Samyama
Samyama (from Sanskrit संयम saṃ-yama—holding together, tying up, binding[1]). Combined simultaneous practice of Dhāraṇā (concentration, intent), Dhyāna (contemplation) & Samādhi (unity). A tool to receive deeper knowledge of qualities of the object. It is a catch-all term summarizing the process of psychological absorption in the object of meditation.[2]
Samyama, as Patanjali's Yoga Sutras states, engenders prajna. Adi Yoga or Mahasandhi discusses the 'mūla prajñā' of "listening/studying, investigation/contemplation, realization/meditation" which are a transposition of the triune of Samyama. These are activated subconsciously in non-structured form (thus producing fragmented spontaneous Samyama-like effects) by any thinking activity or contemplative absorption (particularly the Catuskoti and Koan[2]) and deep levels of trance. Any kind of intuitive thinking at its various stages of expression is strongly related to Samyama-like phenomena as well.[citation needed]
Samyama is practiced consistently by Yogin of certain schools (Raja Yoga, Adi Yoga e.g.).[3] Described in Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, it comprises the three upper limbs of Raja Yoga. Following Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, a yogin who is victorious in samyama vanquishes all 'cognitive obscurations' (Sanskrit: klesha). The Sutras describe various 'powers' or 'perfections' (Sanskrit: siddhi) a yogin may attain through the conduit of Samyama.[4]
The TM-Sidhi Program is one example of a course aiming to teach the use of Samyama to think the Yoga Sutras at the finest level of consciousness.[5][6]
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[edit] Yoga Sutras
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| Pada (Chapter) | English meaning | Sutras |
| Samadhi Pada | On being absorbed in spirit |
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| Sadhana Pada | On being immersed in spirit |
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| Vibhuti Pada | On supernatural abilities and gifts |
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| Kaivalya Pada | On absolute freedom |
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Samyama is defined in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali verses 3.1 through 3.6 as follows where the Sanskrit in Devanagari and IAST were sourced from Little[8] and the English from Iyengar (1993: pp. 178–183)[9]:
देशबन्धश्चित्तस्य धारणा ॥ १॥
deśabandhaścittasya dhāraṇā .. 1..
Fixing the consciousness on one point or region is concentration (dhāraṇā).
तत्र प्रत्ययैकतानता ध्यानम् ॥ २॥
tatra pratyayaikatānatā dhyānam .. 2..
A steady, continuous flow of attention directed towards the same point or region is meditation (dhyāna).
तद् एवार्थमात्रनिर्भासं स्वरूपशून्यम् इव समाधिः ॥ ३॥
tad evārthamātranirbhāsaṃ svarūpaśūnyam iva samādhiḥ .. 3..
When the object of meditation engulfs the meditator, appearing as the subject, self-awareness is lost. This is samādhi.
त्रयम् एकत्र संयमः ॥ ४॥
trayam ekatra saṃyamaḥ .. 4..
These three together [dhāraṇā, dhyāna and samādhi] constitute integration or saṃyama.
तज्जयात् प्रज्ञालोकः ॥ ५॥
tajjayāt prajñālokaḥ .. 5..
From mastery of saṃyama comes the light of awareness and insight.
तस्य भूमिषु विनियोगः ॥ ६॥
tasya bhūmiṣu viniyogaḥ .. 6..
Saṃyama may be applied in various spheres to derive its usefulness.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Sanskrit-English Dictionary by Monier-Williams, (c) 1899
- ^ a b Sansonese, J. Nigro (1994). The Body of Myth: Mythology, Shamanic Trance, and the Sacred Geography of the Body. Inner Traditions. ISBN 9780892814091. Source: Google Books (accessed: Friday March 6, 2009), p.26.
- ^ Ishafoundation.org
- ^ Patanjali's Yoga Aphorisms: Powers, Ramakrishnavivekananda.info
- ^ Yoga, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- ^ Learntm.com, Yoga Sutras: Description of TM-Sidhi Program.
- ^ Stiles 2001, p. x.
- ^ Little, Alan (n.d.). The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Source: Alanlittle.org (accessed: Wednesday March 17, 2010)
- ^ Iyengar, B.K.S. (1993). Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Hammersmith, London, UK: Thorstons (an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers). ISBN 139780007145164, pp.178-183.
[edit] External links
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