SAMADHI SAMADHI [spiritual ecstasy; state of God-union experienced as the ultimate goal of meditation] is a joyous experience, a splendid light in which you behold the countless worlds floating a vast bed of joy and bliss. Banish the spiritual ignorance that makes you think this mortal life is real. Have these beautiful experiences for yourself in eternal Samadhi, in God. Auroras of light and sky full of eternal bliss will be opened to you.

*When through Samadhi a yogi wakens through the delusions of maya, he beholds his body, the separately existing images of other human beings, and all material objects to be streaming unceasingly form one Source: the consciousness of God.

SAVIKALPA SAMADHI

*Savikalpa Samadhi — “with difference”, with a slight separateness from God, devotees life force is withdrawn from the body, which appears ‘dead’, or motion,ex’s and rigid.

*In the primary or savikalpa ecstasy the devotee perceives only the cosmic beam manifested as the checkered lights and shadows of the cinema drama of the cosmos.

NIRVIKALPA SAMADHI — “without difference”, as devotee progresses to higher spiritual states he communes with God without bodily fixation; and in his ordinary waking consciousness, even in the midst of exacting worldly duties.

*It requires the higher state of nirvikalpa ecstasy y to perceive the partner-dance of the cosmic light and shadows of creation; Evernote as a man who withdraws his consciousness from the plot of a motion picture can observe, bumpy peering closely, the causative commingling of light and shadows. In nirvikalpa the devotee perceives the cosmic light, his own body, and all the scenes of creation to be moving within himself as a series of motion pictures. In this state the present, past and future are revealed as one; all variety is merged within the unity of the Eternal Presence.

*In the state of savikalpa samadhi, the attention of the life force are switched off from the senses and are consciously kept identified with the ever joyous Spirit. In this state the soul is released from the ego consciousness and becomes aware of Spirit beyond creation. The soul is then able to absorb the fire of Spirit- Wisdom that “roasts” or destroys the seeds of body-bound inclinations. The soul as the meditator, it’s state of meditation, and the Spirit as the object of meditation— all become one. The separate wave of the soul meditating in the ocean of Spirit becomes merged with the Spirit. The souls does not lose its identity, but only expands into Spirit. In savikalpa samadhi the mind is conscious only of the Spirit within; it is not conscious of creation without (the exterior world). The body is in a trance-like state, but the consciousness I’d fully perceptive of it’ blissful experience within.

*In the most advanced state, nirvikalpa samadhi, the soul realizes itself and Spirit as one. The ego consciousness, and the ocean of Spirit are seen all existing together. It is the state of simultaneously watching the ocean of Spirit and the waves of creation. The individual no longer sees himself as “John Smith” but also the waves of all other lives. In nirvikalpa is simultaneously conscious of Spirit within and of creation without. The divine man in the nirvikapa state may even engage in the performance of his material duties with no loss of inner God-union. (bg)

The yogi in samadhi meditation consciously suspends the activity of change in the muscles, blood, nerve force, and all tissues, and supports the body by the changeless power of Cosmic Energy from Cosmic Consciousness. (sc)

*Deep samadhi meditation is possible only when all bodily functions are stilled.

Proper diet and fasting are helpful in conditioning the body for this state of quiet and interiorization. (sc)

YOGANANDA