What Is Samadhi?

[dwai]

What is samadhi? 
Samadhi is being aware of the Self, and nothing else — that is to say 
— it should not be confounded with the nirvikalpa (undifferentiated)
state, for this state of samadhi is very common and frequent, as has been pointed out in the case of momentary samadhis.

Everyone is experiencing the nirvikalpa state, though unknowingly. But what is the use of such unrecognised samadhis? 
A similar state becomes possible to the hatha yogis also. This experience alone does not confer any lasting benefit. But one may apply the experience to the practical
affairs of life. 
Samadhi can only be such and such alone.
(Sahaja samadhi is meant here.)

[Commentary: 
Samadhi: Aspirants may be jnana yogis
or hatha yogis. The former learn the truth from the scriptures and a Guru, cogitate and understand it clearly. Later they contemplate the truth and gain samadhi.
The wise say that samadhi is the control resulting from the application of the experienced truth (i.e., the awareness of the Self) to the practical affairs of life. This
samadhi is possible only for jnana yogis.

The hatha yogis are of two kinds: 
the one intent on eliminating all perturbations of the mind, starts with the
elimination of the non-self and gradually of all mental vacillations. This requires very long and determined practice which becomes his second nature and the yogi
remains perfectly unagitated. 
The other practises the six preliminary exercises and then controls the breath
(pranayama) until he can make the air enter the sushumna nadi. 
Since the earlier effort is considerable owing to control of breath, there is a heavy strain which is suddenly relieved by the entry of air in sushumna. The resulting
happiness is comparable to that of a man suddenly relieved of a pressing load on his back. His mind is similar to that of a man in a swoon or a state of intoxication. Both
classes of hatha yogis experience a happiness similar to that of deep slumber.

A jnana yogi on the other hand, has theoretical knowledge of the Self, for he has heard it from the Guru and learnt it from the sastras, and has further cogitated upon
the teachings. Therefore, the veil of ignorance is drawn off from him even before the consummation of samadhi. 

The substratum of consciousness free from thoughts of external phenomena is distinguished by him like a mirror
reflecting images. Furthermore, in the earlier stage of samadhi, he is capable of remaining aware as absolute
consciousness quite free from all blemishes of thought.]

Whereas a hatha yogi cannot remain in such a state,
in the Jnani’s samadhi, both the veil of ignorance and perturbation of thoughts are removed. 
In the hatha yogi’s samadhi, though the Self is naturally free from the two obstacles, yet it remains hidden by the veil of ignorance.
The same is torn off by the Jnani in the process of his contemplation.

If asked what difference there is between the samadhi of a hatha yogi and sleep, it must be said that the mind overpowered by deep ignorance is covered by dense
darkness in sleep, whereas the mind being associated with sattva (quality of purity) acts in samadhi as a thin veil for the self-effulgent principle. The Self may be compared to the Sun obstructed by dark and dense clouds in sleep, and by light mist in samadhi. 

For a Jnani, the Self shines in its full effulgence like the Sun unobstructed in the heavens.
This is how the Sages describe samadhi.

- Sage Dattatreya. 
Tripura Rahasya. Chapter XIX. 
Verses 113-115.

[old3bob]

 and to quote one line in the Isha upanishad: 

 

He who sees all beings in the Self and the Self in all beings, he never turns away from It
(the Self).

Edited January 5, 2022 by old3bob

[old3bob]

I'd take the liberty to add:

...and who really is the "He" spoken of above?  (with "He" only being used as a  convenience of language)  For only the Self can really know the Self while working through a being.  (a being such as a He, She, It, and or many other names)

Edited January 5, 2022 by old3bob

[James22]

As from what I know samadhi, in Indian philosophy and religion, and particularly in Hinduism and Buddhism, the highest state of mental concentration that people can achieve while still bound to the body and which unites them with the highest reality.

[old3bob]

On 3/1/2022 at 10:44 PM, James22 said:

As from what I know samadhi, in Indian philosophy and religion, and particularly in Hinduism and Buddhism, the highest state of mental concentration that people can achieve while still bound to the body and which unites them with the highest reality.

 

Since we are in the Hindu forum and in case you are interested in further teachings and definition's,  I'd suggest reading the major and Revealed teachings of Upanishads if you haven't already?   They can easily be found on the internet or in book form.  Btw, If one wants to more or less try mixing Hinduism and Buddhism it will probably be problematic x a lot!

[old3bob]

btw, I'd say that nobody can put Self Realization into a box to contain it and then hand it off to anyone else, although some may point to or allude to in great detail along  with sharing reflections and concepts but it's still up to us as teachings say (with an "x" amount of help from teachers) to find out first hand for ourselves.  

Edited March 4, 2022 by old3bob

[Straybird]

To my understanding samadhi is related to Buddhism or Hinduism, where one achieve enlightenment the highest state where one can escape from the cycle of sufferings. I might be wrong. 

 

[Jadespear]

... while there have been many definitions and interpretations of it, I think Patanjali described a version of that term that captures what most other definitions also do, but in a better way. 

 

Patanjali describes it as a state of meditative absorption, that is characterized by 2 distinct parts, which when combined bring about the state of "samadhi"

1. Focused attention

2. Effortless mediation

 

So in essence, it's a state of mind where one is completely focused on something effortlessly.  It could be thought of as being "in the zone".  For example, when you see someone deeply involved in reading something and try to talk to them but they don't respond because they simply are tuned out from the outside - they are in a type of samadhi.  

 

Now, that is the basic definition.  There are many other levels to this of state of mind which many traditions speak of that can be confusing at times because they use this term over and over again.  However, the term is really easy to understand as "being one with" it's like connecting your essential nature to whatever else you're focusing on.  Through that connection one gains deeper understanding all the way from oneself, to the physical world, and higher above through planets and eventually the entire universe.  

 

It has also been defined as "the flowing from subject to object". Which is another way to say "being one with".