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DHYANA AND SAMADHI IN PANTANJALI YOGA DARSHAN
physical world and wants to possess it and enjoy it. In this process, we fail to recognize and realize our true self. To restrain this fickleness of mind and realize the self is the main aim of Yoga.
There are two means to attain the objective (1) ‘Abhyaasa' or Practice and (2) 'Vairaagya' or Renunciation. Efforts made to restrain mind from being erratic and fickle is ‘Practice and if sustained efforts are made over a long period of time with steadfastness and full faith, it results in perfection. To develop a state of mind where it stops craving for the subjects seen and heard is ‘Vairagya’ or renunciatin. Total absence of craving in all the subjects of nature, whether of higher echelon or of the lower rung is called “Par or Param Vairagya' or 'highest form of renunciation'. Once one has reached this stage of total and highest level of renunciation, one gets 'Sampragyaat Samaadhi' or 'peace and later ‘Asampragyaata Samadhilo? or 'eternal peace which is also the stage of ‘Kaivalya' or 'Enlightenment'.
There are two ways to attain this state. Some people practiced yoga in previous life and just before reaching the ultimate state died and then in their new birth remember their old practices and impressions which lead to attainment of enlightenment with normal effort in a short time. This is called ‘Bhavapratypaya Samadhi or incarnation related enlightenment. Those who are not fortunate to get this type of enlightenment have to make prolonged effort to attain it and that is called 'Upaayajanya Samadhi or enlightenment achieved through effort. Such aspirants attain the goal with the help of faith, capability, peace and wisdom respectively. Achievement depends on the quantum and quality of effort. With greater dynamism and ardent efforts one realizes the goal at the earliest.
Attaining Peace
According to Patanjali, the easiest way to attain peace is belief and devotion to God. Who is God? That who is free from doing anything, desiring anything, full of glory, best among all and omniscient is God and devotion to Him leads to realizing one's own real self. Devotion and total surrender is the essence leading to annihilation of ego and that is the secret of attaining peace.
Second method of attaining peace is to remove defilements of mind which is full of craving, aversion, hatred, jealousy and anger. By extending friendship to the happy, kindness to the suffering, happiness in the presence of the holy and indifference towards sinning can help us remove the defilements and make our mind stable and innocent. 108
