Dhyana
/ˈdjɑː.nə/noun
A state or practice of deep meditation and mental absorption, especially in Hinduism and Buddhism.
Did you know?Dhyana traveled through Buddhist languages into Chinese chán and Japanese Zen, giving English its word for a state of meditative awareness.
Etymological Timeline
Vedic Sanskrit
Sanskrit
dhyāna
“Meditation, contemplation, or sustained mental attention”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
dhyai
“To contemplate, meditate, or think intently”
Early Buddhism
Pali
jhāna
“Meditative absorption or concentrated mental state”
Medieval China
Chinese
chán 禪
“Meditation; a Chinese form derived from Sanskrit dhyāna”
Medieval Japan
Japanese
禅 zen
“Meditation; the Japanese pronunciation of Chinese chán”
Modern English
English
dhyana
“A term for deep meditation or meditative absorption, used especially in yoga and religious studies”