Developing Concentration

What is concentration ?
Concentration is holding the mind to one form or object for a long time. 

Practice Concentration for focusing the mind on one object continuously for certain time (without mind getting distracted )  

You can concentrate internally on any one of the seven centres of spiritual energy or on external objects. Attention plays a prominent part in concentration. He who has developed his powers of attention will have good concentration. 

Concentration purifies and calms the surging emotions, strengthens the current of thought and clarifies the ideas.

He who has a steady posture and has purified his nerves and the vital sheath by constant practice of control of breath will be able to concentrate easily.


He who practises concentration will possess a very good health and very cheerful mental vision. Through concentration you will get penetrative insight.

Concentration leads to meditation.

How to practice concentration ?


Japa of any Mantra and Pranayama will steady the mind, remove Vikshepa (tossing of mind) and increase the power of concentration.

Concentrate on a concrete form in the beginning.  Concentrate on a flower, on a black dot on the wall, a candle-flame, a bright star, the moon, the picture of OM (AUM), on the form of Lord Buddha, on any dream picture, on the effulgent light of the heart, on the picture of any saint, or your Ishta Devata.
Lord Siva, Rama, Krishna, Devi  in front of you with open eyes.


It is easy to concentrate the mind on external objects. The mind has a natural tendency to go outwards. Keep the picture of Sri Krishna, Rama, Narayana, Devi or Lord Jesus or any picture, in front of you. Look at it steadily without winking (dont strain you eyes, you can wink if there is too much strain to eyes). Gaze at the at the legs,then at the body, then head. Repeat the same process again and again. When your mind calms down look at a particular spot only, then close the eyes and mentally visualize the picture.

You should be able to visualise the object of concentration very clearly even in its absence. You will have to call up the mental picture at a moment's notice. If you have good concentration you can do this without much difficulty.You will have to practice this daily.

Have three or four sittings; early morning, 8 a.m., 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

When irrelevant thoughts enter the mind, be indifferent. They will pass away. Do not drive them forcibly. They will persist and resist. It will tax your will. They will enter with redoubled force. But substitute divine thoughts. Irrelevant thoughts will gradually fade out. Be slow and steady in the practice of concentration.

Ref:

http://www.dlshq.org/download/thought_power.htm#_VPID_93