Sutra 1.18
विरामप्रत्ययाभ्यासपूर्वः संस्कारशेषोऽन्यः॥१८॥
virāma-pratyayābhyāsa-pūrvaḥ saṃskāra-śeṣo'nyaḥ
Translation:
- The cessation of mental activities through diligent practice where only previous impressions remain is the other samadhi, asamprajnata samadhi. -CT
- By the firmly convinced practice of the complete cessation of the mental modifications, the impressions only remain.This is the other samadhi, asamprajnata samadhi. – SS
- The other samadhi, asamprajnata-samadhi, is preceded by cultivating the determination to terminate all thoughts. In this state only latent impressions remain. – EBF
Vocabulary:
anya—other
pūrva—preceded, before
abhyāsa—repetition, practice
virāma—quietude, termination, cessation
pratyayas—cognitions, ideas, notions, thoughts
saṃskāras—latent tendencies, deep habitual patterns, mental impressions
śeṣa—remainder
Key Concepts:
This other form of samadhi is one without supports, without the use of the mind or objects of concentration and absorption.
The last sutra described samprajnata samadhi and its four stages, that all require the citta, use of the heart-mind field of consciousness.
Asamprajnata samadhi is beyond mind, beyond citta. This is a state that transcends words and thoughts, conceptualizations and descriptions. In this state, the mind is not supported by any thought and is instead absorbed with Purusa.
In this state, even latent samskaras are not active, and new samskaras are not being produced. This is the ultimate state in Yoga or of Yoga. The cycle of karma is stopped due to the inactivity of samskaras, the cycle of birth and death or action and reaction has been ceased.
In this state, there exists no object of identification and for the first time, the self-identifies with pure consciousness.
The soul is eternal. The soul remains unchanged. The object of the soul’s perception is all that changes. It’s only changing quality is its awareness, self-awareness or object awareness. When all of the objects of awareness have been dissolved into one’s self-nothing remains but self-awareness. When the yogin has reabsorbed the fractured pieces of its experience back into itself this is Self-awareness.
The last thought experience by the yogin is the thought of having no thought, but this too must be transcended to reach asamprajnata samadhi.
You reap what you sow.
When we have a thought or idea it creates a samskara, a karmic seed. When the environment is right the seed sprouts, creating an experience in our life. We respond to the experience through our thoughts and actions thus creating another seed.
All thoughts and actions create seeds. Seeds can be tamasic, rajasic, or sattvic. This means even when we are acting in our highest form we are creating seeds, seeds of the highest form no doubt!
The goal of Yoga is to stop the cycle of creating new seeds and that is precisely what we are doing in asamprajnata samadhi.
We do this gradually first by learning how to cultivate the seeds that we want to grow. That is what we learn from the practice of the psychosomatic techniques done in Yoga.
Through self-evaluation and reflection, we learn what seeds are latent and active in our citta now. We learn what environment sprouts both positively and negatively interpreted seeds.
Once we become master gardeners we can start to control what seeds we grow. With this control, one learns how to burn up all of the seeds housed in the citta, and how to keep from creating new seeds.
This is not a process that can just be intellectualized, it must be embodied. Yoga is about intention and once we are aware of our own higher purpose we must act on it. Seeds are not just planted when we act when we should be still but also when we don’t act when the moment calls for action.
“True attainment requires preparing the ground, nourishing the soil, and tilling it; watering the seed so that it gestates, so that it sprouts and puts down roots; and them making sure the shoot receives enough sunlight so that it will grow. Then we can take nourishment. Then there’s new life.” – Swami Shantananda, The Splendor of Recognition
Plant the seeds you want through Mantra!
- OM or AUM
- I am love.
- I am abundant.
- I am truth.
- Everything is as it should be.
- I determine my own experience.
Sanskrit Mantras
ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय ।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ।
ॐ शांतिः शांतिः शांतिः ॥
लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो मवन्तु ॥
Lokāḥ Samastaḥ Sukhino Bhavantu॥
May all beings everywhere attain happiness and freedom.
Oṁ Asato Mā Sad Gamaya
Tamaso Mā Jyotir Gamaya
Mṛtyur Ma Amṛtam Gamaya
Oṁ Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ
Lead me from the unreal to the real
From darkness to the light
From mortality to immorality
Om Peace Peace Peace
Practice
Watch for changes in the Pranayama/Meditation Section of Practice!
Prayer:
Guide me to that which is in my highest good. Help me to distinguish what nourishes my soul and what deteriorates my being. Lead me down the path of wisdom so that I may show up fully in each moment. Let my study be enlightening and fruitful. Allow my practice to benefit all beings. – Namaste
Asana:
Practice 5X Rounds. Do more if you like.
Belly Breathing
- Lie on you back, with your knees bent and heels close to the hips.
- Place your palms on your belly between the navel and bottom ribs with the tips of the middle fingers touching.
- Start Ujjayi Pranayama.
- Start to breath deep into the belly. Let the tips of the fingers move apart on inhalation. Hold the breath comfortably.
- Exhale completely, let the finger tips come back together. Pause, hold the breath comfortably.
- Continue for 5 Minutes.
Yoga Nidra
Get comfortable in Savasana and listen to the Yoga Nidra audio file. You can practice Yoga Nidra anytime that you feel tired and need a quick recharge or when you want to relax, like before bed.
Reflections
Choose another object to reflect upon. It could be one of the five elements, a specific object like a candle, or an abstract object like love. Spend 5 minutes reflecting, use a piece of paper if that is better for you.
- Am I able to keep my mind trained on the object I choose to reflect on?
- How do I understand samskaras?
- How is my mantra practice going?
What does this remind me of? Other stories, scriptures, or teachings.