Samadhi: Yoga, Inquiry & Meditation

DEFINITION of SAMADHI (Sama of Buddhi)

Sama-dhi = equanimity of intellect

Tranquility, Silence (Mouna), Quiescence, Stillness, No thoughts, Extreme dynamo of the Self for inherent Atmic grace to introvert and "still" the balanced (inner & outer senses) disciplined mind resulting in the peace that passeth understanding (both inner and outer senses become one in total consciousness on the foundation of the ever-present transcendental Self)

2 WAYS to go into SAMADHI:

(ii) Yoga (breath control)

OR

(iii) Inquiry (understanding and conviction)

Yoga and shakti (prakriti nature) meets Siva (pure consciousness spirit) at the crown chakra (fontanelle and brahmaranda) through meditation leading to Grace of samadhi via:
(i) breath holding or more directly by (ii) stay fixed in the hrit of heart by Self inquiry

Jnana (meditational discrimination), Kriya (breath) & Ichaa (will) Shakti

YOGA

Controlling the modifications of the mind through breath retention can lead to Samadhi of bliss with the sakti rising to the crown chakra but does not lead to permanent self abidance as the vasanas in the heart return after the bliss of samadhi. ie. the ego is not liquidated but only temporary submerged. Only by self-inquiry does the ego get dissolved by realizing ones true nature. However, these samadhis give glimpses that lead to further enthusiasm in meditation and eventual strength of inquiry to dispel ego and stay fixed in the Heart.

Crown 7th chakra = Bliss = Divinity = Sathya Loka = Sai Baba (Siva-Sakti)

Hridayam =the Self= Great Peace or Calm = shakti passes down from crown (via Amrit nadi) to abide here (source of the "I")

The crown is symbolically where Siva Sakti dance (ie. sakti rises in the body to meet Siva at the crown). Geographical, this is Mount Kailash in the Himalayas (where the pranic amrit of ganga pours from his crown of the head must pass down into the Heart for the world-consciousness granthi or knor to be untied with the final death of the ego. Arunachala, geographically represents this centre in the Heart, with the source of the Self spreading out in 8 direction via the 8 nadis or lingams.

INQUIRY

* Inquiry is the more direct way than yoga as it is the ultimate relinquishing and letting go of the ego born of matured wisdom of self knowledge and the clarity that dispels the identifiction with the vasanas as separate from the one Self.

* But both require sincere effort of devotion to Guru or Self (sadhana)

*Thy Will be done of Self surrender or devotion = Jnana or Oneness of what is

TYPES OF SAMADHI

(i) Kevala - with effort leads to state of mysical rapture (Kevala Savikalpa Samadhi)

(ii) Savikalpa - awareness of world, stillness of a waveless ocean (everything within)

(iii) Nirvikalpa - no ideation, no world or body consciousness; "motionless flame"; beyond everything

iv) Sahaja - balanced natural state of being in the world but not of it - Self realisation where completely fixed in the Reality of the Self but the Universal Consciousness (God) uses instrument faculties intelligently. Complete balance and equanimity.

RECOMMENDED BOOK FOR KNOWLDEGE/INQUIRY

Ramana Maharishi "Be As You Are" BY DAVID GODMAN
(for understanding these technical details)

Nisargadatta's "I am THAT" BY MAURICE FRYDMAN

Nisargadatta's "Prior to Consciousness" BY JEAN DUNN

Nisargadatta's "The Ultimate Medicine" BY ROBERT POWELL

Ramesh Balsekars "Pointer from Nisargadattta"

Eckhart Tolles' "Power of Now" & "Stillness Speaks"

Swami's Thus Baba Spoke & Vahinis & Sathya Sai Speaks

MEDITATION

(i) Passive meditations (So-hum) - following the natural breath (Vipassana)

(ii) Dynamic meditation (Jyotish) - mental concentration, visualization, prayer, purification

(iii) Yoga of breath control (retention) - controlling the breath and stilling thoughts

(iv) Inquiry based (Who am I? via neti neti - not body, mind or intellect or bliss)

(v) Abidance as THAT (from effort to matured, pure understanding and spontaneous transcendence)

RECOMMENDED BOOK ON MEDIATION

Dhyana Vahini by Swami
www.phylliskrystal.com
www.yogamovement.com/link/meditation
www.how-to-meditate.org
www.tm.org
www.meditationsociety.com
www.active-stream.com