Swami Sivananda Vani - 7

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NIRVIKALPA SAMADHI

 

The state of samadhi is beyond the reach of mind and speech. Even in

worldly experience, you cannot express taste. You cannot express the

taste of an apple to one who has not tasted it, nor can you explain

the nature of colour to a blind man. The state of samadhi is all joy,

bliss and peace; this much only can be said. One has to feel this for

himself.

 

In samadhi or the superconscious state, the meditator loses his

individuality and becomes identical with the supreme self. He becomes

an embodiment of bliss, peace and knowledge. So much only can be

said. This can be experienced by you through constant meditation.

 

Nirvikalpa samadhi is the state of superconsciousness or godhead.

There is no vikalpa or imagination of any sort in this condition.

This is the goal of life. All mental activities cease now. The

function of the intellect and the ten indriyas. (senses) cease

entirely.

 

The spiritual aspirant now rests in atman (self). There is no

distinction between subject and object. The world and the pairs of

opposites vanish absolutely. This is a state beyond all relativity ­

though it is not a state of inertia. It is a condition of complete,

perfect awareness. It is indescribable. It must be felt and

experienced by the aspirant himself. In this state the triad ­ the

knower, known and knowable ­ disappears. Man is now Brahman ­ there is

no jivahood.

 

Try to enjoy that sleepless state wherein all senses and mind remain

in a state of quietude and the intellect ceases functioning. The

sleepless sleep is maha nidra (the superconscious state). There is no

waking from this sleep.

 

In samadhi the yogi gets himself merged in the Lord. All limitations

and differences disappear. The yogi attains highest knowledge and

bliss. This state is beyond description. You will have to realise it

yourself.

 

Samadhi is the superconscious state in which the veil of ignorance is

suddenly lifted and the devotee merges in the overwhelming glory of

the one true divine effulgence. In samadhi the soul becomes loosened

from its material prison and is separated from individual

consciousness. An ecstatic feeling of oneness arises and the soul

becomes absorbed in the infinite intelligence from which it emanated.

 

After attaining samadhi a man, though possessed of great spiritual

powers, does not wish to change the conditions and circumstances in

which he lived before attaining it. In samadhi, ordinary

consciousness has flowered into superconsciousness. The stream of

samsara (the stream of births and deaths) has ceased to flow.