Dharana
dhāraṇāThe sixth limb: concentration. Picking one thing, breath, candle, mantra, and staying.
Before meditation, in this map, comes something more effortful: simply holding attention in one place.
Concentration (dhāraṇā): choosing one place to put the mind, and putting it there.
“Dhāranā is holding the mind on to some particular object.”
The original Sanskrit
deśabandhaś cittasya dhāraṇā
That is the whole definition. Concentration here is not a talent; it is placement, done again each time the mind wanders off. When the holding becomes continuous, it earns a new name: dhyana.