(Mind61)- Is Samadhi a self-induced slumber?

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In the previous episode we tried to answer two important questions about the ultimate stage of meditation, namely the Samadhi.

Firstly, we argued that Samadhi may not always be a result of some form of mental conditioning. 

We also reasoned that the blissful experience that one goes through in the initial phases of Samadhi may not be originated in the brain, though our brain experiences it and we get aware of that.

Moving on, one important question about Samadhi is whether it is some form of deep sleep or unconscious state that we enter into as a result of meditation.
 

When we fall into deep sleep, we would be neither aware of the external world nor we would be going through dreams. Most of the internal mental activity stops. We will be totally unaware of whatever is happening around us while we are in that state.

Similarly, when we become unconscious as a result of some medical intervention or by imbibing some substance, we would be totally unaware of whatever goes on around us.

One may argue that since Samadhi in its ultimate form is bereft of any awareness, it too could be some form of slumber or unconscious state!


But in deep sleep state, the attention system just shuts down on its own. So, naturally brain cannot perceive external objects nor the internal dreams. So also, when we enter an unconscious state by medical intervention or by imbibing some substance. Except that the shutdown was forced by the anesthetic or the substance.

But in Samadhi, the attention system was sharply focused till the last minute and there was no attempt to shut it down. It is just that we lose our awareness when it is in its peak of focus. That does not necessarily mean that it was shutoff.

One way to differentiate between Samadhi and deep sleep state or state brought about by medical intervention is to monitor the brain in those states using functional MRI (fMRI) scanners.

An fMRI scanner is a gadget that we have developed in the past few decades to provide us a peep into our brains without cutting it open and when it is functioning. It can make a video of the brain’s internal functions. We can use it to pin point what exactly is happening when we enter Samadhi.

But the problem is to get volunteers who are willing to go through brain scans when they meditate. Besides, when a person is aware that he is being watched, he may not be able to enter into very same states.

There are some attempts made in that direction. But I am not sure whether the results are conclusive enough. The problem is, we are walking along the edge of objective/subjective divide. Not everything can be objectively studied beyond a point, however much we would like to.

The other alternative is to look at ancient texts that talk about such experiences.

One of the Upanishads namely the Mandukya Upanishad, clearly brings out this difference. This is what it says.

When we are awake: Our Mind is turned outward or it is Bahir Prajnya. It perceives objects that are outside our body and experiences them through our sense organs.

When we dream: Our mind turns inward or it is Antar Prajnya. Here also the mind perceives various objects, but the objects are not outside our body but are the images created by our brain as part of the dream that we perceive.

When we enter deep sleep state: The Mind is neither turned outward nor inward. It perceives nothing outside the body nor anything within the mind since there are no dreams at that time. It is as if Mind’s ability to perceive is just frozen i.e. the mind is Prajnyana Ghana.

Then the Upanishad goes on to define a fourth state of our Mind which it calls Turiya. It says that

Turiya: is neither turned outward, nor it is turned inward, nor it keeps hopping in and out, nor its ability is frozen, nor as if it cannot perceive anything at all!

In that case, what does it perceive?

The Upanishad says that what it perceives is beyond words!

Our vocabulary is restricted to objects that we perceive in the external world or internally in our dreams or thoughts. Anything that does not fall into one of these categories cannot be described by our words. It is ‘anirvacaneeya’ – something that cannot be expressed in words.

Fine, if you cannot describe it, can you at least compare it with something that we know?

The Upanishad says that it cannot be compared even, since it is only one of its kind – i.e. it is adviteeya! What do we compare it with?


Samadhi is the Turiya state mentioned by the Upanishad. It is neither a wakeful state, nor a dreaming state, nor a deep sleep or unconscious state. It is beyond all these three.

Let us take up the next question about Samadhi in the next episode.

 

A series revolving around Mind – Science of Mind, Philosophy of Mind, Notions of reality, Mind modulation, Domains beyond Mind, and so on. © Dr. King, Swami Satyapriya 2019-2020