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Aptavani-4
Questioner: What is the origin of dhyan?
Dadashri: Dhyan is that first one determines one's goal (dhyeya), so the connection with the goal is dhyan. Dhyan will remain as long as that connection is maintained. If you decide to go to Mumbai, when you buy a ticket, your dhyan for Mumbai will remain naturally, while you are sitting in the train.
In dhyan (meditation), the dhyata (one who meditates on the goal) has to be determined, and the goal (dhyeya) has to be decided. You are the dhyata, and that which has been decided; is the goal (dhyeya). Maintaining the connection between the two is called dhyan. When dhyeya and dhyata become absorbed (tanmayakar) with each other, then it is called dhyan. You are evidently the dhyata so what do you have as your goal (dhyeya)?
Questioner: The “concentration that I have to do, it has to be done on the ‘Swa' (the Self), right?
Dadashri: Yes, you have to focus your concentration (meditate) only on the 'Swa' (the Self). But unless you understand what ‘Swa' really is, how will you do it? Won't you have to understand what it is first? The ‘Swa' is not found in books, neither has it been written in scripture. It may have been written in word form, but the Self is not in the form of a word. So then how can you determine the Self as your goal?
Questioner: Can't we just use supposition to decide it?
Dadashri: When you want to go to Ahmedabad, and through just supposition, you head South instead of North, how will that work through supposition? Supposition should have its limits. Supposition should stay within its boundary, and not outside of it.
Meditation (dhyan) can only occur when a person acknowledges the goal (dhyeya), and he himself becomes the
