SAMADHI - bliss

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“Samadhi is neither a state of unconsciousness nor of stupor. Samadhi is the realisation of total consciousness. Samadhi is thoughtlessness plus total consciousness”. - Osho

The Yoga Sutras provide a systematic path to higher consciousness, a  journey of techniques and lifestyle guidelines that awaken the mind to its true Self, the True Essential Nature is known, without the distortion of the mind. Patanjali gives a concentrated set of instructions (the 8 limbs), culminating in a state of freedom, liberation and enlightenment — samadhi (and its variations) — the realisation of all your practices. 

• sam, "uniformly" or "fully"; adhi, "to get established: : a state wherein one establishes himself to the fullest extent in the Supreme consciousness;

• samā, "even"; dhi, "intellect": a state of total equilibrium of a detached intellect

Samadhi is beyond the normal mind and intellect, which makes describing it somewhat difficult; it can only be fully appreciated by direct experience. Samadhi has several levels of refinement through which you may ascend. Before you can practice samadhi, you need to have achieved one-pointed concentration and meditation.

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All types of samadhi share in common the absorption of the yogi in the state of extreme concentration of the mind.  What distinguished the types is that each occurs at a different level of consciousness :

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1 Sabija

Samadhi :

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    A. SAMPRAJNATA SAMADHI :

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Samprajnata (also known as Sabija Samadhia or savikalpa samadhi), is samadhi "with a seed" with the support of an object in the mind. Where, during meditation, for a short period of time, for a minute, an hour, or more, you transcend all mental activity. Thoughts and ideas do not affect you, you remain undisturbed. Your’e in a receptive state where your inner being can function. 

Patanjali first describes the 4 beginning stages of Samadhi that are possible :

1.17 Vitarka-vicaranandasmita-rupanugamat samprajnatah. (Samprajnata: deliberative; anugama: appropriately following; rupa: form; vitarka: reasoning; vicara: inquiry; ananda: fullness; asmita: the sense of “I am.”) Samprajnata Samadhi is accompanied by reasoning, reflecting, rejoicing and pure I-am ness. 

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Samprajnata samadhi can occur at each of the 4 main levels of consciousness. These states progress from the surface level to the inner most depth of consciousness. It is first practiced on something concrete (gross objects) (savitarka samadhi) then on the subtle elements (savicara samadhi) then on the sattvic mind (sa-ananda samadhi) and then finally the “I” feeling alone (sa-asmita samadi). :

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• • Savitarka Samadhi: 

This is consciousness of particulars. This is described as examination or learning the inner secrets of the object. In this stage, every aspect of the object is understood and you gain full knowledge of the physical object. When the mind is withdrawn from the objects and deep reflection sets in, the objective consciousness is shut up; Savitarka Samadhi commences. Ratiocination, analysis and synthesis (a priori and a posteriori ways of reasoning), investigation and abstract reasoning take place. This is Samadhi with reasoning. Evil thoughts cannot enter now. The mind is Sattvic.

• • Savichara Samadhi: 

This is consciousness of archetype. Now the mind moves beyond the outer layers of the object and the subtle aspects of objects are contemplated or discerned. The abstract qualities such as colour, beauty, love or the sound, texture, form, flavour, etc. of the object begin to be understood.

• • Sa-Ananda Samadhi: 

This is consciousness of patterns within the archetypes, where it is the pattern that is the focus of consciousness more so than the archetype. Here the mind is devoid of the objective world, you move beyond the intellect. There is no reasoning or reflection, just the tranquility of the settled mind. The sattvic (pure) mind is only aware of its own joy. The focus is on the inner powers of perception and within the mind itself. It’s known as a blissful Samadhi filled with joyful peace.

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• • Sa-Asmita Samadhi:

This is consciousness of wholeness. There is no divisions in awareness at this level of consciousness. Now even the bliss has gone and you are just here. Only the sattvic (pure) ego, the I-ness remains, the I AM. Simple awareness of individuality—you are here and aware of nothing else. This is the ego-sense in its elemental form. No fear, no desire. This. The mind becomes fully Awake, it is a state of witnessing of the material world and you become aware of the Divinity (Bliss) within yourself.

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“... scientific discoveries and inventions are a result of concentration and meditation. The scientists meditated on the material side, on the gross elements, and found out many things, created many machines... They went deeper and deeper and ultimately went into the atom itself. It’s all meditation. They’re yogis no doubt...” - Swami Satchidananda 

This is not yet a permanent state, but you begin to integrate this undisturbed state of silence along with the disturbed states of living.

