Samadhi is a Sanskrit term from classical yoga philosophy that describes a profound state of meditative absorption or concentration. This state is considered the culmination of the yogic path, representing the highest form of consciousness a practitioner can achieve through internal discipline. It is often translated as “union” or “integration.” In this experience, the mind ceases its normal fluctuations and achieves a deep stillness, transcending the ordinary boundaries of self-awareness. The state is a direct, non-verbal experience of profound peace and expanded lucidity.
Defining the State of Consciousness
Patanjali, who codified the philosophy in the Yoga Sutras, defined Samadhi as the moment when the mind becomes so completely absorbed that it appears devoid of its own form. This state fundamentally alters the relationship between the mind and its focus. In this pure absorption, the three elements of consciousness—the meditator, the act of meditation, and the object of meditation—merge into a unified experience. The separation between the observer and the observed dissolves, moving the practitioner toward a non-dualistic reality.
The profound shift in Samadhi is the cessation of chitta vrittis, or the fluctuations of the mind, which Patanjali defines as the goal of yoga. Unlike deep sleep, which is an unconscious state, Samadhi is a superconscious state marked by complete awareness. The individual identity and ego temporarily disappear, allowing for a realization of oneness with universal consciousness. This heightened state is characterized by effortless clarity and inner peace.
Samadhi Within the Eight Limbs of Yoga
Samadhi holds a distinct structural position within the Ashtanga system, the eight-limbed path of classical yoga. It is recognized as the eighth and final limb, representing the ultimate goal of the spiritual discipline. The first five limbs are preparatory steps: ethical guidelines (Yamas and Niyamas), physical postures (Asana), breath control (Pranayama), and sensory withdrawal (Pratyahara). These initial practices establish the necessary foundation to stabilize the mind for deeper internal work.
The last three limbs form a progression known collectively as Samyama, the internal practice of yoga. Samyama represents a continuous process of mental refinement, starting with concentration and culminating in absorption. By mastering the preceding steps, the practitioner creates the internal environment where the mind is free from gross distractions. This framework demonstrates that Samadhi is the natural result of diligent practice on all preceding seven limbs.
The Two Main Classifications of Samadhi
Samadhi is broadly categorized into two main types, representing a progression from objective focus to a state beyond all mental constructs.
Sabija Samadhi (“With Seed”)
The first classification is Sabija Samadhi, where the practitioner maintains concentration on a specific object of meditation. This is also known as Samprajnata Samadhi, or Samadhi with higher knowledge. This state is called “with seed” because subtle mental impressions, or samskaras, remain. The seeds refer to the potential for future thoughts or karmic tendencies to sprout, meaning the mind has not yet been fully purified. The experience gained offers specific insights related to the object of focus, but ultimate spiritual freedom (Kaivalya) is considered unattainable while these seeds are present.
Nirbija Samadhi (“Without Seed”)
The second and highest state is Nirbija Samadhi, also called Asamprajnata Samadhi, or Samadhi beyond higher knowledge. In this absorption, the object of meditation dissolves completely, and the mind is entirely free from any content or support. This state marks the cessation of even the most subtle mental modifications, meaning the seeds of potential thought and karma have been dissolved. Nirbija Samadhi represents a complete merging of consciousness into the absolute, where only pure being remains. This absorption is the final stage that leads to ultimate liberation.
The Practice of Preparation: Dharana and Dhyana
The path to Samadhi is an organic culmination of the preceding two internal limbs, Dharana and Dhyana.
Dharana (Concentration)
Dharana, the sixth limb, is defined as concentration, specifically the act of fixing the mind’s attention onto a single object or point. This practice is a deliberate effort to hold the mind steady and prevent it from scattering, much like a single drop of water falling repeatedly on the same spot. The object of concentration can be anything from a physical point like the navel to a subtle concept like a mantra.
Dhyana (Meditation)
When the concentrated focus of Dharana is sustained without interruption, it naturally flows into Dhyana, the seventh limb, which is meditation. Dhyana is characterized by an effortless and continuous flow of awareness toward the object, where the mind remains completely immersed. The practice shifts from actively trying to concentrate to passively maintaining the concentrated state.
Samadhi occurs when the state of Dhyana becomes so profound that the conscious awareness of the meditator dissolves. The deep absorption causes the mind to merge with the object, and only the essence of that object shines forth. Therefore, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi are a single, continuous process of mental refinement, moving from initial effortful focus to effortless, unified absorption.