What is Samadhi?
- Michelle Rae Sobi
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
For some it is bliss, others connection, some God.
Samadhi — The Eighth Limb of Yoga
(Lesson — Edge Yoga School Educational Library)
✨ Overview
Samadhi is the eighth and final limb of Patanjali’s Eight-Limbed Path — the culmination of a lifetime of practice, refinement, and surrender. Often translated as union, Samadhi represents a profound state of oneness where the practitioner feels fully merged with the divine, the universe, and all living beings.
Patanjali describes Samadhi as a state of ecstasy, not in an emotional sense, but as an elevated awareness beyond thought, ego, or sensory distraction. It is complete clarity, profound stillness, and expansive presence.
While rare and deeply personal, the teachings of Samadhi remind us that inner peace is not something earned through force — it is revealed when we soften, surrender, and align with our most authentic self.
📘 Define It
Samadhi (समाधि) comes from:
Sam – together, integrated
A – toward
Dhi – to put, to place, to hold
Together they suggest:“To fully place the mind into stillness.”
It is the final stage along the Eight Limbs, following:Yamas → Niyamas → Asana → Pranayama → Pratyahara → Dharana → Dhyana → Samadhi
Whereas Dharana is concentration and Dhyana is uninterrupted meditation,
Samadhi is when the meditator, the act of meditating, and the object of meditation become one.
The sense of “I” dissolves.Only pure awareness remains.
💛 What It Means to You
Samadhi is not something we strive for — it is something we allow.Many practitioners will experience fleeting glimpses of Samadhi rather than a permanent state. These small moments can feel like:
A deep sense of universal connection
A quiet inner voice speaking with clarity and truth
A sensation of bliss without cause
A feeling of dissolving into stillness
A moment where time feels suspended
When we touch into Samadhi, even briefly, we begin to understand our own heart.
Listening inward becomes easier. Compassion expands. Self-love becomes more natural. And in loving ourselves, we increase our capacity to love others.
Some lineages teach that Samadhi may occur many times in a lifetime. Others teach that full Samadhi is a final liberation achieved only at life’s end. With either view, the journey itself is deeply meaningful.
Applying Samadhi to Daily Life
Although most practitioners do not live in a constant state of Samadhi, we can cultivate conditions that invite glimpses of unity into everyday moments.
Consider integrating:
Meditation that emphasizes spacious awareness
Pratyahara practices that reduce sensory overwhelm
Dharana practices that strengthen mental focus
Acts of compassion toward self and others
Moments of stillness where nothing is required of you
Listening inward for guidance aligned with your values
Even a two-second moment of pure presence is a brush with Samadhi.
In teaching, remind students that Samadhi is not a performance goal.It is a natural blossoming when body, mind, and breath are aligned with truth, humility, and love.
🌟 Benefits of Exploring Samadhi Practices
While full Samadhi is rare, the pathway toward it brings profound benefits:
Increased clarity and inner peace
Deep trust in intuition
Reduced attachment to external outcomes
Expansion of compassion
Reduced stress and reactivity
A sense of being guided, not grasping
A more spacious relationship with thoughts and emotions
Ultimately, Samadhi is the remembrance that we are part of something larger — and that this connection has always been within us.
📘 Educational Note
This information is for education purposes only and always seek your medical team for physical and emotional support.
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