Meditation and Samadhi

¹ Now, instructions for Yoga (Union).

atha yoga-anuaasanam

² Yoga is the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind ³ so that the meditator dwells in his true nature.

yoga citta-vrtti-nirodha, tadaa drastuh svarupe ‘vasthânam

⁴ Otherwise, he identifies with his thoughts.

vrtti-sârûpyam itaratra

⁵ The thoughts are five-fold, with positive and negative variations.

⁶

1. Correct thoughts

⁷ The correct thoughts come from the direct senses, inference, and testimonies from teachers or established knowledge.

2. Erroneous thoughts

⁸ The erroneous thoughts come from false knowledge, not based on truth.

3. Ideation

⁹ Ideation comes from acoustic knowledge [mantra], applied on emptiness.

4. Sleep

¹⁰ Deep sleep is the lack of perceptions.

5. Memory

¹¹ Memory is the retention of experiences

Meditation

¹² Two things are needed to still the mind:

1. Practice

¹³ Practice is the sustained effort to secure that stillness. ¹⁴ This practice becomes firmly rooted when it is cultivated skillfully and continuously for a long time.

2. Non-reaction

¹⁵ Non-reaction is fully achieved when no attachment arises in regard to anything at all, whether perceived directly or learned. ¹⁶ When the ultimate level of non-attachment is achieved, the mind can see pure consciousness.

¹⁷ At first, the stilling process is accompanied by 4 kinds of cognition:

1. Analytical thinking
2. Insight
3. Bliss
4. Self-Awareness

¹⁸ Later, with constant practice, these four kinds of cognition fall away, leaving only samskara. ¹⁹ After death, the soul is reborn according to these samskaras through Prakrti.

²⁰ For all others, faith, energy, mindfulness, integration, and wisdom form the path to realization. ²¹ For those who seek liberation passionately, realization is near.

²² This nearness depends on whether the practice is mild, moderate, or intense, ²³ or if the soul has surrendered to the Supreme Isvara*.

²⁴ The Supreme is a distinct, incorruptible form of pure consciousness, utterly independent of cause and effect, and lacking any samskara.

²⁵ This makes it the source of all knowledge.

²⁶ The Supreme was the guru of the ancients.

²⁷ The Supreme’s sound is Om*.

²⁸ By repetitively chanting the Om sound, the meaning of the Om sound is realized. ²⁹ Then inner consciousness is attained and obstacles disappear.

³⁰ Sickness, apathy, doubt, carelessness, laziness, hedonism, delusion, lack of progress, and inconstancy are all distractions stir up consciousness and act as barriers to stillness.

³¹ When distracted, one may experience distress, depression, or the inability to maintain steadiness of posture or breathing.

³² One can subdue these distractions by working with any one of the following principles of practice.

³³ Your consciousness settles:

• by radiating friendliness, compassion, delight, and equanimity toward all things, whether pleasant or painful, good or bad, or

• by ³⁴ pausing after each breath flows in or out,

• by ³⁵ steadily observing as new sensations materialize, ³⁶ being free from light or dark, or ³⁷ desire and attachment

• by ³⁸ reflecting on the insights from dreams

• by ³⁹ meditating whenever desired. ⁴⁰ By doing so, one expands from small to the great.

Samadhi

⁴¹ When the mind becomes still, it becomes like a transparent crystal which has the power of becoming whatever form is presented: knower, act of knowing, or what is known.

⁴² When the true essence of the sound is understood, then the mind is absorbed in the Supreme.

⁴³ Then the memory is purified and the mind becomes empty and goes beyond thought.

⁴⁴ In this way, the objects of the mind become either reflective or non-reflective.

⁴⁵ The essence of the subtle objects can be attained.

⁴⁶ These constitute the seed of samadhi.

⁴⁷ Samadhi is the state of attaining the pure innermost self without any reflections.

⁴⁸ It is the state of True Wisdom.

⁴⁹ It can discern the wisdom from teachings.

⁵⁰ It prevents samskaras from creating new samskaras.

⁵¹ Continued stillness allows the highest [seedless] Samadhi to be attained.