Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

What is samadhi? Does it only happen with eyes closed?  Sri Sri : First it is good to start with eyes closed, then it can also happen with eyes open. A devotee has sung such a beautiful verse in Kannada. He has said, 'When my breath is so fragrant, why would I need any flowers?' See, when your mind is in a very heightened or pleasant state, your breath is like a flower, very soft. When there is pain or heaviness in the mind, your breath is also heavy. When there is love for everyone, the breath has fragrance. So when there is fragrance in the breath, why would one need flowers. Then he says, 'When there is Kshama(forgiveness), daya (compassion), shanti (peace), sairnne (endurance) in me, why would I need to go and sit in samadhi?' What is the need of samadhi where there is total forgiveness, total compassion, total peace and total endurance to welcome the opposites? When I can handle the pleasant and the unpleasant equally, because every pain and every unple...

 *Deep Rest and Bliss* Deep rest is bliss, and bliss is the understanding that only God exists. Knowing that only God exists is the deepest rest possible. This conviction or experience that "only God exists" is Samadhi. Samadhi is the mother of all talents, strengths and virtues. Samadhi is needed even for the most materialistic person because a materialistic person looks to gain strength and virtues. To be in Samadhi you do not need any effort or talents, strengths or virtues. Withdrawing from all types of physical and mental activity is rest. That is in-built in our system as sleep, and sleep is the best friend of activity. Samadhi is a conscious rest. Samadhi is the best friend of life. To be alive in your full potential, Samadhi is indispensable.