Dhāraṇā 2.1: The Seven Dimensions of Awareness
When we released Dhāraṇā 2.0, the focus was clear: to bring Swādhyāya (study of oneself) to the center of the experience. Version 2.1 is about going deeper.
In 2.0, journaling meant writing or speaking your reflections. The app transcribed your voice or text, added a few Māra and Buddha insights, and left you with a mirror to look into. It was a meaningful beginning but we want to give you more insights from your journal. For the time you spend on writing your journal, we want to help you derieve the most value out of it.
So, in Dhāraṇā 2.1, we’re bringing a new layer of intelligence and sensitivity: what I call the Seven Dimensions of Awareness and Action.
These seven are inspired by years of study in Yoga psychology, reflective practice, and mindful productivity. They came from asking a simple question:
“What do I actually need to become aware of, every day, to live and work in alignment?”
And the answer became these seven dimensions:
- How I am – the quality of my being, my inner climate and my outer body
- What I need to do – actions and tasks waiting for my energy
- What I need to decide – points of choice that shape life or work direction
- What is emerging – ideas, intuitions, whispers of possibility
- Who I’m with – people I’m relating to, and the energy between us
- What I’m learning – lessons, insights, and new perspectives
- What I’m transforming – patterns, emotions, or clutter to release
Together, these seven form a kind of daily map of awareness. They help you notice:
- Where your energy is leaking
- What is truly important versus what’s just noise
- Who you are becoming through your actions and relationships
It’s not another “productivity framework.” It’s a way to see your life as a living system: to balance doing, feeling, deciding, and letting go.
Gentle Reminders, Not Notifications
We’re also experimenting with something I’m honestly still uncertain about: notifications. This is a tricky space.
We don’t want Dhāraṇā to become one more app fighting for your attention. At the same time, reflection is a muscle, and it needs pratice and nudges to build.
So, for now, Dhāraṇā 2.1 includes a minimal, mindful reminder system: a gentle nudge if you haven’t journaled that day. No dopamine traps, no red badges. Just a soft “hey, have you paused today?”
We’ll continue refining this balance with you. Your feedback here is invaluable. Please tell us what feels right, what feels intrusive, what helps you actually pause.
One step at a time
Building Dhāraṇā is still a learning journey, one filled with experiments, mistakes, and slow, organic growth. We’re learning to build from awareness, not anxiety.
We want to make every release feel less like a tech update and more like a practice. A practice in listening to what people really need, what helps them feel less fragmented, and what keeps them connected to their purpose.
Dhāraṇā 2.1 is one more step toward that: a tool to help changemakers, founders, and solopreneurs stay grounded while they build the future.
If you’re using the new Swādhyāya Journal, I’d love to hear how these seven dimensions resonate with you. What’s working, what’s confusing, what could be simpler?
As always, thank you for walking with us, not as users, but as fellow travelers building Dhāraṇā.
With gratitude,
Shankardevy
Founder, Dharana AI