DHARANA AND THE FORMATION OF OBJECT RELATIONS: A KLEINIAN READING OF YOGIC CONCENTRATION
International Journal of Integrative Health and Mind-Body Medicine December 10, 2025 DOI: 10.65370/3q1hr324 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Object grammar Reading process Psyche Psychoanalytic theory Object relations theory Contemplation Cognitive psychology Cognitive science Epistemology Construct python library Plan archaeology |
| Key points | Argues that Dharana's systematic approach to object-focused attention mirrors Klein's understanding of how the psyche develops through relationship with internal and external objects. |
Abstract
This study examines Patanjali's concept of धारणा (Dharana) (concentration) through the lens of Melanie Klein's object relations theory, exploring how yogic concentration practices parallel and potentially facilitate the developmental processes Klein identified in early psychological formation. By analyzing the structural similarities between Dharana's progressive internalization of external objects and Klein's theories of introjection, projection, and the movement from paranoid-schizoid to depressive positions, this paper argues that yogic concentration represents a sophisticated psychological technology for reworking primitive object relations. The research demonstrates how Dharana's systematic approach to object-focused attention mirrors Klein's understanding of how the psyche develops through relationship with both internal and external objects, offering insights for both psychoanalytic practice and contemplative studies.