Yoga Sutras on Samadhi

If you are reading this blog and haven't read the yoga sutra blogs up to this point I recommend that you start at the beginning and proceed in order as the sutras are sequential. The name of Chapter 1 (of four) of the YS is Samadhi Pada-the chapter on Samadhi. The next sutra describes four levels of samadhi (meditative absorption).
This can be abstract and dry but I'll try to keep it simple.

1.17: Vitarka vichara ananda asmita anugamat samprajnata, Cognitive (samprajnata) samadhi is attended by examination, insight, bliss, and pure I-am-ness.

These four types of samadhi have to do with the yogic idea that the body/mind continuum is made of the same stuff-just in onion-like levels of subtlety. In yoga there are five sheaths (koshas) or onion skins in degrees of subtlety. They are from gross to subtle: annamaya kosha (food sheath), pranamaya kosha (vital air sheath), manomaya kosha (lower mental sheath), vijnanamaya kosha (intellectual sheath) and anandamaya kosha (bliss sheath).

Samprajnata samadhis are accompanied by knowledge (sam=union and prajna=knowledge,wisdom). This is a different type of knowledge. It is a non linear, direct form of knowledge that is acquired by some degree of unity with the object contemplated. All of us have intuitive knowledge-the yogis made a science of this type of investigation.

The first type of samadhi is Vitarka, with examination. Awareness transcends the first two sheaths and goes to the manomaya kosha, the lower mental sheath. This pertains to the knowledge from the senses and emotions.

The second type of smaprajnata samadhi is vichara, with insight, and is from the conscious experience of the vijnanamaya kosha or intellectual sheath. The knowledge experienced here is of a subtler type than with vitarka. With each subsequent samadhi the meditator moves inwardly towards the center of the onion which is the soul, or pure awareness.

The third type is ananda, bliss, and signals the arrival of the awareness to the anandamaya kosha or bliss sheath. The knowledge continues to refine and is accompanied by waves of bliss.

The last samprajnata samadhi is called asmita, pure I-am-ness, and is when the five sheaths are transcended completely and the yogi's awareness is at the level of the atman, soul or purusha-pure consciousness. A yogi is said to experience the finest level of knowledge of the object here, by direct experience.

This is advanced theory and serves to clarify a meditator's experience and to inspire the novice. My meditation teacher Maharishi Mahesh Yogi would say "when you eat a mango you can experience the pleasure of the sweetness of the fruit with the sense of taste and with intellectual knowledge of the mango you have another dimension with which to enjoy it." Likewise with the intellectual study of yoga one can deepen one's enjoyment of the practice.