The same Sanyasi visitor, Swami Lokesananda, asked about .
M.: (1) Holding on to Reality is .
(2) Holding on to Reality with effort is savikalpa samādhi.
(3) Merging in Reality and remaining unaware of the world is nirvikalpa samādhi.
(4) Merging in Ignorance and remaining unaware of the world is sleep. (Head bends but not in ).
(5) Remaining in the primal, pure natural state without effort is Sahaja Nirvikalpa Samādhi.
They can be further subdivided thus:
| SAVIKALPA SAMADHI | NIRVIKALPA SAMADHI | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| (Bāhya)External | (Antar)Internal | (Bāhya)External | (Antar)Internal |
| (Drisyānuvidha)The mind jumps from one object to another. Keep it steady, fixed on the Reality behind them. | The mind is afflicted by Kama, Krodha, etc. See wherefrom they arise and how they have their being. Hold on to their source. | Merging in the one Reality underlying all the phenomena and remaining unaware of the transitory manifestations.This state is compared to the waveless ocean whose waters are still and placid. | Merging in the Inmost Being which is the One Reality giving rise to all thoughts, etc., and remaining unaware of anything else.This state is compared to a flame unagitated by current of air, but burning quite steady. |
| (Sabdānuvidha)There are the external phenomena which are said to have their origin from the Single Reality. Search for It and hold on to It. | There are all manner of thoughts which rise up from the Reality within and manifest themselves. Hold on to that Reality. | ||
| All these four kinds of Savikalpa Samādhi are attended with effort. | When these kinds of Nirvikalpa Samādhi are not attended with effort and it is realised that the waveless ocean of external samādhi and the steady flame of internal samādhi are identical, the state is said to be Sahaja Nirvikalpa Samādhi. | ||
D.: It is said that one remaining in Nirvikalpa Samadhi for 21 days must necessarily give up the physical body.
M.: Samadhi means passing beyond (“I am the body idea”) and non-identification of the body with the Self is a foregone conclusion.
There are said to be persons who have been immersed in Nirvikalpa Samadhi for a thousand years or more.