Dhyana and Samadhi

3.2: One-pointed steadfastness of the mind is dhyana (meditation).

Like dharana, dhyana is steady concentration, but dhyana is a continuous focus of attention to an object, quality or state, rather than intermittent. More importantly, in dhyana the object is irrelevant; the state of unchanging, undisturbed calm can be applied to any object, quality or action. Becoming established in dhyana is the natural result of steady practice of dharana.

The state of dhyana is no longer concerned with the contents of awareness, but resolves the artificial duality between intelligent consciousness and the objects of perception. The appearance is looked upon by the impartial witness.

3.3: In meditation the true nature (svarupa) of the object shines forth, not distorted by the mind. That is samadhi.

In this description of Astanga (8-limbs) Yoga we have been given several practices—asana, pranayama, pratyahara, etc.—but samadhi is not a practice. It is a shift in identity from the ephemeral corporeal self to the conscious indweller. When “that which is looking” sees the appearance, it appears in its true nature (svarupa) undistorted by thought, feeling or personal history. The shift to the witnessing Self is persistent; avidya, ego, attachment, aversion and fear have burned away in sadhana.

Samadhi does not mean withdrawing from the world; it only means that we see clearly that which is, just as it is, without distortion from the mind. Because of the inner fulfillment in the blissful state we are no longer needy of things from the world—materially, emotionally or spiritually. We are finished with the wheel of karma as all our actions are performed without motive. We are happy and content, just being.