Sarvarthata ekdgratayoh ksaya udayau cittasya samadhiparinamah

The eleventh sutra speaks about the oscillations in thought process, when the mind vacillates between one-pointed and multi-faceted attention. The flagging of diffused (multi-faceted) attention leads one to one-pointed attention. However, the consciousness is the one which vacillates between these two states of the mind. It gets scattered when one-pointed attention wanes away. Unmindfulness and restlessness can be curtailed by focussing in one`s practice in meditation. And when one has successfully learned to restrict the mind, it is samadhi parinama.

sarvarthata all-pointedness, many-pointedness
ekagratayoh one-pointedness
ksaya decay
udayau the rise
cittasya of the consciousness
samadhi spiritual absorption
parinamah transformation

The weakening of dissipated attention and the rise of one-pointed attention in the citta is the transformation towards samadhi.

Consciousness wavers between multi-faceted and one-pointed attention. When one-pointed attention is established, multi-faceted attention disappears; when one-pointed attention fades, consciousness is scattered. Observing these alternations and learning to hold unwaveringly to single-pointed attention is the second phase of the transformation - samadhi parinama.

Citta has two properties - dispersiveness (sarvarthata citta) and one-pointedness (ekagrata citta), with which it can direct its attention externally or internally. It can unite these two powers into one, to move towards spiritual absorption.

Citta assumes the form of any object seen, observed or thought of. It can spread itself as much as it wishes to. When it spreads, it is multi-faceted; when it remains steadily focused, it is one-pointed. When it is scattered, distraction and restlessness sets in. This restlessness can be curbed, but nothing which exists can be destroyed; it can only be transformed, made to disappear or fade by thoughtful attention, enabling the stream of conscious restfulness to flow unwaveringly. In this manner, consciousness is influenced by its own action. It forms the habit of absorbing in a single thought, which prepares one for spiritual absorption. This type of attention, samadhi parinama, stabilises the state of restfulness.

In nirodha parinama, the issuing of thought-waves is restrained and quietened. In samadhi parinama, the intervals between the emergence and the restraint of thoughts and vice versa are studied. From this study issues a stillness which leads to silence. One should know that stillness is rigidity and silence is passive and meditative. In the state of silence, the fragrance of the soul emerges as the centre of attention. This is ekagrata paririama.