration of our relationship
with what we perceive and identify with as if our perennial self.
Through chapters two to five, we learn how to approach and
refine the practice of Dhyāna as in Chapter six, through which
clarity arises in our efforts to cultivate a sense of an inner guide.”
– Paul Harvey on Gītārtha Saṃgraha of Śrī Yāmunācārya Śloka Two

“Then, he has also some views on Dhyāna.
Since Dhyāna is a characteristic of mind,
and since the mind is limited to form,
Deśa, or the object of meditation,
must be Saguṇa and not Nirguṇa.
Ordinary people need certain forms,
certain visualisations, for Dhyāna,
so any Dhyāna which is Nirguṇa is only Vikalpa.”
– TKV Desikachar Switzerland 1981.

“Further, he also added long ago,
the idea of Bhāvana in the practice of Prāṇāyāma.
Long, long ago, he said, the breathing,
inhalation, exhalation and retentions
have some sort of relationship with the highest force,
Lord Nārāyaṇa.
Inhalation is like an inspiration from God himself.
Retention is some sort of meditation, because you are with Him.
Exhalation is some sort of movement towards God,
and retention after exhale is like a surrender to God.”
– TKV Desikachar Switzerland 1981.

“Krishnamacharya’s understanding of Cikitsā
or Yoga therapy and the arrangement and
sequencing of postures, along with modifying
the posture and using different breathing
patterns, plus the use of sound and different
Bhāvana or mental foci was profound.
This allowed for many possibilities to be
offered, for a great number of students
with problems, from a range of relatively
few postures and breathing techniques.”
– TKV Desikachar Madras 1996

“Bhāvana means that I create for myself a place,
an idea, an image, a vision
and I direct my attention towards it.”
– ‘Concerning the Cakra’ by TKV Desikachar

“A Bhāvana doesn’t depend on the reality of what I fix upon.
I can direct my Bhāvana to a real sensation,
such as the contact between my feet and the ground, for instance.
But I could easily imagine myself in good health,
when in reality I am ill.”
– ‘Concerning the Cakra’ by TKV Desikachar

“Forward Bends are back stretching Āsana in terms of Bhāvana.
Thus in Paścimatāna Āsana one of the foci is on avoiding pushing
from the lower back as you bend forward.
Thus move forward from the abdominal area by drawing it back,
to encourage the lower back to respond by lengthening.
If we push from the lower back in forward bends,
such as Paścimatānāsana, it can tighten this area,
thus inhibiting the focus on the quality of the Apāna Lakṣaṇa,
as well as transferring stress to the sacrum, hips and hamstrings.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

“When bending towards the lower limbs during forward bend Āsana,
move firstly by as if rounding from the lower back,
before ultimately rounding from the upper back.
In terms of a Bhāvana during the movement,
the focus is on exhaling from Apāna Sthāna towards Prāṇa Sthāna.
Thus breathing as if from the lower abdomen towards the upper chest.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

“When moving away from the lower limbs during forward bend Āsana,
move firstly by as if arching from the arms and upper back,
before ultimately arching from the lower back.
In terms of a Bhāvana during the movement,
the focus is on inhaling from Prāṇa Sthāna towards Apāna Sthāna.
Thus breathing as if from the upper chest towards the lower abdomen.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

Bhāvana when staying in Ardha Matsyendrāsana
“In terms of weight bearing pressure on the front foot and rear hand.
Keep all the toes on the front foot as if nailed to the ground, and the
ground contact weight in the rear fingers, as if as light as a feather.”:
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

– Bhāvana on the relationship between the chest and the legs
“In Bhujaṅgāsana the Bhāvana is in the chest
and on keeping the legs down.
In Śalabhāsana the Bhāvana is in the legs
and on keeping the legs up.
In Dhanurāsana the Bhāvana is in the legs
and on keeping the chest down.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

“We might want to consider the notion that the
most important standing Āsana is Samasthiti.
Its role is to ensure we engage with the next Āsana
from a place of attention and aware anticipation,
and after it, return to a place of fullness and reflection.
As if we are experiencing the fullness of the aftertaste
that naturally follows the ingestion of well-cooked food.
It’s learned Bhāvana is a quality of stillness within any
moment of inaction, ere to a transition to the next action.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

Bhāvana on Śavāsana within a Śikṣaṇa Āsana practice.
“Inherent within the application of Śavāsana
as an Āsana within a Śikṣaṇa Krama practice,
is the active cultivation of a quality of Nirodha,
or what can be described as ‘witness awareness’.
As in the notion of the Cit observing the Citta.
Thus, a key to directing the attention in
Śavāsana, is to intentionally cultivate
a quality of passive observation.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

“As with Prāṇāyāma, the role and practice of Mudrā
needs to be considered from two distinct, but
complementary and developmental viewpoints.
In other words, there are Mudrā that are primarily
utilised within the context of Haṭha Yoga and there are
Mudrā that are utilised within the context of Rāja Yoga.
Within these two viewpoints, there are also those Mudrā
that can be applied in either context, depending on the
Saṃkalpa and Bhāvana employed by the practitioner.”
– 108 Mudrā Practice Pointers

