The Power Of Concentration

Rise above instincts and start focusing your mind

- Dr. Hansaji J. Yogendra

One of the definitions of yoga is that yoga is concentration. Try and focus your mind on an object that you want to concentrate on so that you become absolutely one with it. This becomes yoga. Yoga is union; union of yourself with an object. That is why it is called concentration but we also have the term "meditation," which is prolonged concentration or focusing the mind on one particular object for a longer time.

Concentration is a natural phenomenon. Even animals know how to concentrate: When a lion gets hungry, observe how it concentrates on catching its prey because the need is there; the lion has to have some food to eat. Or, when a crane is standing in the water with one leg up, playing with the fish. At that time, there is no problem but the moment hunger comes in, then the concentration starts and the crane can catch the fish very quickly. So, animals use this power of concentration only when a biological need arises because they live at the instinctive level. We humans do not live at that level and we have many other activities to do besides eating, sleeping and procreating. Unfortunately, because we are more intelligent, and our mind can do much more, we have a tendency to get more distracted. Our mind, body and emotions are all in different places and this is how we function.