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64 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
I
he thought of getting himself acquainted with the Dhyana Marga (Concentration of the Mind).
There were three schools of the Dhyana Marga.
All of them had one thing in common, namely, that control of breathing was the means of achieving Dhyana.
One school followed a way of controlling breathing which is called Anapanasati.
Another school followed the way of control of breathing known as Pranayama. It divided the breathing process into three parts : (1) Breathing in (Puraka) ; (2) holding the breath (Kumbhaka) ; and (3) breathing out (Rechak). The third school was known as Samadhi School.
Arada Kalam was well known as the master of Dhyana Marga. Gautama felt that it might be well for him if he could get some training in the Dhyana Marga under Arada Kalam.
So he spoke to Arada Kalam and asked him if he would be so good as to give training in the Dhyana Marga.
Arada Kalam replied, “With great pleasure.”
Arada Kalam taught him his technique of the Dhyana Marga. It consisted of seven stages.
Gautama practised the technique every day.
After acquiring complete mastery over it Gautama asked Arada Kalam if there was anything further to be learned.
Arada Kalam replied : “No friend, that is all that I have to teach.” With this Gautama took leave of Arada Kalam.
Gautama had heard of another yogi, by name Uddaka Ramaputta, who was reputed to have devised a technique which enabled a Dhyani to go one stage higher than that devised by Arada Kalam.
Gautama thought of learning his technique and experiencing the highest stage of Samadhi. Accordingly he went to the Ashram of Uddaka Ramaputta and placed himself under his training.
Within a short time did Gautama master the technique of Uddaka’s eighth stage. After having