Nirbija Samadhi, as described in the Yoga Sutras (1.51) of Patanjali, refers to a profound state of consciousness where the seeds of rebirth are completely eradicated. In the yogic tradition, it is believed that the chief cause of samsara, or the cycle of birth and death, is the impurity of the mind. These impurities, accumulated through countless lifetimes, manifest as tendencies (samskaras) that drive the mind to constantly engage in fluctuations and distractions (vrittis), thereby obstructing the realization of the true self, the purusha or atman.
The path to Nirbija Samadhi is outlined in the Ashtanga
Yoga, the eightfold path prescribed by Patanjali. Through dedicated practice,
the yogi progresses through various stages, ultimately culminating in samadhi,
a state of profound superconsciousness. In this state, the yogi experiences ritambhara prajna, a form of truth-bearing knowledge or wisdom, which is
essentially synonymous with atma jnana, or self-realization.
This transformative knowledge serves to uproot and eliminate
all other modifications of the mind, as detailed in verses 1.48-50 of the Yoga Sutras. As a result, Nirbija Samadhi is attained, wherein all karmas that
would otherwise lead to rebirth are annihilated at their very source. In this
liberated state, the yogi transcends the cycle of birth and death, becoming a
mukta, or liberated being. Through the profound insights gained in Nirbija
Samadhi, the yogi realizes their inherent nature as pure consciousness,
detached and free from the bonds of samsara.