Sutra 1.43
स्मृतिपरिशुद्धौ स्वरूपशून्येवार्थमात्रनिर्भासा निर्वितर्का॥४३॥
smṛti-pariśuddhau svarūpa-śūnyevārtha-mātra-nirbhāsā nirvitarkā
Translation:
- Upon the purification of memory, absorption without physical awareness occurs, as if empty of one’s own form they, they shine forth as the object alone. – CT
- When the memory is well purified, the knowledge of the object of concentration shines alone, devoid of the distinction of names and qualities. This is nirvitarkā samādhi without deliberation. – SS
- Nirvitarkā [samapatti], “absorption without conceptualization,” occurs when memory has been purged and the mind is empty, as it were, of its own [reflective] nature. now only the object [of meditation] shines forth [in its own right]. – EFB
Vocabulary:
Key Concepts:
(Sutra 17) 4 kinds of saṁprajñāta samādhi:
- savitarkā- absorption with physical awareness
- savicāra
- sa-ānanda
- sa-asmita
Savicāra this is the reflective stage of samapatti/stages of samadhi. Savicara is experienced once the memory has been purified. You could think of this purification as termination when all saṁskāras have been removed from the memory so that we no longer recognize the name or function of the object of meditation. Savicāra allows the object of meditation to be itself, to be of its own true nature and our mind to be colored exclusively by that nature. At this stage there is no cognitive analysis or mental dialoging, there is no urge to “identify” the object of meditation. The mind has surrendered its identification and job of being an organ of knowledge and can reflect clearly the object of meditation.
Practice
1. Sankalpa
2. Prayer Ritual
3. Asana:
Practice 5X Rounds
4. Mantra:
- Use your mantra.
- Say your mantra to yourself 5 times out loud.
- Say your mantra in a whisper 5 times.
- Say your mantra silently in your mind 5 times.
*When you catch your mind engaged in an activity that you find harmful, use your mantra to reset your mind.
5. Pranayama:
Kapalabhati
Kapalabhati is the skull shining breath or breath of fire. This increases ones energy and internal fire, boosting metabolism and digestive fire. It is considered a purification practice because of its powerful ability to clear the nadīs. It increases oxygen levels in the body and clears the mind as it send prāṇa up from the pelvic floor to the crown (skull shining)
- Start ujjayi, create a nice long breath, balancing the inhalation and exhalation.
- Visualize the space two fingers below your navel. If it is hard to visualize, touch the space between the navel and pupil bone.
- Let this place be where you initiate the breath.
- Take three large inhalations followed by exhalations out of the mouth.
- On the next breath, inhale half way.
- Focus only on the exhale, strongly pull the low belly in to exhale. Let the inhale be spontaneous.
- Do 40 to 50 pulses. Take a full inhale. Take a full exhale and engage mahabandha (see above), retaining the breath as long as is comfortable.
- Lift the chin. Inhale.
- Take a few normal breaths. Repeat for a total of 3 rounds.
- Sit for a few moments, allowing your body to breath naturally.
6. Meditation:
- Draw your attention into yourself. Removing your awareness of the objects of your senses.
- Focus your minds eye on your object of meditation .
- Practice for 10 to 20 minutes. (commit to a time and set a timer)
- When you feel your mind wander be so gentle in bringing it back. *Remember we are like infants in this journey. Treat yourself as you would your own child.
- End by touching your heart and repeating your name 3 times.
7. Reflection
Fix your mind on the image below but try not to dialogue about it in your mind.
- Have you ever had an experience “without though”? Where you experience something as itself?
- In the reflection exercise did you have any moments of experience without thought?
- If you did have thought, what were they about?
- Did you identify the image?If so what is it?
- How well do you feel Patanjali’s teaching on samādhi are making sense to you?
