D hyana is the seventh step in the practise of yoga, after yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahar and dharana. It is a natural extension of dharana-one pointed concentration; as the yogi sits and melts in the beauty of the concentration that is dharana it flowers into the state of dhyana.

As dhyana travelled from India it became 'chan' in China and 'zen' in Japan. Though it is common for people to say they meditate, they are only practising techniques that will lead them to a state of meditation. Once the actual point of meditation is reached, there is no further need to do anything else. The one practising loses awareness of the technique and becomes one with the object that is being meditated upon. Normally progress here is believed to speed up when a technique is given by a realised master. This may be a sound, a vision, a sensation or a combination of all three. Such a technique then has within it the seed of all the power accrued by the master through penance and this gives the sincere disciple the extra impetus towards the state that is called dhyana.

The disciple has to go through a process of initiation, usually secret. The knowledge of spiritual wisdom is considered sacred and to be communicated only to those deserving by having proved their steadfastness to the master and the practice. There are many stories of yogis and zen masters beating up their students to prove a point, being harsh with them in words and at times even ignoring them for years. The disciple who remains constant and sure of the master's love and compassion is the one who benefits most. Of course, all these incidents are exploited today by many self-styled gurus. The importance of a sincere master is as true in yoga as in any other field. Here a distinction needs to be made between a mere teacher and a realised master. A teacher simply teaches the prescribed practices laid down for yoga practice. Where as a realised master works at many other subtle realms of the disciple. The master not only corrects and guides the seeker in the physical performance of the yoga practices but also directs the practioner according to need towards spiritual evolution. For this the master may employ many methods with behaviour that may seem arbitrary to the casual observer. According to the Hatha yoga, spiritual evolution is not possible after a certain point without the active guidance of a realised master. This has been debated by many modern thinkers and the yoga practitioner has to move intuitively on this path.