Patnajali Yoga Sutras = Vs.3.3 = Samaadhi = How does one attain it?= what happens in it?

PATANJALI

YOGA SUTRAS

Chapter 3

Vibhoothi Paadha

Verse.3.3

thath eva

artha maathra nirbhaasam

svaroopa soonyam iva samaadhih

Ø  thath = that

Ø  eva = the same, only

Ø  artha =  content / meaning of the object

Ø  maathra = only

Ø  nirbhaasam = shines out

Ø  svaroopa = object's own form and shape

Ø  soonyam = totally empty

Ø  iva =  as if it was

Ø  samaadhih = deepest point in meditation

Samadhi is the eighth step, the pinnacle of the Ashtanga Yoga. But what is Samaadhi? How does it feel? How does one experience Samaadhi?

Dharana is concentration.

Dhyana is the uninterrupted flow of concentration. But, as earlier said, Sadhaka needs to remain a non-judgmental witness in Dharana and Dhyanam. 

Else, his mind will take him out again, through all judgments he makes. The mind needs just that much leeway – to take the Sadhaka out into the external world.

Osho says – “Meditate if you want the answer which answers all questions. Stop meditating if you want to go on asking questions. Meditation is the answer.”

There are no questions to be asked in Meditation. Just keep yourself open, a non-judging witness. 

Concentration and Dhyanam are not to be a strain-ful process. If there is a stress or strain – then, Dharana is not happening. When all else falls off from the mind, the mind and body are totally relaxed. Just keep Dharana on any place, object, idea or person – to the exclusion of everything else.

This happens in love too. A person in love can’t think of anything else. But, in love, there is judgment, a positive one. In hate again, it happens, and a negative judgment is there.

But, in Dharana, likes and dislikes are kept aside; no judgments are formed. Just pure witnessing happens.

That is why, Dharana needs to be preceded by Pratyahara. The senses should be drawn in – and be one with Chittha.

Now chittha must concentrate only on one object, the object of concentration.

Sun’s rays fall on an object – but they do not judge the object. They fall on the object and the object heats up. Sun’s rays are doing nothing – except falling on the object. Now, concentrate the sun’s rays on the object (Using a convex mirror) – we know what happens. The object starts heating up and burning.

Instead of Sun’s rays, we focus the rays of the Chittha on the object of Dharana and keep them steady on the object. When the Dhyanam becomes steady, unwavering and one-pointed totally, the form of the object disappears totally – but its essence and its meaning only remains.

In other words, the Sadhaka is now one with the object. There is no object; there is not even the Sadhaka. The essence of the object merges into the essence of the Sadhaka and becomes one.

Fine. But, why is Samaadhi given so much importance? What if Sadhaka becomes one with the object? There can be many, mnay questions in the inquisitive mind.

The Sadhaka who does the Dharana, Dhyanam and Samadhi – need not, should not, and will not ask these questions, or any other questions. These are a continuum, a single uninterrupted Journey and whatever has to happen in that continuum, will happen. He does not have to ask any questions.

But Patanjali tells the curious readers like us – what happens. Because, a science needs to be as complete as Possible. 

That explanation will come from the Next Post.

 

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