Spotlight on Limb 8: Samadhi

Here at last!  Today we are exploring the last of the 8 limbs of yoga – samadhi, or oneness with the absolute.

To put samadhi into context, let’s revisit Limb 7 – dhyana, or meditation.  Dhyana allows us to maintain continuous focus on an object, mantra, action, etc. – without interruption from unrelated thoughts or outside influences.  Eventually, as dhyana continues, we reach a state of oneness with the present moment – samadhi – in which it becomes almost effortless to maintain our initial focus.  In fact, we become so united in our focus that we are no longer even “focusing” actively; rather, we are essentially abiding in our unity with the point of focus.

OK.  So what in the world does this mean practically?  Do we have to be self-actualized and perfect at all the other limbs of yoga in order to reach a state of samadhi?

Fortunately, the answer is no.  Remember, each of the limbs of yoga are guideposts and ideals to strive toward.  We will never be able to perfectly embody the qualities of each limb all the time.  However, if we try to observe the habits and techniques presented, we can grow more united in body, mind, and spirit over time.

Back to samadhi – chances are, you experience brief states of samadhi in your everyday life without even realizing it.  Consider it a state of flow, of supreme presence in which you are hardly aware of anything else except what you’re doing.  If you’re an artist, it could be working on a sketch and becoming so engrossed in the shading that you don’t realize how much time has passed once you’ve reached a stopping point.  If you’re in a yoga class, it may mean getting so lost in a flow that you stay anchored in the moment, rather than worrying about how your Warrior II looks, or why you struggled so much in a pose today that was easy for your yesterday.

These moments may not sound like anything special, but if you’ve experienced anything like this, you may remember feeling a sense of freedom or even lightness.  And that’s not a joke – we literally feel lighter because we aren’t bogged down with the heaviness of extraneous thoughts that distract us from fully engaging with the present moment.  We are so united – physically, mentally, emotionally – with what is going on in the present moment, that we have no room for other thoughts.  Thus, we don’t overburden our brains with the task of engaging in several mental processes at once.  The result?  We have more energy, more focus, and more vitality to continue to engage in the task at hand.

The way to samadhi is 8-limbed path of yoga, which prepares our bodies and minds to disengage from outside distractions and focus on inner stillness instead.  By practicing each of the limbs over time, we experience states of samadhi more frequently.  Eventually, as we learn to let go of activities, thoughts, and influences that weigh us down, it becomes easier to focus on what actually matters and abide in the present moment with greater unity.

What are your thoughts on the 8 limbs of yoga?  Any questions?  Comments?  How have you seen these limbs in action in your own life?

 

 

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