Samadhi a Final Step in the Hatha Yoga

It has already been mentioned that samadhi is the final step in the eight-fold path of yoga . Ordinary people are only familiar with the lower and middle states of consciousness: “unconsciousness, sub-consciousness, and consciousness”. Few are aware that mind can rise to the state of super-consciousness known as samadhi.

Samadhi is beyond reason, beyond the intellect and beyond the workings of mind. It is a question of practice, not theory, and therefore it is impossible to philosophize on the subject. However, the reality and existence of this state, which is scientifically attainable through kriya yoga, has produced spiritual masters, saints and prophets throughout every age: and their experience of super-consciousness are the foundations upon which the major religions of the world are built.

Once the yogic practitioner has attained samadhi, the mind remains fully awake through untouched by the mental tiredness, which afflicts the ordinary person. Although the body is a physical tool, which requires a certain amount of rest, when the yogi sleeps there is no descent into the unconscious sate. Instead, the human body is forgotten and he enters his astral body.

First, there issahaja samadhi, followed by the deepersavikalpa samadhi. This state of deep meditation can be called ‘conscious death’ or the ‘deathless state’, because the heartbeat stops completely and the body’s cells neither increase nor decay. The need to breathe externally ceases spontaneously in the state of nirvikalpa samadhi (also known as kevala kumbhaka in kriya yoga).

The yogi who has overcome death itself in samadhi can consciously determine the day when he will leave his body. After taking final Mahasamadhi he will not come back to earth, for the specific purpose for which he came to the world will have been fulfilled. He is no longer tied to the chain of rebirth, having attained the highest level of consciousness possible, leading to the merging with the Absolute, and perfection in all of the eight siddhis.

Kutastha

Kutastha is the place of spiritual perception located between the eyebrows of every human being, directly opposite the sixth chakra (ajna chakra). It is also referred to as the Third Eye, the Eye of Wisdom, and the Transcendental Eye. As a symbolic reminder of this place it is customary for Indian women to wear abindion the forehead. When a Brahmin priest performs puja, he strokes red powder onto the eyebrow center of the person he is blessing, calledtilak.

Kutastha is within the grasp of every human being, but for the ordinary person who is unaware of its existence, reality is entirely external. There is only darkness behind closed eyes. At the time of initiation, kutastha is revealed to the initiate by the self-realized Guru, and this ‘awakening’ remains with the initiate permanently. However, without practice, kutastha is like a sun covered by dark clouds, which can only be cleared through personal effort. The inner light to be seen in kutastha is also the destroyer of death, and kriya practice erases the fear of death day by day even for the beginner.Thank you for reading my article, I love to hear any ones opinion or suggestions. Good luck to everyone.