Dhāraṇā (from Sanskrit धारणा dhāraṇā) is translated as "collection or concentration of the mind (joined with the retention of breath)", or "the act of holding, bearing, wearing, supporting, maintaining, retaining, keeping back (in remembrance), a good memory", or "firmness, steadfastness, ... , certainty". This term is related to the verbal root dhri to hold, carry, maintain, resolve.

Dhāraṇā is the sixth stage, step or limb of eight elucidated by Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga or Raja Yoga. For a detailed account of the Eight Limbs, refer to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

Dhāraṇā may be translated as "holding", "holding steady", "concentration" or "single focus". The prior limb Pratyahara involves withdrawing the senses from external phenomena. Dhāraṇā builds further upon this by refining it further to ekagrata or ekagra chitta, that is single-pointed concentration and focus, which is in this context cognate with shamata. Maehle (2006: p. 234) defines Dharana as: "The mind thinks about one object and avoids other thoughts; awareness of the object is still interrupted."

James Mallinson is a record producer. He has won a total of 15 such awards in his career, his most recent Grammy nominations - and wins - having come in 2008 for Best Opera Recording. He won his first Grammy in 1979, when he was named Classical Producer of the Year. He spent twelve years with the Decca Record Company and became a freelance classical producer in 1984. He has worked with all the major record labels and with most leading classical artists. In 2000 he was closely involved in the creation of LSO Live, the London Symphony Orchestra's in house record label and has produced all their releases to date - currently 65 CDs. His most recent venture is a record label for the Mariinsky Theatre and their music director Valery Gergiev in St Petersburg. The first projects on the Mariinsky label were released in 2009 and have been nominated for the 2010 Grammys to be presented on January 31 in Los Angeles. He is also closely involved with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's 'Resound' label winning their first Grammy in 2008.