Dear reader, before you start reading this article, you may want to read this article first: The Eight Limbs of Yoga

Nirvikalpa Samadhi:

With this union with Universe consciousness, the soul now knows itself not through the mind, but through itself. The soul is now beyond mind. He experiences Being Universe consciousness all the time through his intuition. This self-knowledge of the soul is Self-realisation, which does not come and go. It is permanent. He is enlightened forever. He has at last broken the veil of ignorance—Maya is finally defeated. There are now no limits! This state of God-consciousness/Universe consciousness is infinite and characterised by understanding, love and happiness. He has entered Eternity!

Now there are no more thoughts or ideas. There is only peace and bliss. The knower and the known (soul or atman) have become one. This divine bliss is all pervading. This is the highest samadhi and can be achieved only after self- realisation (identified with the soul). The yogin has merged with Reality or his soul and is completely unaware of the external world. The mind is immersed into the light of the Self. It is compared to a flame that burns quiet and steady, unaffected by the external breeze. With or without the help of a perfect master, the sadhak has entered spontaneously into Nirvikalpa, after experiencing Nirvana. He can achieve that only after he has relinquished his sanskaric ties and worldly interests. He has already given up all his worldly fetters. There are now no obstacles to overcome or objects to achieve and therefore no effort is needed. The transition is very spontaneous. His individual mind has been annihilated and his consciousness has now merged with the Absolute. He has attained final emancipation through breaking the veils of Maya. He is now a Siddha (God-realised being/Universe consciousness) himself. However, once he comes out of this Nirvikalpa State, the movement of the body, his perceptions including sight and sound, and the arising of the mind will bring him back to the phenomenal world. This Nirvikalpa Samadhi State is said to have a limit of 21 days, but actually there is no time limit. After returning to normal consciousness he has to relearn the ways of the world again. At first, the Siddha forgets his name and age, after returning to normal consciousness. He really does not want to come back to the world at all. But some are given the grace to come back—primarily to teach or to lead.

When the kundalini reaches the seventh or crown chakra, we experience the third member of the Trinity – God the Father or Brahman – often as a light transcending creation. This experience is known as Kevalya Nirvikalpa Samadhi or Brahmajnana [God Realization], samadhi without form. It  brings with it a temporary heart opening after which the heart closes again. Kevala Nirvikalpa [Samadhi], which is temporary, while the Samadhi lasts.

In Kevalya, the heart (the hridayam or spiritual heart, rather than the heart chakra) opens temporarily but in Sahaja (see bellow) the heart opens permanently.

[The] Heart is the seat of Jnanam [wisdom] as well as of the granthi (knot of ignorance). It is represented in the physical body by a hole smaller than the smallest pin-point, which is always shut. When the mind drops down in Kevalya Nirvikalpa [Samadhi], it opens but shuts again after it.

[The hole called the Heart as a small as a pinpoint] is always shut, being the knot of ignorance which ties the body to consciousness.

When the mind drops in the temporary Kevala Nirvikalpa it opens but shuts again. In Sahaja it remains always open.

In Kevala Nirvikalpa Samadhi one is not free from vasanas and does not, therefore, attain Mukti.

Only after the samskaras have been destroyed can one attain salvation. Even though one practices Kevala Nirvikalpa Samadhi for years together, if one has not rooted out the vasanas, he will not attain salvation.

Kevalya can be compared to a glimpse of the Self, whereas Sahaja is a permanent and natural state of Self-Realization.

By repeated practice one can become accustomed to turning inwards and finding the Self. One must always and constantly make an effort, until one has permanently realized. Once the effort ceases, the state becomes natural and the Supreme takes possession of the person with an unbroken current. Until it has become permanently natural and your habitual state, know that you have not realized the Self, only glimpsed it.

When the Self is glimpsed in Kevalya, it is a prelude to [Self-Realization]: when it becomes permanent Sahaja, it is Self-Realization, Liberation.

– Sri Ramana Maharsi

Sahaja (Nirvikalpa) Samadhi:

This is the highest consciousness. It is divinity in action and is experienced only by the Sadguru. It is preceded by Nirvana and Nirvikalpa Samadhi. This state is beyond mind as consciousness is entirely withdrawn from physical forms, subtle forms and the formless realms. There is no thought except the ‘I am’ consciousness. He is already in the Ultimate State of Consciousness all the time. And yet the yogin is still working in the gross physical world at the same time. He uses the body, emotions and mind as instruments, but there is no identification with them. Throughout his waking hours he is a Siddha in Nirvikalpa Samadhi.  He has transcended the three instruments and is totally absorbed in Universe consciousness. He is in Nirvana and the experience of the world leaves him uninvolved. He is now God-conscious/Universe consciousness and has no individuality. When in this state of Nirvana he is experiencing unlimited individuality. The yogin has already realised his soul and is with Reality throughout the remainder of his life. He is able to use his body-mind organism in the worldly activities. Externally, he is like any ordinary man, but internally, he is with the Absolute. The thinking mind is dead and he is immersed into the Self throughout. It is now only impersonal Consciousness that is acting out the remaining portion of his life. It is like a river discharging into the ocean and its identity is lost. He remains in this state of bliss and happiness without effort. He only uses the working (not the thinking) mind. Out of the not too many Siddhas, very, very few of them may descend down from the 7th plane of consciousness after achieving Sahaja Samadhi. These very few Sadgurus become Avatars. Here they live a life of Universe consciousness and experience God/Universe consciousness everywhere. The small and menial jobs that they perform are never too little for them.

The Sahaja Nirvikalpa [Samadhi] is permanent and in it lies liberation from rebirths.

In Kevalya, the heart (the hridayam or spiritual heart, rather than the heart chakra) opens temporarily but in Sahaja the heart opens permanently.

When Sahaja [Nirvikalpa Samadhi] is attained it opens for good.

When the mind drops in the temporary Kevala Nirvikalpa it opens but shuts again. In Sahaja it remains always open.

Some vasanas remain even after Sahaja and Mukti, but these are vasanas of enjoyment rather than of bondage. The sage having attained Sahaja enjoys these without attachment and so is not bound by them.

Vasanas which do not obstruct Self-Realization remain [after Self-Realization]. In Yoga Vasistha two classes of vasanas are distinguished: those of enjoyment and those of bondage. The former remain even after Mukti is attained, but the latter are destroyed by it. Attachment is the cause of binding vasanas, but enjoyment without attachment does not bind and continues even in Sahaja.

The general problem the spiritual seekers face is that “all the age long vasanas (impressions) carry the mind outwards and turn it to external objects. But he alone is ‘liberated while alive’ (jivan mukta) whose wisdom is firm.

The state in which awareness is firm and one-pointed, even when objects are sensed,  is called Sahaja sthiti or Sahaja Samadhi.

Kevalya can be compared to a glimpse of the Self, whereas Sahaja is a permanent and natural state of Self-Realization.

When the Self is glimpsed in Kevalya, it is a prelude to [Self-Realization]: when it becomes permanent Sahaja, it is Self-Realization, Liberation.

– Sri Ramana Maharshi

More information about Nirvikalpa Samadhi.

More information about Sahaja Samadhi.

Love and respect,

Gabriela