The Journey Inward: From Focus to Being
A Study of Samadhi from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras (1.17, 1.41–1.51)
Samadhi is the eighth limb of the eight limbs of yoga. Rather than thinking about it as a destination. Think about it as a state of profound absorption in which the boundary between the observer and what is observed dissolves. Patanjali describes it as arriving, not achieving.
1. Two Ways of Experiencing Bliss
Yoga is the stilling of the mind's fluctuations. Patanjali categorizes our deep states of presence into two distinct phases:
With a Seed (Samprajnata / Sabija)
The Experience: Active, one-pointed focus.
The State: The mind is completely still but remains anchored to an object of concentration (the "seed").
In Daily Life: Being deeply "in the zone" while painting, listening to music, or studying.
Seedless (Asamprajnata / Nirbija)
The Experience: Pure, effortless being.
The State: All mental labels, thoughts, and objects dissolve. There is no longer a distinction between you and the universe.
In Daily Life: The absolute, timeless stillness right before you fall asleep, or a sudden flash of profound inner peace.
2. The Clear Crystal Mind (Sutra 1.41)
"When the mind’s waves become perfectly still, it becomes like a clear crystal. Whatever object you place next to it, the crystal reflects it perfectly."
When your mind is quiet, you stop projecting your past worries, judgments, and stories onto reality. You see things exactly as they are. Section 3 is how to get to the clear crystal mind
3. The Four Stages of Meditative Absorption (Sutras 1.42 – 1.45)
To reach pure being, we must systematically move our focus from the outside world to the inside world. We do this by navigating gross (physical) and subtle (energetic) objects.
The Physical (Gross Objects)
With Reasoning (Savitarka): Focusing on a physical object (like a pose or a sound) while your analytical mind is still actively labeling and thinking about it.
Without Reasoning (Nirvitarka): Focusing on that same physical object, but the mental chatter drops away. You experience its physical presence directly.
The Energetic (Subtle Objects)
With Reflection (Savichara): Shifting focus inward to subtle objects (like your breath, chakras, or energy), accompanied by a gentle stream of internal reflection.
Without Reflection (Nirvichara): Resting in that subtle space where all internal reflection stops. The concepts of time and space fade, and only the pure essence of existence shines forth.
Why This Matters Off the Mat
You have touched these states. The moment you were so absorbed in something that time disappeared: that is a brush with samadhi. The moments of unexpected peace, the sudden quiet after chaos, the feeling of being completely present with another person. Yoga gives you a map for what was already happening.
The practice is not to chase samadhi. The practice is to remove the obstacles that prevent you from recognizing it when it is already here.
Want to go deeper? Visit denveryogasummit.com/ for more on practicing this live in person with us in September at the Denver Yoga Summit, Colorado’s premier yoga festival.