Dhyan & Samadhi

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The 8 stages of Dhyan?

The eight limbs of yoga are: "yama (abstinences), niyama (observances), asana (yoga postures), pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (absorption)."

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The eight limbs form a sequence from

The outer to the inner. The posture, asana, must be steady and comfortable for a long time, in order for the yogi to practice the limbs from pranayama until samadhi. The main aim is kaivalya, discernment of Purusha, the witness-conscious, as separate from prakriti, the cognitive apparatus, and disentanglement of Purusha from its muddled defilements.

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The eightfold path of Patanjali's yoga

...consists of a set of prescriptions for a morally disciplined and purposeful life, of which asana (yoga posture) form only one limb.

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The Twelve meditation postures:

1.Padmasana (lotus), 2. Virasana (hero), 3. Bhadrasana (glorious), 4. Svastikasana (lucky mark), 5. Dandasana (staff), 6. Sopasrayasana (supported), 7. Paryankasana (bedstead), 8. Krauncha-nishadasana (seated heron),

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The Twelve meditation postures:

9. Hastanishadasana (seated elephant), 10. Ushtranishadasana (seated camel), 11. Samasansthanasana (evenly balanced) and 12. Sthirasukhasana (any motionless posture that is in accordance with one's pleasure).

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Four of these Eight are most important:

Siddhasana (accomplished), Padmasana (lotus), Simhasana (lion), and Bhadrasana (glorious), and describes the technique of these four and eleven other asanas. In modern yoga, asanas are prominent and numerous, unlike in any earlier form of yoga.

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Dhyana (ध्यान) literally means

"contemplation, reflection" and "profound, abstract meditation", Dhyana is its contemplation. If the concentration was on one object, Dhyana is non-judgmental, non-presumptuous observation of that object. If the focus was on a concept/idea, Dhyana is contemplating that concept/idea in all its aspects, forms and consequences. Dhyana is uninterrupted train of thought, current of cognition, flow of awareness.

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Adi Shankara explains Dhyana

... as the yoga state when there is only the "stream of continuous thought about the object, uninterrupted by other thoughts of different kind for the same object". Shankara says that Dharana is focussed on one object, but aware of its many aspects and ideas about the same object.

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Shankara gives the example of a yogin

... in a state of dharana on morning sun may be aware of its brilliance, color and orbit; the yogin in dhyana state contemplates on sun's orbit alone for example, without being interrupted by its color, brilliance or other related ideas.

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Samadhi (समाधि) literally means

"putting together, joining, combining with, union, harmonious whole, trance". In samadhi, when meditating on an object, only the object of awareness is present, and the awareness that one is meditating disappears. Samadhi is of two kinds, Samprajnata Samadhi, with support of an object of meditation, and Asamprajnata Samadhi, without support of an object of meditation.

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Samprajnata (savikalpa) or Sabija Samadhi

is meditation with support of an object, is associated with deliberation, reflection, bliss, and I-am-ness (YS 1.17). The first two associations, deliberation and reflection, form the basis of the various types of Samāpatti: Savitarka, "deliberative" (YS 1.42), Savichara, "reflective". The stilling of reflection is called nirvichara samapatti (YS 1.44).

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Sasmita: the citta is concentrated upon

... the sense or feeling of "I-am-ness". "Joy" and "I-am-ness" [...] must be regarded as accompanying phenomena of every cognitive [ecstasy]. It seems unlikely that ananda and asmita should constitute independent levels of samadhi. Asamprajnata Samadhi, also called Nirvikalpa Samadhi and Nirbija Samadhi, is meditation without an object, which leads to knowledge of purusha or consciousness, the subtlest element.

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The Eight types of samapatti:

~Savitarka-samāpatti and Nirvitarka-samāpatti, both with gross objects as objects of support; ~Savicāra-samāpatti and Nirvicāra-samāpatti, both with subtle objects as objects of support; ~Sānanda-samāpatti and Nirānanda-samāpatti, both with the sense organs as objects of support ~Sāsmitā-samāpatti and Nirasmitā-samāpatti, both with the sense of "I-am-ness" as support.

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Samprajnata Samadhi (Savikalpa)

Samprajnata Samadhi (or Savikalpa) is a meditative state of peace and quiet. The practitioner temporarily experiences the union of the mind, body and soul only in meditation. Ordinary consciousness and decision-making takes over once the person leaves the meditative state.

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The 4 stages of Samprajnata Samadhi:

#1. Sarvitarka Samadhi: In this stage, the mind focuses on every aspect of the object of meditation, such as a flame. #2. Savichara Samadhi: Once the object’s physical aspects are understood, the mind moves to understanding the more subtle aspects of the object, such as beauty, love, aura, etc.

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The 4 stages of Samprajnata Samadhi:

#3. Sa-ananda Samadhi: In this stage, the mind focuses on the joy and peace felt by one’s power of perceiving every aspect of the object of meditation by leaving behind the object and concentrating on the mind itself. #4. Sa-Asmita Samadhi: In this stage, only the satvic (pure) ego remains. The mind is now fully aware of the divine consciousness, and it’s connection with the higher Supreme power.

