Tasyapi that too Nirodhe by shutting, closing, restraining, destroying, by cessation Sarva all Nirodhat checking, suppressing, destroying Nirodhat seedless Saadhih profound meditation When that new light of wisdom is also relinquished, seedless samadhi dawns. The sadhaka must learn to hold back even this new impression of truth-bearing light. When both old and new impressions are dissolved, a state of seedless enlightenment arises, in which all illusions and delusions cease. This is nirbija samadhi - the state of absolute identity with the seer. Even this distinctive knowledge of insight (1.50) has to be checked, curbed and moderated. Then, as a flame goes out when the wood is burnt out, or as rivers cease to have their individual existence on uniting with the sea, all volitions and impressions of the unconscious, subconscious, conscious and super-conscious mind cease to exist. All these rivers of consciousness unify with the ocean of the seer. Nirbija samadhi is the conquering of the citta where the root mind is one with the seer. As all invading thoughts are brought to an end by practice and detachment, the soul is freed from the pinions of earthly vehicles - the body, senses, mind, intelligence and consciousness. The seer is in the amanaskatva state. When citta is dependent on an object, idea or symbol, the state is called sabija samadhi. In nirbija samadhi, citta dissolves and no deposit of impressions remain. All residual impressions, the thinking faculty and the feelings of 'T' are extinguished without trace and become universal. The soul alone manifests and rages without form, in immaculate clarity. Here ends the exposition on samadhi, the first pada of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. |