Samadhi: reaching the superconscious Samadhi is a term you'll probably only come across after an extended period of yoga practice. The reason: It describes a state of consciousness that's difficult for an average yogi to achieve and is reserved for only a few after years of practice. It goes beyond meditation and describes a complete immersion in a state where thoughts no longer play a role. Learn more about the superconscious here.
The highest level of achievability
Patanjali is a name you may have heard before. He wrote the Yoga Sutra, one of the most important texts, which serves as the foundation for yogis all over the world in their daily practice. In the Yoga Sutra, Patanjali describes the eight stages of Raja Yoga , which we can use to embark on the path to enlightenment.
These are:
- Yama - our attitude towards the outside world
- Niyama - our inner attitude
- Asana - physical exercises that serve to control and purify
- Pranayama - the control of our breath
- Pratyahara - the withdrawal from the outside world in the mind
- Dharana - Concentration
- Dhyana - Meditation
- Samadhi - superconsciousness, consciousness of unity
As you can see, Samadhi is at the end of the line. It is a state that can only be achieved after a lifetime of practice, but which will be reserved for only a very few yogis.
The nature of Samadhi
Since only a few achieve samadhi and the state is beyond our imagination, describing it is, of course, difficult, if not impossible. It is a state that must be experienced to fully grasp. In Yoga Sutra 1:20, Patanjali himself describes the state, which is the yogi's highest goal, clearly, but in a way that we cannot fully comprehend: "The other (embodied) beings attain a kind of absorption (samadhi) through faith, courage, remembrance, concentration, and wisdom."
It is a state that indicates merging with the object of meditation. Thoughts of the outside world no longer occur. It is about insight, enlightenment, the experience of unity. Since this is difficult to understand for those who have not experienced it, samadhi is often described as what it is NOT. Samadhi is neither waking, nor sleeping, nor dreaming. The connection to the physical body seems to no longer exist. It is not without reason that the term samadhi is also included in the word for the conscious leaving of our body when we die: this is called mahasamadhi. Enlightenment, however, is perhaps the word that best describes the state. We might also be wise not to dwell too much on this seemingly unattainable state, but to intensify our meditation in the here and now, step by step. Each according to his or her ability and his or her readiness.
Your path to more enlightenment
It would certainly not be right to encourage yourself to achieve complete enlightenment in Samadhi at this point. Nevertheless, meditation provides small steps with which you can enter states of consciousness, helping you, above all, to strengthen your mental and spiritual well-being. It's about letting go of thoughts, for example, of things that burden us but that we cannot change. The further you progress in your meditation practice, the more you will notice that you are able to let thoughts pass and focus on the here and now.
In meditation, we connect with our roots and the highest. This gives us the certainty that we are safe. Even when life isn't going well and problems arise that seem like an insurmountable mountain. The feeling of being held will give you security. Even if, like many of us, you don't reach samadhi.
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