Meditation and the different types of samadhi.

Meditation and the different types of samadhi. Pantajali, the author of the classic Yoga Sutras has Samadhi as the final stage of his 8 fold path. This follows the 7th stage, dhyana, or meditation. In samadhi one is in a total state of meditative absorption or Contemplation. There are different levels of samadhi, for example nirvalkpa- samadhi, which is a higher state of samadhi. "Nir" is a negative in sanskrit, for example the Buddhist nirvana, where spiritual ignorance is totally negated.

In samadhi, one is in a total state of meditative absorption and the need to meditate, in certain cases, no longer exits. But this varies from person to person, and from system to system. Ramana Maharishi, for example, it is said, just continued in a deep state of samadhi for his entire life. Swami Sivanada, continued to practice all the Yogas until his death or mahasamadhi. My own teacher, Lama Geshe Damchon Yenten, now 85, and a Gelugpa Lama (the same lineage as the Delai Lama. Gelugpa meaning the celibate lineage. The same as bramacharaya In Hinduism.) My Lama still meditates every day so as to attain Total Realization or Buddha- hood, even though he already in a total state of samadhi




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Finally, the method I follow is the Tibetan Buddhist system of Dzogchen, of the Ningma lineage or "ancient" ones. Made famous in modern times by Lama Namhkai Norbu. Here one simply rests or relaxes in one's Understanding. One meditates for short periods during the day, identifies with one's True Nature, the Atman and then one simply relaxes in one's understanding. One can continue to do mantras, Bhakti Yoga, or any practice but the most important tool in this system is total Relaxation in the understanding of who we are. Not the jiva-atman or ego, but the Higher Self . That is the Atman and finally, the Cosmic Consciousness, Brahman.