In both philosophies, it represents the final stage of a spiritual path where one may become enlightened. But what does that really mean, and how do you actually achieve it? Here’s an overview. As assistant professor of Hindu studies at the University of Denver Dheepa Sundaram, Ph.D., explains to mbg, “Patanjali’s system was really also about bringing together a synchronized vision of yoga that would be nonsectarian and not necessarily linked to one particular religious tradition.” Some argue that the eight limbs aren’t necessarily a path, Sundaram notes, but rather eight “auxiliaries” that can help you reach enlightenment. On a very basic level, they look like this: It’s also about eliminating separation, or what Sundaram describes as “the distinction between subject and object.” Patanjali’s vision of samadhi, she notes, “is an awareness of the subject-object distinction being eliminated. There’s only consciousness.” As certified ashtanga teacher Daniel Scott previously explained to mbg, “Samadhi is described as a state of ’non-duality’ where the self and the world around it are (finally) perceived as one and the same. Effectively transcending the limits of the body, mind, and identity, the aspiring yogi becomes one with everything.” But the truth is, attaining samadhi—or at least getting closer to it—will look different for everyone. With the eight limbs in mind, all of those associated practices and disciplines can help you train your body, mind, and spirit to be in a state of calm oneness, but it takes dedication. Many believe samadhi can only be attained through the mental discipline of yoga, Sundaram notes (as in, the eight limbs, not just the physical poses or asanas), but that’s not to say it isn’t accessible to anyone. In theory, the potential is within all of us, and the eight limbs are the most straightforward “steps” to reaching it. Sundaram notes mantras like “Om” are very helpful as well because they train the mind to be focusing on just one thing. “You get to the point where you can control what kind of intake of sensory information you’re taking in,” she adds. In the stages of enlightenment, which we’ll outline next, we understand that the basis of enlightenment is the ability to detach from the ego and otherworldly attachments, to the point where there is only consciousness and a feeling of “being one with permanence,” Sundaram says. We all carry markings and memories on our soul, and we have to acknowledge that. “We cannot get to Samadhi without having an ability to erase these memories, the miseries of the world and what feeds our ego, our attachments,” Sundaram explains. Overall, “it’s about getting through that first stage of recognizing those connections,” Sundaram says, “and then the second stage is erasing those connections such that you start to see what Patanjali calls the object in and of itself.” “When you start to see people, or yourself, being able to focus on one thought,” Sundaram says, “a thought that doesn’t lead to another thought,” that is a sign of getting closer to or achieving samadhi. Other signs include:
