Brahmanubhuti – Talk 20
(Nirvikalpa Samadhi)
Let us understand the Yogic process of attaining Nirvikalpa Samadhi and Vedantic process of attaining Brahmanubhuti.
Yogis have the Nirvikalpa Samadhi as the highest. That is a state of liberation called ‘Kaivalya’ – ‘Kevala’. Sri Shankara does not agree with this. The Nirvikalpa Samadhi and Brahmanubhuti have some similarities, but they are different. The process of Yoga tries to master the mind, control the mind, make the mind subtle and dissolve the mind. It is called ‘Manolaya’. He says, the mind cannot be fully controlled; it is like catching hold of wind. The dissolution of the mind is not what is required for realization. Dissolution of the mind or Manolaya is harmful. That is why Sri Shankara advises all Vedantic Sadhakas saying ‘Don’t try to get into Nirvikalpa Samadhi.’
In the state of Nirvikalpa Samadhi, as yogis say, there is no Awareness of the other, there is no Awareness of the Self, there is no inner or outer Awareness. It is an indeterminate state. Sometimes the breath may stop, sometimes the heart beat may stop, and pulse may stop; when a yogi enters into a state of Nirvikalpa Samadhi. The mind has gone into a ‘laya’ or suppressed state. Sri Shankara says, ‘This is not realization’. In fact, the bliss obtained from the practice of Nirvikalpa Samadhi is a block in the path of realization – A block in the path of Self realization.
(Nirvikalpa Samadhi & Brahmanubhuti)
In ‘Samadhi’, ‘Dhi’ means Buddhi, the intellect. Intellect has to be balanced. Intellect is the master of the mind; and the intellect has to be active and balanced for attaining Samadhi. In Atmanubhuti or Brahmanubhuti, there is discrimination between the Self and non-Self – Atma and Anatma. There is discrimination between what is temporary and permanent – Nitya and Anitya. Based on the process of ‘Neti, neti, neti’, you are discarding what is not eternal, what is temporary, what is Mithya. In the process the mind becomes deeply silent, because the mind has nothing but thoughts and objects; and, the thoughts and objects which are Mithya are rejected. Mind is reflecting the objects. If the objects are there, the mind is reflecting the objects; if there are no objects, the mind doesn’t reflect anything. The presence of the mind is felt only when the objects are reflected. So, when the objects are discarded through proper discrimination, the mind becomes tranquil – it doesn’t get suppressed. The tranquil mind becomes one with the Self, Atma, or Brahman. So, in the mind, there is full Awareness, but there is complete tranquility – the silence. The silence is not forced, silence is through discrimination.
(Yoga Philosophy)
Sri Shankara doesn’t agree with the Yoga philosophy. Yoga philosophy says, ‘The Self identifies with the mind, mind is from Prakruti – nature; because of the modification of the mind, the Self identifies with that, and when mind goes through turmoil, the Self also goes through turmoil.’ That is why Yoga says, ‘Chitta Vrutti Nirodaha’ – ‘make the mind silent’. Then, the Self will become free from that. Sri Shankara says that this is not a permanent state, because again the disturbance will come in the mind and again the Self will get attached to that. As per Shankara, the mind has no real existence at all – mind is Mithya. It is an appearance in the Self. Like how a snake is experienced in the rope, the mind is experienced in Atma because of ignorance – Avidya. The moment Avidya goes; the mind is experienced as no different from Atma, or Brahman. It is because of the ignorance that the mind is felt as a separate entity appearing in the Self. Mind has no real, separate existence at all. The moment ignorance goes; mind becomes one with the Atma, or Brahman. This is the state of realization.
(Nidhidhyasa)
So, the state of Nirvikalpa Samadhi in Yoga, and the state of Brahmanubhuti or Brahman realization are not the same. Kaivalya Jnana and Brahma Jnana are not the same. That is why Sri Shankara advises people not to go into the experience of Nirvikalpa Samadhi. Rather, through proper Jnana and discrimination, attain the tranquility of the mind; through contemplation and Nidhidhyasa realize the Brahman – Brahmanubhuti. Don’t attempt suppressing the mind – Manolaya. Look for Manonasha, or destruction of the ignorance of the mind. That is the way.
(Brahma Jnana)
In Yoga, there is no concept of the Self merging with Ishwara; or Atma merging with Brahman, or Ishwara. Shankara doesn’t agree with that. Shankara says, ‘Atma is Brahma’. So, there is a difference in the philosophy of Yoga and Vedanta. Kevala Jnana obtained through Yoga is not the same as Brahma Jnana. So, Brahma Jnana is proper – obtained through proper discrimination, in a state of mind which is full of Awareness, but tranquil; not in a suppressed state of mind. Hence, don’t confuse the Nirvikalpa Samadhi with Brahmanubhuti.
Pranams