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Asamprajnata Samadhi (Nirvikalpa निर्विकल्प)

In Sanskrit, a vikalpa विकल्प is a thought-construct. Nirvikalpa translates to ‘without thought constructs’. In Nirvikalpa Samadhi, the ego is now dissolved, and only pure and empty consciousness remains. The mind transcends into a state of blissful self-awareness, leaving behind all attachments to the material world.

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The 3 stages of Asamprajnata Samadhi:

#1. Nirvitarka Samadhi: This is the stage in which the mind has a complete understanding of the true nature of consciousness by leaving behind all material aspects. The mind is focused on the artha, or form, and disregards the fact that it is the knower. There is greater control over the mind, its ideas and knowledge.

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The 3 stages of Asamprajnata Samadhi:

#2. Nirvichara Samadhi: In this stage, the mind is free of all the thoughts that are not relevant, and concentration is almost laser-focused. The concepts of space and time lose their meaning in Nirvichara Samadhi. #3. Kaivalya Samadhi: This is the final stage of eternal union with the Supreme.

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Lord Rama’s life in a spiritual context

Adhyatma Ramayan describes how the great prince was banished from the kingdom of Ayodhya after being denied the throne on the eve of his coronation. He is exiled to live as a simple man for 14 years along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana. After his wife is kidnapped by Ravana, Lord Rama vows to rescue his queen and eventually, comes back to Ayodhya in a triumphant return.

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The Muktikā Upanishad describes that

Sri Hanuman inquires about the different kinds of spiritual liberation, or Mukti: “O Rama! I wish to know, for the sake of emancipation, thy nature as it truly is. O Rama! Be Thou gracious enough to tell me that by which I shall be easily released from the bondage of mundane existence, and by which I shall attain salvation.”

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To this, Lord Rama answers that

“the only real type [of liberation] is Kaivalya [Samadhi]”. He, then, introduces the list of 108 Upanishads (verses 26-29): “But by what means does one attain the Kaivalya kind of Moksha?"

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Mandukya [Upanishad] is enough.

"..If knowledge is not attained from it, then study the Ten Upanishads. Attaining knowledge very quickly, you will reach my abode. If certainty is not attained even then, study the 32 Upanishads and stop. If desiring Moksha without the body, read the 108 Upanishads. Hear their order.”

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How to Know You've Attained Samadhi

Here’s how to know that you’ve achieved a state of Samadhi: – you feel extremely calm and still throughout the day amidst all the chaos of the world – your basic senses seem to have transcended – a feeling of interconnectedness of all things – a feeling of calm while concentrating – you are able to control your sensory intake of information

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The mind operates at 4 Frequencies:

These 4 Brainwave States are:- #Alpha: natural waking state (for e.g. everyday activities) #Beta: light relaxation (for e.g. day-dreaming) #Theta: deep relaxation in which most of the conscious mind is switched off (for e.g. hypnosis) Delta: extreme deep relaxation or sleep dominated by the subconscious mind (for e.g. deep sleep)

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Mandukya Upanishad Verse 7 Translation

Neither inward knowable, nor outward; not knowable from both ways. Neither unknown, nor knowable, nor unknowable. Invisible, non-interactable, incomprehensible, not having any characteristics, inconceivable, non-mentionable, the substance of the conception of the single self, the endpoint (of all): peaceful, auspicious, non-dual, deemed as fourth, he is Self (Atma), He is to be known.

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The fourth quarter is not conscious of the

Internal nor the external, nor that which is conscious of both, nor that which is a mass of consciousness. It is neither conscious nor unconscious. It is unseen, unrelated to anything, incomprehensible, uninferable, unthinkable, indescribable; it is one with the Self. It is a realm where phenomena cease to exist, which is peaceful, blissful, and non-dual. This Self has to be realized.

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This fourth state of consciousness is

known as Turiya, which translates to fourth state. While in Turiya, your mind can be busy or quiet. Your normal thoughts and worries don’t disturb your inner depths. The sages describe it like the waves on the surface of the ocean, that don’t affect the mountains, valleys and creatures that live in the depths.

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Process of Attaining Samadhi and Entering

... Turiya State. By entering a state of deep, conscious relaxation, a state of Yoga Nidra (योग निद्रा) is induced, which is a path to kaivalyam, or samadhi – as explained by Lord Rama to Sri Hanuman as a state of spiritual liberation. Yoga Nidra is also referred to as prajna in the Mandukya Upanishad.

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By practicing shavasana (corpse pose)

...and through the process of meditation, one can enter the Turiya state. Samadhi is when individual consciousness unites with the divine consciousness, and the illusion of separateness dissolves. It cannot be described, it can only be experienced.

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Deep Meditation for Entering Samadhi

“Deep meditation leads to Samadhi or oneness with God. If you can fix the mind for ten seconds steadily on a particular object or Murti, it is Dharana (concentration). Ten such Dharanas become Dhyana (meditation). Ten such Dhyanas form a Samadhi.”

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How to Know You've Attained Samadhi

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Difference Between Samadhi and Deep Sleep

Samadhi is a state of self-awareness, or an awareness of the aspect of being. In deep sleep, even though we are in connection with the totality, we are not conscious. However, if you are consciously aware in a state of deep sleep, it is called samadhi. (Courtesy: wikipedia and others)

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