6 Types of Samadhi

The highest fruit that is to be attained in this human birth is liberation. According to the great masters of our holy land, this liberation can be verily had here in this world. The state where one is liberated even when the body continues to exist is called jeevanmukthi. A jeevanmuktha is said to be in a state called sahaja samadhi. It is a state of uninterrupted awareness of the soul as the self- absolute.

How is this state reached?  Sri Shankara bhagavathpada in his work called the Drik-Drishya vivekam describes six types of samadhis, here, meditational techniques, which finally lead to the sahaja state.

Upekshya naamaroope dve sacchidaanandatatpara:    |

Samaadhim sarvadaa kuryaath hrudaye athavaa bahi:  || ( drik drishya viveka-22)

One who is a seeker of truth must constantly practice these meditations both within and without by setting aside the various names and forms.

Savikalpo nirvikalpo samaadhi: dvividho hrudi   |

Drushya-shabdaanuvedena savikalpa: punardvidhaa||

The meditational practice done within is classified as savikalpa and nirvikalpa samaadhai. Further savikalpa is divided as drushyaanuvidhdha and shabdaanuvudhdha savikalpa samaadhi.

There are 3 types of meditation done within the heart . They are

1. aanthara drushyaanuvidhdha savikalpa samadhi – in this practice, the soul is meditated upon as pure consciousness merely as a witness to all the thoughts like desires etc arising in the mind.

2. aantara shabdaanuvidhdha savikalpa samadhi– in this , the soul is meditated upon as  unattached self-effulgent non-dual existence, knowledge and bliss ( sachchidananda)

3. aantara nirvikalpa samadhi– like a flame in a place free from wind, when there is total absorption in the self having ignored both objects and words, it is nirvikalpa samadhi within.

Similarly, three types of samadhi or meditational practice is also described to be practiced in the external world.

1. baahya drushyaanuvidhdha savikalpa samadhi – a practice where all the objects are viewed pushing aside their names and forms.

2. baahya sabdaanuvudhdha savikalpa samadhi – the external world is uninterruptedly contemplated  as undivided and single  essence in reality, of the nature of sat-chith- Ananda.

3. baahya nirvikalpa samadhi –  this is total stillness like the ocean, due to experience of bliss.

Engaging in practice of  these six types of samadhis, ie, meditational techniques gradually leads to the state of sahaja samadhi.