What is the purpose of life? What’s the point of going to work, coming home, eating and sleeping just to go back to work the next day? Deep down, you know that you’re not here just to work, so what are you supposed to achieve while here?
The answer to this mystery lies in samadhi, the eighth and final limb of yoga.
What is Yoga?
There are eight limbs of yoga enumerated by Sage Patanjali thousands of years ago. Each limb represents an aspect of your existence and your life. Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras explain how to utilise each aspect of your existence to reach and establish yourself in Truth. Of the eight limbs, samadhi is the eighth and final limb.
yama niyama–asana pranayama pratyahara dharana dhyana samadhayo-‘stavangani
|2.29| Patanjali Yoga Sutras
Restraint, observance, postures, regulation of breath, substitute food for the mind, ability of the mind to focus, meditation and higher states of consciousness are eight limbs of yoga.
The limbs of yoga develop together; similar to how pulling one leg of a chair results in the entire chair coming toward you, when you practice one limb of yoga, the other limbs begin to develop as well.
Truth lies beyond the surface
Before I go any further, I will say that the truth you seek does not lie on the surface; searching far and wide for your answers is like scouring the surface of the earth for a buried treasure.
Yes, things on the surface can give you hints and point you in the right direction, but if you just go around collecting hints and never actually start digging, you’ll never find the treasure.
Of course, some searching is required, it’s normal to want to be sure that you’re headed in the right direction and in this case, your only reliable guide is your gut feeling.
Don’t bother reading reviews and listening to other people’s opinions. It will create noise, pollute your mind and ultimately take you away from what you seek. If something feels right to you deep down, have the faith and courage to take that step forward.
After all, nothing is permanent in life. Everything is changing all the time, so what do you have to lose besides a bit of your pride and ego?
Samadhi is a state of higher consciousness
The purpose of yoga is to help you raise your level of consciousness so you can attain samadhi. Samadhi is attained in deep meditation and it is an understanding of the reality of existence and the perception of the one universal consciousness or the Self. There are many names for the Self: Satchitananda, God, the universe, the universal consciousness, your higher self, your authentic self, etc.
The Self is at the core of the 7 layers of your existence and lies in every heart. It is nameless and formless and makes up the world of name and form.
Enter the world of opposites
Samadhi allows you to dive into what the truth and the ultimate purpose of life is, you’ll see that the answer is as complicated and as simple as the universal consciousness.
Yoga is the science, art, and technique required to reach and establish yourself in that truth and becoming established in that truth is moksha or spiritual enlightenment. That is the ultimate goal of yoga and the spiritual path.
The path is long yet the goal is in every step.
Your biggest obstacle in this journey is your mind. One might even argue that it is your only obstacle.
Every step that you take in life is a step towards the higher consciousness or the Self. You may not be aware of it but the natural course of life is toward the Self. When you feel stuck in life, it’s because this higher truth is calling you and you are ignoring the calls consciously or unconsciously.
It’s normal to be afraid.
This is a journey from the known to the unknown and it is absolutely, 100% normal to be hesitant, nervous and downright terrified.
Your ability to keep moving anyways is what brings you satisfaction, growth and relief from this gnawing feeling deep inside. In fact, it is the deep dissatisfaction that guides you toward the Self and the buried treasure that you seek.
What the journey home looks like
The journey to attaining samadhi will be the most difficult thing you have ever undertaken. You will cry, argue and feel like running away but you won’t because this journey is also the most rewarding thing you will do in your life.
The difficulties arise because you are facing your own mind and your own limitations.
The difference between approaching your mind in this manner versus any other manner is that through the practice of yoga you gently and systematically deal with the issues from their roots.
Tendencies like overthinking, anxiety, procrastination, etc. are generally tied to deep stresses and traumas and lie deep in your consciousness. Here is a case study exploring how combining different aspects of yoga can take you deep into meditation and help you stop overthinking. This in turn will allow you to unravel and move through the maze of your mind so you can address the roots of these issues.
These mental patterns or impressions on your mind affect you on every layer of your existence. By releasing what no longer serves you, you will begin to see changes in your environment, your body, your mind, your behaviour and your very identity.
You are never truly alone on this journey.
Your higher Self is with you every step of the way and the further you progress, the more you’ll begin to see and experience this truth.
Your job is to trust your gut and regardless what comes you, keep moving. Trust that the rest will be taken care of.
Everything will fall into place at the right time.
Nothing in the world can bother you as much as your own mind, I tell you. In fact, others seem to be bothering you but it is not others, it is your own mind.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