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In Samprajnata Samadhi, the yogi retains his ego (sense of i'ness.) and the samskaras (latent tendencies or past impressions which condition your life and desires) are still there, underlying. (in seed form). They can still come into the conscious mind and pull you in to worldly experience (drama/desire..).

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In this Samadhi, the concentrated mind can begin to access some of the “lesser” yogic powers (Siddhis). However, because the ego is still present, you must be careful how you choose to use these powers.

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2 Nirbija

Samadhi :

 B. ASAMPRAJNATA SAMADHI

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Nirbija samadhi is also called asamprajnata samadhi or nirvikalpa samadhi. Nirvikalpa is a Sanskrit adjective with the general sense of "not wavering," "admitting no doubt," "free from change or differences.” is a higher state of awareness where the ego and samskaras have been dissolved and only consciousness remains. This is samadhi "without a seed" there is no object of meditation. Both samprajnata and asamprajnata samadhis are considered temporary states.

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1.51 Tasyapi nirodhe sarva-nirodhan nir-bijah samadhih. (Nirodha: dropping; tasya api: of even that; nirodha: dropping; sarva: everything; nir-bija samadhi: contemplation free of seed.)

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This higher state of awareness is  preceded by repetition of the samprajnata (deliberative) contemplation, resulting in the quietude of even those cognitions from samprajnata contemplation. Asamprajnata samadhi is to experience the state of being that exists beyond the usual nature of the mind. The ego feeling is no longer there and the seeds of past impressions are rendered harmless, only consciousness remains. 

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1.18 Virama-pratyayabhyasa-purvah samskara-shesho'nyah. (Anya: other; purva: preceded; abhyasa: by the practice / repetition; virama: quietude / complete cessation; pratyayas: cognitions; samskaras: impressions /latent tendencies; shesha: remain.) By the firmly convinced practice of the complete cessation of the mental modifications, the impressions only remain. This is the other samadhi (asamprajnata samadhi)

Some of the methods this samadhi could come through are mentioned in the below Sutra :

1.20 Shraddha-virya-smriti-samadhi-prajna-purvaka itaresham. (Itaras: the rest of us; purvaka: follows; shraddha: faith; virya: vigour/tenacity; smriti: memory; samadhi: contemplation; prajna: discernment, wisdom, insight / assimilated knowledge.) This samadhi could come through faith, vigour, memory, contemplation and/or by discernment. 1.23 Ishvara-pranidhanad va. (Va: or; Ishvara-pranidhana: contemplation on Isvara.

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3. Dharma

Megha Samadhi :

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Is unique. An even higher level of Samadhi is Dharmamegha or the “Cloud of Virtue” Samadhi. Patanjali says that this level arises when you have lost even the desire to be Enlightened. When even the temptations of the Yogic Powers cause no distraction, it is said that Pure Knowledge showers down like a Cloud of Virtue, bringing Jivanmukta - liberation and the Bliss of the Divine. This Samadhi cannot be gained by effort, it reveals itself when all effort has dissolved.

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4.29 Prasankhyane'py a-kusidasya sarvatha viveka-khyater dharma-meghah samadhih. (Api: even; a-kusida: no interest; sarvatha: in any way; prasankhyana: meditation process; viveka-khyati: discerning knowledge; samadhi: contemplation; megha: mass; dharma: support.) For one who even has no interest in any way in the pleasurable meditation process, including secondary benefits, and who has discerning knowledge, samadhi (contemplation) is a mass of support.

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Here, inner silence is maintained along with normal daily activities. It is being able to maintain the experience of asamprajnata samadhi at all times. Here you radiate the divine, the divine is perfectly manifesting through you at every second. You are filled with Grace. In sahaja samadhi it doesn't matter whether the mind is silent or talkative. After the illusion of selfhood has been seen through, it's then realised that only Self exists, and Self is all. Everyday life then becomes a permanent form of samadhi that requires no effort at all.

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The afflictions of all karmas have been removed, the Yogi sees without eyes, tastes without tongue, hears without ears, smells without nose, and touches without skin. His/her mere intention can work miracles. The Yogi simply wills and everything comes into being.

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When there is the dropping of even that latent tendency in the form of the teaching due to the dropping of everything as not other than oneself [see Y.S. 3.53 and 55], through discernment of the limitless nature of the purusha, arrived at through continuous repetition of sa-bija samadhi (contemplation that has the new seed which is the teaching of the self), this complete clarity in the knowledge that frees, that is not just another state of mind, is called contemplation free of seed.

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