Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c12.s3.t4.39

v2.c12.s3.t4.39

The *Yoga-sūtra* also discusses the means to attaining “Nirvikalpa Samadhi”. The author held that one must rely on confidence, stamina, introspective memory, concentration force and profound insight to reach this blessed state. In addition, “Nirvikalpa Samadhi” can also be achieved by the method of profound religious meditation upon the Supreme Lord. The Supreme Lord is that special person who is not affected by troubles, actions, developments or by subconscious motivations. “Of Him, the sacred syllable āum (Om) is the designation. That sound is repeated, murmured constantly for realising its meaning. As a result there is inwardness of the sense consciousness and the disappearance of obstacles to progress.” These obstacles are disease, idleness, doubt, inattentiveness, lack of energy and prone to sensuality, mistaken views, not being able to maintain the progress attained, unsteadiness in progression, scattered mental and emotional energy. Distress, depression, nervousness and laboured breathing are the symptoms of a distracted state of mind. For the removal of obstacles, there should be the practice of a standard method used in the pursuit of the reality (tattva). The abstract meditation resulting from the serenity of the mento-emotional energy comes about by friendliness, compassion, cheerfulness and non-responsiveness to happiness, distress, virtue and vice, or by regulating the exhalation and inhalation, or by fixing the mento-emotional energy on someone who is without craving; or by conduct *Dhyana* (meditation) on any random object.