Samyama consists of three components, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi. Dharana (one pointed focus) focus of one thing ( I use awareness as the object) and nothing else. This first component is all one needs. “Second” Dhyana (meditation) experience of the layers of the object). Of which there is only one in the final analysis since there is no space or time. Where are you going? In my experience, once I “start” the focus on the object, I’m done because the entirety of the object is known going all the way back/forward (it’s the same because there’s no time, no past, present, future in that state. So, Dhyana (meditation) the experience of the different layers is known instantly. So, travel from one layer to another is almost irrelevant.
If you do it right, once you start, you're finished. Hahaha. This is not a happening because that implies a beginning, middle and end. Which implies sequence. Which implies time. Which implies a place for the happening. Which in that state does not exist. So, it’s not a happening for all those reasons. It’s an everlasting is-ness. So again, once you “start” you are “finished”.
“Third” is Samadhi. What is termed as transcendence. Nothingness/Everything-ness. Source. The be all and end all. The beginning, middle and end. Remove time and space. And it’s an is-ness. Once you start you are finished.
So, when I do samyama I simply shift attention to the object and nothing else, I am the object. Self serves as a blank platform for the knowledge of the object to be expressed/known. It’s not actually Big Self by the way but rather a replica of that or lower Big Self where the object reveals itself to lower Self, higher Big Self doesn’t give a damn. It remains untouched. The lower Big Self plays in the relative, material world, it has goals, purpose, desires, etc., all the bull shit we Think we need, or one’s emotionally wants. Needs and/or Wants. Which in the ultimate analysis is very close to worthless.
So yes, there are many more layers - books to total Veda. With endless deities and gurus shuffling around with endless iterations of supreme knowledge that provide endless regions of the-one-truth. For all these wannabe priests, gurus, gods and goddesses to call theirs (all ego trips) but with a sober eye, its imagination, illusion and ultimately just another way to get lost. In my experience the closer you get to The Truth the more powers you are given. Why? Perhaps, to re-engage us into some supreme level of greater illusion. Wow, I’m a God now. How great is this? Where is that Truth thing, we were so close to? Oh, we can check that out later. I’m a celestial now with lots to explore. Truth can wait. Oops, caught again.
Anyway, that’s one prospective. Hope it doesn’t bum you out. The way I deal with it isn’t so much something I created but rather a frame of mind that has organically grown. Simply said, ‘I’m 100% engaged and 100% not engaged”. Simultaneously.
If you are looking for something royal to focus on, then practice Samyama on the word, concept, sense, essence of: Sattva, Atma, Moksha, Brahm.
Blessings.
Jim
P.S. all these gurus, gods and goddesses that you “speak” to… let’s step up your game. Instead of hanging around them and talking to them, explore them. Step into them. Wear their suits. Literally climb into them. Feel what it is like to be them. Then let yourself recede into them and transcend through them. “Some yogis perform sacrifice to the gods only, others by the union of the Self with Brahman, offer the Self as sacrifice into the fire of Brahman”. Chapter 4 verse 25 of the Bhagavad Gita. In this way both the god and Brahman are honored. Check out where the god gets their juice. And drop yourself into that. Use them as a gateway, portal, avenue to Source. Then come out through them. Then go back through that path to Source through them, then out, again and again. Eventually, you will find the proviral meddle road where you a both and neither Source and material. Simultaneously.