Samadhi
Samadhi is a state of deep meditation, and the aspirant forgets about the point at which he is meditating. The sense of oneness can be found in samadhi. When there is no fluctuation of any kind in mind (thought waves, feelings, awareness), then only one can achieve the state of samadhi. It has been mentioned in Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism etc., with different names. Still, all conclude that it will give liberation from this world without leaving the body. Ayurveda, a health science or science of life, mentions samadhi and its utility for preventing and treating mental disorders (manasa vyadhi). Samadhi is more elaborately explained in the Yogic texts. Gheranda Samhita says samadhi means separating mind from the body and uniting it with the Paramatma (ultimate self).[1] According to Hathratnavali, the state of samadhi can be attained when the mind becomes motionless due to deep concentration. However, the description of samadhi for psychological disorders in Ayurveda texts appears to be in a therapeutically applicable form. To attain the samadhi, as mentioned in Yoga Shastra may not be easy for psychiatric patients with severely afflicted minds. In these conditions, as part of sattvavajaya chikitsa, samadhi may be implied to improve mental strength and prevent progression of mental disorders. Dhyana is the preceding stage of samadhi. This article describes the concepts and practices of samadhi with therapeutic utility.
| Section/Chapter | Concepts/Samadhi |
|---|---|
| Authors |
Bhojani M. K. 1, Singh Preeti2 Jain Rahul 1 |
| Reviewer | Basisht G.3, |
| Editor | Deole Y.S.4 |
| Affiliations |
1 Department of Sharir Kriya, All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi, India 2Department of Swasthavritta, All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi, India 3 Rheumatologist, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A. 4 Department of Kayachikitsa, G. J. Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India |
| Correspondence emails |
meera.samhita@aiia.gov.in, carakasamhita@gmail.com |
| Publisher | Charak Samhita Research, Training and Development Centre, I.T.R.A., Jamnagar, India |
| Date of publication: | February 14, 2022 |
| DOI | 10.47468/CSNE.2023.e01.s09.128 |
Etymology
The word samadhi can be spilt into three parts- Sama (together) + Aa (towards) + Dha (to hold).
Thus, the word samadhi means to hold or to get towards togetherness. It can also be broken down as sama (equal/ equilibrium) + dhi (intellect/ to perceive), a state in which our mind or intellect is in balance. The meaning of samadhi from all the definitions lead to the fact that samadhi is a state of meditation when the meditator and the object of meditation becomes the one.
Synonyms of samadhi[2]
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Definitions of samadhi[3]
In Upanishada:
Yogatatva Upanishada[4] and Shandilya Upanishada[5] : Samadhi is a state of equipoise, in which the Jeevatma (self) and Paramatma (supreme) become one and the same.
Varaha Upnishada[6] : When the practitioner experiences the oneness of the mind, just like the salt in the water, that state is called samadhi.
Tejobindu Upnishada[7] : That “I am myself Brahma” is Savikalpa samadhi, when one forgets even that state is called Nirvikalpa samadhi.
In Puranas:
Shiva Purana[8] : In the samadhi state, the intellect gets flooded with light. In this state, only abstract content remains, and the material substance vanishes. Here also, one becomes still like curd.
Naradiya Purana[9] : In this state, the spiritual practitioner (yogi)’s senses cease all of their activities, and he experiences extreme bliss like that of deep and dreamless sleep. When the yogi becomes motionless, like the flame of a lamp in the absence of wind that state is called samadhi in Naradiya Purana.
Agni Purana[10] : When the yogi becomes still like curd (Milk has a property to flow, means it has some motion, but when it is converted to curd, then the flow property changes and it becomes stable)and where dhyana gets reduced to pure consciousness (when the object of dhyana also disappears), that is samadhi.
Samadhi in Ayurveda
Samadhi is one of the treatments for psychiatric diseases (manasika roga). It is indicated to preserve and protect mental health and prevent diseases. [Cha. Sa. Sutra Sthana 1/58] One can attain a samadhi state by controlling the indriyas (especially mind) from indulging in their objects (vishaya) and restraining the chitta from various inclinations (vritti). [Chakrapani on Cha. Sa. Sutra Sthana 1/58]
Ashtanga Yoga[11]
Maharishi Patanjali describes eight steps of practicing yoga (ashtanga yoga) in Patanjala Yoga sutras. He defined yoga as means of controlling the thoughts, emotions etc. (vrittis) of subconscious mind (chitta). The eight steps of yoga practice help to attain samadhi. It starts with control from the outside of the body to the inside.
| 1.Yama | Social restraints | Ahimsa (Non- Violence) | Satya (Truth) | Asteya (Non- Stealing) | Brahmacharya (Control over senses) | Aparigraha (No greed) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.Niyama | Personal restraints | Shaucha (Purity) | Santosha (Contentment) | Tapa (Discipline) | Swadhyaya (Self- study) | Ishwarpranidhan (Devotion) | |
| 3.Asana | Postures | ||||||
| 4.Pranayama | Controlling breath or Prana | Suryabhedi | Ujjayi | Sheetali | Sheetkaari | Bhastrika | |
| 5.Pratyahara | Withdrawal from senses | ||||||
| 6.Dharana | Concentration | Parthivi | Ambhasi | Agneyi | Vayavi | Akashi | |
| 7.Dhyana | Meditation | Sthoola Dhyana | Jyoti Dhyana | Sukshma Dhyana | |||
| 8.Samadhi | One-pointedness | Sabeeja Samadhi | Nirbeeja Samadhi | ||||
References
- ↑ Gherand Samhita, commentary on Maharishi Gherand’s Yoga teachings by Swami niranjanand Saraswati, 3rd edition, Bihar yoga Bharati 2011.
- ↑ Hatha yoga pradika, commentary by Swami Muktibodhananda under the guidance of Swami Satyananda saraswati, first digital edition, Yoga publications Trust, 2016
- ↑ Yoga perceived and practiced by sages of India, author J.c. Singhal,first edition, Abhishek prakashan, 2009
- ↑ Yoga perceived and practiced by sages of India, author J.c. Singhal,first edition, Abhishek prakashan, 2009, chapter 23- Samadhi,page no. 448, Yogatatva Upanishad-107.
- ↑ Yoga perceived and practiced by sages of India, author J.c. Singhal,first edition, Abhishek prakashan, 2009, Chapter 23- Samadhi, Page no. 448, Shandilya Upanishad 1-11.
- ↑ Yoga perceived and practiced by sages of India, author J.c. Singhal,first edition, Abhishek prakashan, 2009, Chapter23- Samadhi, page no. 448, Varaha Upanishad II-75.
- ↑ Yoga perceived and practiced by sages of India, author J.c. Singhal,first edition, Abhishek prakashan, 2009, Chapter 23- Samadhi, page no. 448, Tejobindu Upanishad I- 37.
- ↑ Yoga perceived and practiced by sages of India, author J.c. Singhal,first edition, Abhishek prakashan, 2009, Chapter 23- Samdhi, Page no. 448, Shiva purana 36/ 61-62.
- ↑ Yoga perceived and practiced by sages of India, author J.c. Singhal,first edition, Abhishek prakashan, 2009, Chapter23- Samadhi, page no. 448, Naradiya Purana 33/ 43.
- ↑ Yoga perceived and practiced by sages of India, author J.c. Singhal,first edition, Abhishek prakashan, 2009, Chapter 23- Samadhi, page no. 448, Agni Purana 372.
- ↑ Patanjala yogadarshana of Maharishi Patanjali, edited with yogasiddhi hindi commentary by prof. Suresh Chandra Shrivastava, chaukhambha publishing house, 2020, ch. 2, sutra 29.