Sutra 1.18: What is Samadhi?
1.18 virāma-pratyaya-abhyāsa-pūrvaḥ saṁskāra-śeṣo-‘nyaḥ
Resulting from practice, a higher state of integration (asamprajñata samadhi), with no thoughts remaining, only subconscious impressions (samskaras). - Ruben Vasquez
Yoga Sutra 1.18 speaks of an even higher form of Samadhi than mentioned in sutra 1.17. Samadhi is when you experience yourself as the light of creation and that as an expression of this, you have the ability to merge with the universal light of creation. Yoga is like the highlighted route on your GPS. It is a pathway towards this ultimate merger of which can be re-routed dependent upon your particular traffic jams.
The most direct route we can take is to build a sanctuary within ourselves of which we can take refuge when life on the road makes us weary. This church within is the home that we are all really longing for. So when we find ourselves lost in a compulsion, or in the backwoods of an emotion, or off on some wild detour hidden in delusion, we have a place that is safe and warm and has all the cozy fleece blankets and memory foam pillows for us to snuggle up with our souls.
When we open the doors on our minds to the possibility of having heaven within, heaven will come in. More often than not it is our minds beliefs and our minds burdens who stand, blocking the doorway of our sanctuary, like soldiers, shouting false orders from false gods. It is our job to dismantle these fear driven falsehoods with the cultivation of our awareness, with our sincerity, and with our commitment.
Samadhi is the moments when our personal details disappear. For it is in these moments our details and our desires become enmeshed in an experience of which is so pure and clear and true, like the sky on a fall Colorado evening. When all that exists is being lost inside the sparkles that light up the night, this is samadhi.
Let us all pledge to be the power necessary to fuel the peace of this planet by simply pledging to find a place of peace within, to make our own peace a priority so that we cannot help but to plant seeds of love and kindness with every thought we think, then water those thoughts with every breath we take, and blossom them with every word we speak. Heaven must be found within, for without it, we are lost amongst the unhealed pain of others. Your healing is the pathway to your heaven.
Muchas Gracias dear souls,
As always, I am beyond grateful to share yoga philosophy with you. May you experience many moments of “samadhi” throughout your day and your lifetime. I truly believe the more time we spend in nature, the more possible this is, for nature is creation, so our souls cannot help but be drawn “home.” When your mind wants to define and rationalize, pause, not everything has to be explained and understood. How could something so limited as words, speak the mysteries of all of creation?. Bask in the glory of the unknown and receive her wisdom like a ray of light shining directly into your heart space.
Love and Blessings,
Andrea Dawn
