Cultivating the Inner Light of Yoga
Five Stages of Samadhi
A workshop in Two Parts
Guy Donahaye
Long weekend December 22-24
Part II – Subtle Samadhi, Samadhi of Bliss and Identity
We are happy and excited to invite you to go on a weekend journey with us full of asana practice, meditation and philosophy with Guy Donahaye. Guy, a teacher with more than 30 years of experience in teaching yoga, started his journey with Patabi Joyce, the developer of Ashtanga, at his small shala, continued to other worlds, taught for 25 years in his shala in New York, day by day, a dedicated Mysore practice and now he is joining us again, for a long weekend workshop. The amount of knowledge Guy has accumulated over the years is amazing and he came to share his wisdom and understanding with us.
The weekend includes two Mysore practices and three workshops, it is recommended to attend all 3 workshops as this is a process and they do rely on previous workshops to some extent:
Thursday 22.12 – Mysore practice 8-10
Thursday 22.12 – vichara – workshop – – 12-15
Friday 23.12 – ananda – workshop – 13-16
Saturday 24.12 – Mysore practice 9-11
Saturday 24.12 – asmita – workshop – 12-15
The four levels of samprajnata samadhi are vitarka (with thoughts), vichara (with analysis), ananda (on bliss) and asmita (on identity). Beyond these is a fifth stage known as asamprajnata samadhi.
वितर्कविचारानन्दास्मितारूपानुगमात्संप्रज्ञातः ॥ १७॥1.17 vitarka-vicārānandāsmitā-rūpānugamāt-saṃprajñātaḥ
विरामप्रत्ययाभ्यासपूर्वः संस्कारशेषोऽन्यः ॥ १८॥1.18 virāma-pratyayābhyāsa-pūrvaḥ saṃskāra-śeṣo’nyaḥ
The fifth level is the ultimate stage of yoga as expressed in Patanjali’s definition:
योगश्चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः ॥ २॥1.2 yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ
तदा द्रष्टुः स्वरूपेऽवस्थानम् ॥ ३॥1.3 tadā draṣṭuḥ svarūpe’vasthānam
When the vrittis (thoughts) have been completely eliminated, then the seer is experienced as it truly is, while when there are vrittis, the seer appears to be merged with the mind.
वृत्तिसारूप्यमितरत्र ॥ ४॥1.4 vṛtti-sārūpyam itaratra
In the first workshop, we explored the first level – vitarka – “with thoughts” in this second workshop we will start by exploring vichara – samadhi of the subtle level. The subtle level pertains to the mind and the prana. Prana means energy but also breath. Prana is the vehicle for the mind and also the controller of the physical body. Because prana is associated with breathing, pranayama is the key to enter this level.
On the second day we will focus on ananda samadhi. Ananda means bliss. When the sense organs become introverted through the practice of pratyahara, the resulting feeling in the mind is one of bliss. It is said that the pleasure experienced when the senses stop their craving for experience is far greater than any pleasure attainable through the senses. This then becomes the focus of absorption.
On the third day, the focus will be asmita – identity. Once the feeling of bliss has been experienced, the question then arises: who is experiencing this? The meditation shifts to the knower or experiencer, the feeling of I am. However, this knower is not yet the true Self. It is the mind as it is shaped by the experience of the Self. Consciousness and mind are two separate phenomena. In our normal state, we can only experience through the mind. The sense of identity is still a thought at this stage, even in asmita samadhi.
Once asmita samadhi has been established, the mind finds total rest. If there is complete detachment at this stage, the mind ceases all modifications and becomes inert. Then the highest level of samadhi can be reached – the experience of asamprajnata samadhi. This highest level is consciousness in isolation from mind. The resulting feelings are sat, chit ananda – truth, consciousness and bliss.
Can we actually go through this journey as it is described? We can catch a glimpse. Through the guidance of sacred texts and practices, we can have temporary experiences. These can be gradually expanded. Gathering together with others in meditation gives a great deal of support. Common intention strengthens our capacities to experience in depth. With the confidence that this experience gives, we can get motivation to continue our meditations.
Samadhi is a natural phenomenon. It is the birthright of every human being. It is the purpose of life. It is the one fundamental desire that everyone has, that gets perverted or diverted through material and sensual desires. It is the one path to true health and happiness and the cultivation of the inner light.
The workshop will be a combination of practice, theory and discussion. With a foundation in asana practice, pranayama, pratyahara and meditation, the sharing of sacred texts and question and answer.
Single workshop/Mysore 300₪/150₪