Samadhi explained by Yoga Sutras #1.17-1.18"Return to Yoga Sutras of Patañjali #1.12-1.16" Samadhi explained by the Yoga Sutras of Patañjali below: Samprajnata Samadhi according to Yoga Sutra #1.17:Vitarka vichara ananda asmita rupa anugamat samprajnatah: Samprajnata Samadhi (deep concentration with concept/object in the field of awareness) consists of four kinds: 1)Gross (vitarka); 2)Subtle (vichara); 3)Bliss (ananda); 4)I-am-ness (asmita).This defines a state of deep meditation on content: The content can be anything; from an external object to an idea of the mind, but as long as there is active content, and consciousness is absorbed in that content, we call it Samprajnata Samadhi: Meditation (or absorption) with content. According to Patañjali, this form of meditation or absorption (with content) consists of 4 levels. These are: 1: The gross (savitarka): This is the most dense, or solid level of meditation. It consists of meditation on physical objects (matter); sense perceptions; mental visualizations; gross mental activity/stream of thoughts; physical breath, among other similar content. 2: The subtle (savichara): This is a more subtle level of content and meditation. This level consists of meditation on the more subtle levels of matter/objects; energies; fundamentals of the mind; qualities, like: non-attachment. 3: The Bliss (ananda): This is an even subtler level of reality and meditation. It consists of meditation beyond the gross and subtle levels of the mind. In this state there is bliss accompanying the meditator. 4: I-am-ness (asmita): This level is one of the subtlest states of meditation as its focus is on the core of the individual; the I behind all experiences. The mantra related to this state is: "I am". The above sutra defines and sums up the whole process or levels of the concentration meditations. The other type of meditation is the mindless meditation, or the meditation without content, which will be defined in the upcoming sutra. Also see: Two forms of Meditation for more explanation on the two primary forms of meditation. Asamprajnata Samadhi according to Yoga Sutra #1.18:Virama pratyaya abhyasa purvah samskara shesha anyah: Asamprajnata Samadhi is the other form of deep concentration in which there is no content in the field of consciousness; only the latent impressions remain.Asamprajnata samadhi is a form of deep meditation without content: In the previous Yoga Sutra of Patañjali he defined the types of meditation-states that fall under the 'concentration upon content' form and in this sutra he defines that there is a form of meditation that is without active content. This is the state that comes in between every of the above mentioned four states. Like a person entering an elevator: Let's say you are meditating on a Lotus Flower. The physical level of the flower is represented by the first floor of a building with in total 4 floors and a roof. What happens when you start meditating on the physical level of the flower and you enter Samadhi (a state of total absorption, deep concentration without fluctuation) you are discovering the first floor of this building. You are enjoying the smell maybe, experiencing and sensing the leaves, you are completely absorbed by the flower without disturbance, without any change in the mind, only the presence of the flower shining motionless in your mind. After you are ready to let go of/pierce through this level and go beyond, you step into the elevator and enter Asamprajnata Concentration (meditation without content). This stepping into the elevator represents residing in your deep and contentless Self, without content or objects in your awareness, just nothingness. What happens when you enter this state is that your consciousness, the elevator, starts rising to the second floor. Then you enter a whole new level of reality, of the flower in this case. It get's more subtle everytime you come out of asamprajnata samadhi and enter the new floor. The higher the floor, the subtler the nature of your concentration and the level of the object on which you are concentrated. This goes on up to the fourth level. After this level, there is no deeper level to the objects/concepts of your focus. There remains only one level, which could be considered the roof of the building. It is free from walls, it has the highest view on the environment, no limits to its space, etc. It is the final level of meditation and it is an absolute state called in Yogic/Sanskrit terminology: Dharma-Megha-Samadhi: Return from Samadhi Sutras #1.17-1.18 to Yoga Sutras of Patañjali
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