“Bhāvana for the Breath in Āsana, Mudrā and Prāṇāyāma
– Pūraka – Lifting from the Viśuddhi Cakra
– Antar Kumbhaka – Expanding from the Anahāta Cakra
– Recaka – Contracting from the Svādhiṣṭhāna Cakra
– Bāhya Kumbhaka – Sustaining from the Mūlādhāra Cakra”
– 108 Prāṇāyāma Practice Pointers

Bhāvana on Ujjāyī as a Dhāraṇā Deśa
“Ujjāyī is a form of Ajapā Mantra.”
– 108 Prāṇāyāma Practice Pointers

“The ‘seed’ of potential for Ujjāyī as an
Ajapā Mantra abides within the ‘shell’ of
a Bhāvana for Ujjāyī as a Dhāraṇā Deśa.
The Deśa also needs to be supported by
utilising a locationally relevant Ādhāra,
as in this instance, the Viśuddhi Ādhāra.
Further considerations can be around the
linking of the sound of Ujjāyī to a semantic
thought-form, by adding Mano Japā Rūpa to
this Ajapā, as some do through using Haṃsa.
However, one could argue that this formation,
shifting from a non-language feeling-based
experience into a language thought-based
experience, can detract from the Bhāvana,
in that a unique Lakṣaṇa of Ujjāyī resides in
the notion of ‘sounding’ without language.”
– 108 Prāṇāyāma Practice Pointers

“Cultivating a home Yoga practice
presents a solution to an obstacle.
Maintaining a home Yoga practice
presents an obstacle to a solution.”
– 108 Yoga Practice Pointers

“When less Āsana time than you would like,
better to reduce the number of Āsana,
or the number of repetitions,
or the length of the stays,
rather than, reducing the length of the breath.
Or….. even considering lengthening the breath,
thus even fewer Āsana, all with a longer breath than usual.
Here the Bhāvana could be to observe the effect
of a more spacious than usual Āsana breathing
on a more cramped than usual daily mindset.”
– 108 Yoga Practice Pointers

Bhāvana on Directional Breathing within Śikṣaṇa Practice
“When inhaling, start the movement in the
Prāṇa Sthāna from the Viśuddhi Sthāna
and move the inhale as if towards the
diaphragm without distending the belly.
When exhaling, start the movement in the
Apāna Sthāna from the Svādhiṣṭhāna Sthāna
and move the exhale as if towards the
diaphragm without collapsing the chest.”
– 108 Yoga Practice Pointers
– The Viniyoga of Planning Principles Guidelines – Collected & Collated

General Guidelines for Practice Planning:
“Look to cultivate a quality of Sattva by
diminishing Tamas and channelling Rajas.”
– 108 Yoga Planning Pointers
– The Viniyoga of Planning Principles Guidelines – Collected & Collated

A third factor, that of Respect for Responses
“We must consider our waking posture,
which is usually standing or sitting.
Thus, we have a gap from this to
the main Āsana we intend to use.
How can we bridge this gap from everyday
postures to Āsana, in terms of form and function?
Principles of practice are means to bridge the
gaps according to place, time and circumstances.
Here, we can cultivate steps towards being
able to access an Āsana with a conscious
composure, remaining awake within it
and maintaining a respect for responses.”
– 108 Yoga Planning Pointers
– The Viniyoga of Planning Principles Guidelines – Collected & Collated

A third factor, that of Respect for Responses
“Āsana are not automatic but can become so.
The inevitability of voluntary actions is that we
get used to them and they become involuntary.
With this, the risk factor is increased as well.
So what is voluntary and what is involuntary is
completely different when there is a ‘new’ response.
However, such a response needs to be linked to
something deeper than just merely a ‘tweaking’,
or ‘inventive’ variation within the form of the body.
Given, that in Yoga the breath is that which gives life.
By cultivating a role for, and the purpose of the breath,
we are creating and re-creating a situation for, not just new,
but also more subtle responses to occur and reoccur.
Within this field for enhancing awareness,
through our relationship with the breath,
the risk factor is reduced as well.”
– 108 Yoga Planning Pointers
– The Viniyoga of Planning Principles Guidelines – Collected & Collated

“It’s not until I understand how to
cultivate a space within My self
can I begin to experience that
which is the essence of the Self.”
– 108 Yoga Study Path Pointers

“How to cultivate as
intimate a relationship
with our Yoga Practice
as with our mind’s habits?”
– 108 Yoga Study Path Pointers

“The heart of Yoga lies in cultivating
a connection strategy rather than
cultivating just a coping strategy.”
– 108 Yoga Study Path Pointers

Legend of Patañjali
– Dhyānaṃ Ślokam for Yoga Sūtra as MP3 Sound file
“It was learnt by heart as a Bhāvana for Dhyānam,
to create a meditational mood linked to Patañjali
prior to commencing, either Chanting practice
or textual study of the Yoga Sūtra.
As taught to TKV Desikachar by T Krishnamacharya.”
From Paul’s chant study recordings of TKV Desikachar
– Yoga Sūtra Chanting Practice – PDF and MP3 Support Resources

“What does Patañjali mean by Pratipakṣa Bhāvanam
in Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 33?
Discuss.”
To Download or View this Question as a PDF Study Sheet

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