Sahaj Samadhi

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Sri Ramana clarifies: "Samadhi is continuous inherence in the Self ina waking state. Nidra or sleep is also inherence in the Self but inan unconscious state. In SAHAJ SAMADHI the communion is continuous.The immersion of the mind in the Self, but without its destruction,is known as Kevala Nirvikalpa Samadhi. In this state one is not freefrom vasanas and so one does not therefore attain mukti (liberation).Only after the vasanas have been destroyed can one attain liberation."Question: "When can one practice Sahaj Samadhi?"Sri Ramana Maharshi: "Even from the beginning. Eventhough one practises Kevala Nirvikalpa Samadhi for yearstogether, if one has not rooted out the vasanas one will notattain liberation.Question: "Is samadhi, the eighth stage of raja yoga, thesame as the samadhi you speak of?"Sri Ramana Maharshi: "In yoga the term samadhi refers tosome kind of trance and there are various kinds of samadhi.But the samadhi I speak of is different. It is SAHAJ SAMADHI.From here you have samadhan (steadiness) and you remaincalm and composed even while you are active. You realise that you aremoved by the deeper real Self within. You have no worries, noanxieties, no cares, for you come to realise that there is nothingbelonging to you. You know that everything is done by something withwhich you are in conscious union.Question: "If this sahaj samadhi is the most desirable condition, isthere no need for nirvikalpa samadhi?"Sri Ramana Maharshi: "The nirvikalpa samadhi of raja yoga may haveits use. But in Jnana yoga this sahaj sthiti (natural state) or sahajnishtha (abidance in the natural state) itself is the nirvikalpastate. In this natural state, the mind is free from doubts. It has noneed to swing between alternatives of possibilities andprobabilities.It sees no vikalpas (differences) of any kind. It issure of the truth because it feels the presence of the real. Evenwhen it is active, it knows it is active in the reality, the Self,the Supreme Being."Question: "How can one function in the world in such a state?"Sri Ramana Maharshi: "One who accustoms himself naturally tomeditation and enjoys the bliss of meditation will not lose hissamadhi state whatever external work he does, whatever thoughts maycome to him. That is Sahaja Nirvikalpa. Sahaj Nirvikalpa is NasaManas (total destruction of the mind). Those who are in the layasamadhi state (a trance like state in which the mind is temporarilyin abeyance) will have to bring the mind back under control from timeto time. If the mind is destroyed, as it is in sahaj samadhi, it willnever slide down from their high state.Question:"Is samadhi a blissful or ecstatic state?"Sri Ramana Maharshi: "In samadhi itself there is only perfect peace.Ecstasy comes when the mind revives at the end of samadhi. Indevotion the ecstasy comes first. It is manifested by tears of joy,hair standing on end, and vocal stumbling. When the ego finally diesand the Sahaj is won, these symptoms and the ecstasies cease."* * *

 

 

"A jnani is not conscious of liberation or bondage. Bondage,liberation, and orders of liberation are all for the ignorant, inorder that ignorance might be shaken off. There is only liberation,and nothing else. Nor is there any difference between the jnani andthe ignorant (ajnani) in their conduct; the difference lies only intheir angles of vision."~Sri Ramana,Absolute Consciousnessposted by Bob OHearn to