Patanjali Yog Sutra Curated
EP #9 | समाधि का अनुभव कैसा?
May 11, 2022
In the previous episode, Sri Guru unveiled glimpses of what is the experience of Vairagya. Here, we will explore the meaning of “Samadhi”, as illustrated in the Sutras 17 and 18 of Samadhipada (the first chapter of the Patanjali Yog Sutra).
Generally, people have varied notions about the terms “Vairagya” and “Samadhi”. Largely, these words are confined to a surface level of understanding. But through the Sutras 17 and 18, Sri Guru establishes a unique relationship between Vairagya and Samadhi. There are numerous dimensions to the experience of Samadhi – at the level of presence, thought, inner-feeling, and also the level of our Astitva (existence). In this episode, Sri Guru elaborates on the various types of Vairagya, also explaining the path on which a seeker progresses from Savikalpa Samadhi to the ultimate human goal of Nirvikalpa Samadhi.
The teachings of Yoga that had been handed down in an oral tradition over thousands of years from ancient times, are said to have been synthesized and compiled by Maharishi Patanjali in the form of ‘Yog Sutra’— one of the foundational texts of classical Yogic Philosophy. The Patanjali Yog Sutras explain about the अष्टांग योग (Ashtanga Yog) illustrating the 8 Elements for a Holistic Life, i.e. यम (Yama), नियम (Niyam), आसन (Aasana), प्राणायाम (Pranayama), प्रत्याहार (Pratyahara), धारणा (Dharaana), ध्यान (Dhyana), समाधि (Samadhi). The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali consist of 196 Sanskrit Sutras organized in 4 Adhyaya (chapters) — समाधिपाद (Samadhipadah), साधनापाद (Saadhanpadah), विभूतिपाद (Vibhutipadah) and कैवल्यपाद (Kaivalyapadah). He defines Yoga as that which restrains the mind-stuff (Chitta) from taking various forms (Vrutti).
At SRM, Sri Guru has always laid emphasis on the subtler spiritual objective of Yoga, hence, was coined the term ‘YogaYog’— experiencing Union (Yog) through Yoga. Through this Satsang series on the Yog Sutras of Maharishi Patanjali, Sri Guru takes the seekers deeper into the understanding of ‘Union’ through physical, mental and intellectual evolution.
