Samadhi Defined
/suh-MAH-dee/ — Sanskrit: समाधि — "putting together, union"The eighth and final limb of yoga—a state of profound meditative absorption where the boundaries between self and other dissolve, and consciousness recognizes its own infinite nature. Not an achievement, but a homecoming.
What Is Samadhi?
Samadhi is the culmination of the yogic path—a state of complete absorption in which the meditator, the act of meditation, and the object of meditation merge into unified awareness. It represents not the attainment of something new, but the recognition of what has always been present beneath the turbulence of ordinary consciousness.
The word comes from "sam" (together, completely) + "ā" (toward) + "dhā" (to place). Samadhi is the complete placing of consciousness—total absorption, full presence, undivided attention. In this state, the mental modifications (vrittis) that normally obscure pure awareness settle completely, like sediment in still water.
Samadhi in the Eight Limbs
Samadhi is the eighth limb of Patanjali's classical yoga system, arising naturally from the cultivation of the previous seven:
Yama
Ethical restraints—how we relate to others
Niyama
Personal observances—how we relate to ourselves
Asana
Posture—steadiness in the body
Pranayama
Breath regulation—mastery of life force
Pratyahara
Sense withdrawal—turning attention inward
Dharana
Concentration—focused attention on one point
Dhyana
Meditation—sustained, unbroken focus
Samadhi
Absorption—subject and object merge
Stages of Samadhi
Classical yoga describes progressive stages of samadhi, each more refined than the last:
Savitarka Samadhi
Absorption that still involves mental activity—examining the gross object of meditation, its name, and associated concepts.
Nirvitarka Samadhi
The object is experienced directly, without mental commentary. Pure perception without conceptual overlay.
Savichara Samadhi
Absorption on subtle objects—the mind, subtle energy, the sense of "I." Still has a subtle movement of investigation.
Nirvichara Samadhi
Even subtle reflection ceases. Awareness rests in itself, luminous and still. The threshold of higher samadhi.
Beyond These: Nirbija Samadhi
All the above are "sabija" (with seed)—they have an object, however subtle. Nirbija samadhi (seedless samadhi) has no object at all. Consciousness knows itself directly, without reference to any content. This is the ultimate liberation described in yoga—complete freedom from identification with anything that changes.
Samadhi and Daily Life
Samadhi might seem impossibly distant from your Tuesday morning yoga class. But the same principles operate at every scale:
- Micro-samadhis: Moments of complete absorption—losing yourself in music, art, or meaningful work. Brief tastes of what sustained practice can deepen.
- Asana practice: When breath, body, and attention fully unify in a pose, the ordinary sense of separation softens. This is samadhi's ground floor.
- The direction matters: You don't need to "achieve" samadhi to benefit from practice. Every step toward steadiness, presence, and absorption bears fruit.
Common Misconceptions
Samadhi ≠ Bliss
While samadhi may include profound peace or joy, it's not defined by any particular experience. It's the absence of separation, not the presence of pleasant feelings.
Samadhi ≠ Permanent
Even deep samadhi comes and goes initially. Integration—bringing that clarity into daily life—is part of the path. The goal isn't to stay in samadhi forever, but to let its clarity inform how you live.
Samadhi ≠ The End
Paradoxically, samadhi is both the goal and a new beginning. It reveals what was always present, but the implications for how to live, relate, and serve unfold continuously.
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