Sleep and Samadhi

There is no might or power that doesn’t emanate from a complete exertionless repose. All kinds of psychic power and happiness are available through exertionless repose alone.

There are three types of exertion-physical exertion, mental exertion and intellectual exertion. Suppose one is sitting idle, his mind and intellect may still be at work if the process of weaving a web of resolves and counter resolves continues within.

Mind you, it’s not sleep, but the state of exertionless repose; this alone is called Samadhi. What is the difference between sleep and Samadhi? The pleasure of sleep is tamasic in nature and it removes fatigue, while the bliss of spiritual peace (Samadhi) is sattvic in nature and it increases the ojas that eradicates ignorance. One wakes up from sleep relieved of physical fatigue but remains the same as he was before sleeping. The level of his mental and intellectual being after waking from sleep will be the same as it was when he went to sleep. But on coming out of Samadhi, having exertionless repose by meditating on the Supreme Self, one finds the mind and the intellect sublimated with a change in wisdom and surfacing of elevated thoughts and lofty ideas.

In sleep, some people droop forwards while others droop backwards. If the head droops forwards, it means that the mind is concentrated in the heart and one is overcome by sleep. If the mind is overcome by inertia the head will droop backwards. In Samadhi, the head remains straight.

In the Satayuga there was a majority of yogis and Self-realized saints. They didn’t sleep. They meditated for eight hours which, apart from being a mode of sadhana, fulfilled their requirement of sleep as well. In any case, if one practices meditation perfectly for 4 hours, he can make do with 2 hours of sleep.

I have seen Ghatwale Baba holding spiritual discussions till midnight or 1 a.m. and then he would wake up at 3 a.m. to go into the jungle where he would meditate and carry out spiritual practices. Whenever he felt tired, he would take a nap for one or two hours. For a yogi, 4 hours of sleep is more than enough. 8 and 6 hours of sleep are sufficient for a child and a worldly or pleasure-seeking man respectively.

Samadhi is of two types-savikalpa Samadhi and nirvikalpa Samadhi. However, there are many subsidiary types of Samadhi as well; such as bhava Samadhi, vicharanugata Samadhi, anandanugata Samadhi, etc.

If one starts experiencing bliss while chanting ‘Om Om Bliss Om….’, doing pranayama, meditating, gazing one-pointedly at the idol of God or Guru or the sky, it is called ‘anandanugata Samadhi’, Then one forgets even ‘Om Om Bliss Om…’ and experiences absolute peace… he doesn’t feel like even getting up, no laziness, no sleep, no ideas… this is called ‘nirvikalpa Samadhi’.

But the recollection, ‘I belong to God, God is mine nay everything is God Himself,’ Such contemplation, “Vasudev Sarvam” i.e., reposing in the conviction that it is the Lord Vasudeva abiding in all, puts an end to all troubles forever. Good and bad are all but divine sports of Lord Vasudeva. Just as the good and bad people and things seen in a dream are nothing but the play of the consciousness of the dream state, so also, all that is seen in the waking state is the play of the consciousness of the waking state. Thus, one experiences peace and has no complaints regarding anything in life. Do what is necessary and appropriate while conducting yourself in the world, but maintain the inner conviction that everything is Lord Vasudeva Himself – ‘Everything belongs to Thee…’

Infinite is the glory of Lord Hari
• He alone becomes all what we call the world.
• Becoming parents, Guru and master. He keeps admonishing us,
• Becoming son, wife and servant. He renders diligent service to us.
• At times in the form of a disease. He raises the temperature.
• He alone becomes the doctor and prescribes drugs therefore.
• He alone comes as pleasure, happiness and honor to inspire men and women.
• At other times in the form of mountain-like misery. He tries them to frighten.
• Then as a saint by showering. His grace through His eyes on all.
• He nullifies the miseries of numerous births as are set to befall.
• Also does He incarnate Himself on earth for the good of the saintly.
• Unique is His sport, His remembrance delivers one doubtlessly.
• He assumes countless forms, glorious indeed is the Lord Supreme.
• So supremely great is His grace divine, repeatedly do I bow to Him.

In children, grown ups and the aged, it is You alone My Lord. My Vasudeva! My Govinda! My Gopala! Hari! Achyuta! Bliss Om… Vasudeva Om… Everywhere Om…

Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya, pritidevaya, santidevaya, sarvadevaya, bliss… bliss…. peaces… self-repose….