Dhyana

Dhyana

"perception", "attention", "meditation", "concentration", "contemplation"; 
"continuous concentration" or "self-absorption".

There are many types of dhyana that are described in the Natha texts: sthula-dhyana, sukshma-dhyana, jyoti-dhyana, etc.

With dhyana, immersion in the object occurs, while the sense of ego is lost and the perception of the object dominates. All dhyana practices imply identification to one degree or another: for example, sthula-dhyana occurs on the image of murti, sukshma-dhyana occurs on the mantra सोऽहं so'haṃ. The characteristic difference between the Nath dhyana and the Patanjali dhyana is that Nathas achieve dhyana "working" with shakti. The fire of consciousness absorbs (eats) the objects of dhyana, as well as everything that the consciousness comes into contact with, and this can become a permanent natural practice.

Dhyana is one of the forms of upasana, which can be of dakshinachara, vamachara and yoga. Dakshinacharic dhyana is karma-kanda, which purifies the mind, in vamachara – the mind (Shiva as consciousness) absorbs the elements of puja and all the grossest, even what is considered as negative.