Question :
When doing meditation, some people watch ‘movements of their breath’ and some others watch ‘movement of their thoughts’. Both, breath and thought are “objects’. Will both the practices fetch same result?
Sri Prabhuji:
Our attention keeps shifting from one object to other object because of restless mind.
Meditation is process of shifting attention back to SELF. Attention should rest in Self awareness. This resting of attention in SELF is called samadhi.
Since attention cannot be suddenly withdrawn to SELF, attention is trained through process called dharana. Dharana means giving support. It is like one who wants to learn swimming needs support of a float like tube.
Different types of support are used for dharana. Mantra, breath observation or observing sensation of body etc. When mind tries to hold these supports, thoughts of past and future appear. Just watch the thoughts and return back to breath or mantra or sensation of body. The objects of dharana like breath, mantra, or body sensation help in anchoring the attention in present moment. Without these anchors if someone tries to observe thoughts he/she can get drowned in thoughts.
If dharana is practiced for some time dhyana or concentration follows. Now the attention can be fixed on support of dharana for longer time without drifting into thought chain. This is called dhyana.
After practice of dhyana, object of dharana has to be dropped and attention taken to source by enquiry “who am I”. This is called samadhi. It is like swimmer no longer requiring a float after gaining expertise.
Thus dharana-dhyana-samadhi has to be practiced. Observing breath or sensation or chanting of mantra is support in the initial stages to avoid getting drowned by other thoughts.
To summarize meditation is a journey from multiple thoughts to one thought (mantra, breath observation, observing sensations of body) thereby reducing thoughts and finally reaching state of no thought (samadhi).