actual state of dhyana

This essence of concentration, dhyana, is to remain one-pointedly directed inward to the nature of a virtuous mental state. Since one's mind with it's movements is the root of all karmas and suffering, the application is first of all to achieve the prerequisites for dhyana, which entails keeping you body away from business and your mind from discursive thinking, harboring few desires, and remaining content, while keeping the intention of thoroughly desiring the happiness which comes from having calmed these thoughts; and then to adhere to the eight types of application which discard these five shortcomings as the prelude to the actual state of dhyana. LW1, pg. 126. (RY)