The Ultimate State
Samaadhi
Samaadhi is a superconscious state of ecstasy. It is characterised by cessation of breathing. The sleepless saint, Ram Gopal Mazumdar, a disciple of Lahiri Mahashaya*, describes the state of samaadhi as, “A state where the internal organs remain in a state of suspended animation. Filled with cosmic energy, the body needs no sleep.”
*The guru of Yukteshwar, who was the guru of Paramahamsa Yogananda. Yukteshwar himself ever so often slipped into samaadhi, either sitting up or lying down in the wee hours of the morning.
Samaadhi maybe savikalpa or nirvikalpa. Savikalpa samaadhi is a state of enhanced consciousness but with the presence of mind and bodily awareness. Nirvikalpa samaadhi is the ultimate state of consciousness without chitta vrittis (distractions of any kind).
The ancient philosopher Patanjali, outlined eight steps of Yoga. This is called the Eight-fold path of Yoga (not to be confused with the Buddhist Eight-fold path).
Eight-fold path of Yoga
| Yama | To follow the principles of: Ahimsa=non-violence, satya=truthfulness, asteya=non-stealing, bramhacharya=abstinence, mitaahaara=limited consumption and aparigraha=non-accummulation |
| Niyama | To follow the principles of: Shoucha=cleanliness, santosha=happiness and contentment, tapas=penance, swadhyaaya=self-study and eeshwarapranidhaana=surrender to god |
| Aasana | Posture: To maintain the right posture, keeping the spine erect, to sit in a firm but comfortable position |
| Praanayaama | To breathe consciously, in prescribed ways, to achieve different results |
| Pratyahaara | To withdraw the senses from external stimuli/objects |
| Dhaarana | Concentration: To focus the mind on a single thought |
| Dhyaana | Meditation : To still the mind and delve deep by focussing on breathing, a mantra, the inner eye etc. |
| Samaadhi | Superconsciousness: Achieving the deepest state of dhyaana, the only state where one’s ignorance (avidya) gets destroyed |
Samaadhi is and can be used interchangeably with Turiya, the fourth state. But samaadhi is different from trance. Many rituals, which include repetitive activities, help achieve a self- induced cognitive trance (SICT). Also called auto induced cognitive trance, it is an altered state of consciousness accomplished by will alone, and is different from the four states of consciousness previously described.
A dance that puts the dancer into a trance* is both a spiritual and a visual experience. The tradition of the Sufi whirling dervishes, a tourist attraction of Turkey, began with the poet philosopher Jalal al-Din Rumi, in the thirteenth century.
The dancers spin slowly in a meditative trance accompanied by music. They point their hands towards heaven and earth and spin in circles in their flowing robes, casting a magical spell on the beholder.
*like savikalpa samaadhi
When a God-realised person’s soul voluntarily leaves his body, he is said to have attained Maha-samaadhi.