By Kamlesh Patel
Q: How can we understand the difference between Samadhi and Sahaj Samadhi, and how can one feel the difference between these two when we meditate?
KDP: Traditional Samadhi, according to Patanjali, is defined as a stone-like condition, pashanyatulya, where you become unconscious of your surroundings. But before we go into that, what is actually meant by Samadhi? Samadhi is a Sanskrit word and there is a beauty in Sanskrit because many words can be combined to make one word.
The word Samadhi is made from two words, sam and adhi. Adhi means something that prevailed before, ‘the original’, before the creation came into existence. Sam means ‘balance’ or ‘similar to’ so Samadhi is the state similar to the original state of balance, something that prevailed before the creation came into existence.
In Heartfulness, when we meditate, we have a peculiar Samadhi state, which is unlike the stone-like condition. Ours is somewhere in between, that is, you are in the state of Samadhi but you are fully aware. You are aware of everything around as well as being in the state of absorbency. Even when you open your eyes after meditation, this state continues.
If you are careful, you can take this Samadhi state and make it more dynamic. During your daily activities, wandering about doing things, studying or working, looking after things, that same state can touch the hearts of others. The way you conduct yourselves with others reflects that state that you have in the heart. If you don't have it, you cannot spread that state to others. You cannot make it dynamic.
In Heartfulness meditation, the delta brain wave state is available right from the first sitting. You need not wait for 15 thousand hours of practice. A second remarkable thing is that while you are absorbed deeply inside, and delta waves are recorded, you will also be aware of your surroundings – if somebody is yawning or sneezing you will know about it, while you are enjoying such a relaxed state which prevails during the deep sleep recorded as delta waves.
According to Spiritual Master, in our traditional yoga shastras this is known as the fourth state, also called the Turiya condition. When this Turiya condition is mastered and we keep this condition even during our wakeful hours, then it becomes Turiyatit. In the morning, when I was talking about how not to form impressions from our actions, this is related to the Turiyatit condition. The only way to stop the formation of samskaras is to create the ‘living dead’ state, and then it is possible.
Source: Abhyasi Bulletin: No: 2016.38
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