PATANJALI
YOGA SUTRAS
POST-35 –VERSE 44
CHAPTER.1 : SAMAADHI PAADHA
In Vs.41 – we have seen that the mind in which the Vritthis are mastered is like a pure, colourless crystal which takes on the colours of any object placed before it – but in reality, remains without any change in itself.
Samaadhi means a state attained through deep meditation, where, the chittha vritthis (mind-modifications) are weakened completely and therefore, the knowledge acquired in Samaadhi is very pure and clear, and is not modified / tainted by the vritthis. The increasing depth of Samaadhi goes on altering the quality of our understanding and our consciousness.
In vs.42, Patanjali tells us about Savitharka Samaadhi. In savithraka Samaadhi, the sound, the meaning and knowledge of the object – which are actually separate from each other, mingle together when we meditate on them together – and savitharka samaaadhi results – in which all the three lose their individual identity and give us wholesome, integrated knowledge.
In vs.43 – we have seen how further progression in savithraka Samaadhi dissolves sabda and Jnaana and merely retains pure meaning with which we integrate. This is Nirvitharka Samaadhi.
Sabda and Jnaana, in essence, represent our past experience with the object and future expectation. We now dissolve both of them – so that what remains is just the present. The memory is therefore totally purified and loses all identity.
When the memory loses all its identity – all tharka or logic is dissolved. All chittha vritthis fade away. Nirvitarka Samaadhi is thus – the stage where the Sadhaka transcends the sound, the knowledge of the object and all vritthis and thereby purifies the mind.
The meanings now appear as self evident truths – without flowing from the previously heard sounds or previously acquired knowledge. So, in Nirvitarka Samaadhi, the knowing is without any reasoning. This Samaadhi is existential.
W now see two variants of these 2 Samaadhis in vs.44
APHORISM.44
ethaya eva savichaaraa nirvichaaraa
cha sukshma-vishayaa vyakhyathaa
Ø ethaya = by this
Ø eva = also
Ø savicharaa = accompanied by subtle thoughts
Ø nirvicharaa = devoid of subtle
Ø cha = and
Ø sukshma-vishayaa = having subtle objects as objects of meditation
Ø vyakhyatha = explained
We have seen savitharka samaadhi in vs.42. If we adopt a very subtle object and enter into meditation and reach savitharka Samaadhi – it is called savichaara Samaadhi.
We have seen Nirvitharka Samaadhi in vs.43.If we adopt a very subtle object and enter into meditation and reach Nirvitharka Samaadhi stage – it is called Nirvichaara Samaadhi.
What are these subtle objects? We shall se it in Vs.45
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