MIND : ITS MYSTERIES & ITS CONTROL - CHAPTER - 34.1-2 to 4. Swami Sivananda.

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Tuesday, September 21, 2021. 6:17. AM.
MIND : ITS MYSTERIES & ITS CONTROL :
CHAPTER 34.
34-1.SAMADHI :
34.1-2 to 4. THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF SAMADHI :
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2. SAMADHI THROUGH RAJA YOGA  :

A Raja Yogi gets Nirodha-Samadhi through Chitta-Vritti-Nirodha (by restraining the mental modifications). A Bhakta gets Bhava-Samadhi through Prema of the Lord. A Vedanti getsBheda-Samadhi through Mithyatva-Buddhi and concentration on the idea of the Asti-Bhati-Priya(the Anvaya method).

It is only the Raja Yogi who attempts the annihilation of the Vrittis, the Nirodha Samadhi (“Yogaschittavrittinirodhah” —Patanjali Yoga Sutras, I-2). A Vedanti has always Atma-Bhava, Brahma-Bhava whenever he comes across objects. So he does not try to annihilate the Vrittis. There is no Pratyahara for him. There is no Bahirmukha Vritti for him. He rejects Nama-Rupa and takes Asti-Bhati-Priya (Bheda-Samadhi). A Bhakta sees Narayana or Krishna in all objects. He also does not check the Vrittis. He, like the Vedanti, changes his mental attitude. It is the mind that creates all the differences and separateness. The world is all Ananda, only if you change your angle of vision, your mental attitude. You will find heaven on earth.

You can bring down to normal objective consciousness a Raja Yogi or Bhakti Yogi or Jnana Yogi by mere shaking of the body or blowing a conch. Chudalai brought down her husband Sikhidhvaja from Samadhi by shaking his body. Lord Hari brought Prahlada down from his Samadhi by blowing His conch.

3. SAMADHI THROUGH HATHA YOGA :

A Hatha Yogi draws all his Prana from the different parts of his body and takes it to the Sahasrara Chakra (thousand-petalled lotus) at the top of the head. Then he enters into Samadhi (superconscious state). Therefore it is very difficult to bring him down to objective consciousness by merely shaking his body. Hatha Yogis have remained buried underneath the earth in Samadhi for years together. They plug the posterior nostrils through Khechari Mudra (a king of Hatha Yogic Kriya) with their long tongues.

Prana and Apana that move in the chest and anus respectively are united by the Yogic processes of Jalandhara, Mula and Uddiyana Bandhas and the united Prana-Apana is driven into the Sushumna Nadi of the spinal canal. The Pranas, when thus driven, draw up the mind also along the Sushumna Nadi which is otherwise known as Brahma Nadi. During the ascent in the Sushumna Nadi, the three Granthis or knots, viz., Brahma-Granthi at Muladhara-Chakra, Vishnu-Granthi at Manipura-Chakra and Rudra-Granthi at Ajna-Chakra should be cut asunder by strenuous efforts. These knots prevent the ascent of Kundalini. Bhastrika Pranayama breaks down these knots. When Kula-Kundalini Sakti that lies dormant in the Muladhara-Chakra in the form of a coiled serpent with 31/2 (Three and half)  curves or turns, with the face downwards is awakened by spiritual Sadhana, it ascends upwards towards Sahasrara Chakra or the thousand-petalled lotus in the crown of the head and takes along with it the mind and Prana also. When the mind is in the Sushumna, the Yogi is shut out from the objective, physical consciousness of the world. He is practically dead to the world, sees various visions and moves in the mental, ethereal space (Chidakasa). Samadhi starts.

4. SAMADHI THROUGH RAJA YOGA CONTINUED :

Deep meditation leads to Samadhi or oneness with God. If you can fix the mind for ten

seconds steadily on a particular object or Murti, it is Dharana (concentration). Ten such Dharanas

become Dhyana (meditation). Ten such Dhyanas form a Samadhi. The mind is filled with Atman or

God. Mind loses its own consciousness and becomes identified with the object of meditation

Tatchitta, Tanmaya, Tadakara). Just as a toy made of salt melts in water, even so, the mind melts in

Brahman in Nirvikalpa Samadhi. A sudden stroke of mystic illumination puts an end to all the

empirical existence altogether and the very idea or remembrance of such a thing as this world or the

narrow individuality of the spirit in this world absolutely leaves the Self.

In trained Yogis, you cannot say where Pratyahara (abstraction) ends and Dharana

(concentration) begins; where Dharana ends and Dhyana (meditation) begins; where Dhyana ends

and Samadhi (superconscious state) begins. The moment they sit on the Asana, all the processes

occur simultaneously with electric or lightning speed and they enter Samadhi at their conscious

will. In the neophytes, Pratyahara first takes place. Then Dharana begins. Then Dhyana slowly

commences. Before Samadhi manifests, their minds, getting impatient and tired, drop down.

Constant and intense Sadhana, with light but nutritious food, will bring about sanguine success in

getting Samadhi.

 Next - YOGIC SAMADHI AND VEDANTIC SAMADHI

To be continued ...

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