--> Skip to main content


Teachings from Saubhagya Lakshmi Upanishad

Saubhagya Lakshmi Upanishad is one of the minor Upanishads and is part of the Rig Veda. Here are few teachings from this Upanishad.

Identifying the finite with the infinite,
The fragments with the Whole, one meditates
On the vast Source; thus fulfilment found
One becomes immortal.

Just as when salt mixes with water, it takes up the form of water, in the same way Samadhi (trance) means the mind merging into the cosmic soul (God).

When a living being’s material desires come to an end, and the living being and God march in one direction, that state is called Samadhi (trance). Samadhi is that balanced state of the soul wherein one’s agitations are nullified.

Saubhagya Lakshmi Upanishad

Explanation:

Just as when salt mixes with water ... the mind merging into the cosmic soul (God).

The analogy of salt dissolving in water to explain the concept of Samadhi, or trance, is a profound one often found in spiritual and philosophical teachings, particularly within Eastern traditions like Hinduism and Buddhism.

When salt is added to water, it dissolves completely, seemingly losing its individual identity and becoming indistinguishable from the water itself. Similarly, in the state of Samadhi, the mind is said to merge with the cosmic soul, or the divine consciousness, losing its sense of individuality and becoming one with the universal consciousness.

Samadhi is often described as the highest state of consciousness achievable through meditation or spiritual practice. It represents a profound union with the ultimate reality or divine presence. In this state, the distinctions between the meditator and the object of meditation, between subject and object, dissolve, leaving only the pure experience of unity and oneness.

Practitioners of meditation and yoga seek to attain Samadhi as a means of transcending the limitations of the ego and the individual mind, and experiencing a deep sense of peace, bliss, and interconnectedness with all existence.

The analogy of salt and water illustrates how the individual mind, like salt, can dissolve into the vast ocean of cosmic consciousness, losing its separateness and becoming one with the divine essence that permeates all of creation. Just as salt cannot be separated from water once it has dissolved, the individual consciousness that experiences Samadhi is said to be inseparable from the universal consciousness, forever united in the eternal dance of existence.

--------

When a living being’s material desires ... state of the soul wherein one’s agitations are nullified.

Samadhi, in Hinduism, represents the pinnacle of spiritual attainment, a state of profound absorption and oneness with the divine. It's often described as the ultimate goal of spiritual practice, where the individual soul merges with the universal consciousness, or God. This state is characterized by a profound sense of peace, tranquility, and inner harmony, where all material desires and worldly attachments cease to exist.

The concept of Samadhi is deeply rooted in various Hindu scriptures, particularly in the teachings of yoga and Vedanta. It is considered one of the highest states of consciousness achievable through disciplined spiritual practice, meditation, and self-realization.

In the practice of yoga, Samadhi is the final stage of the eightfold path outlined by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. It is preceded by dharana (concentration) and dhyana (meditation), leading to a state of complete absorption, where the meditator transcends the boundaries of the individual self and experiences unity with the divine.

Within Vedanta, Samadhi is often described as the realization of the ultimate truth (Brahman) and the dissolution of the ego (ahamkara). It is the culmination of self-inquiry (jnana yoga) and devotion (bhakti yoga), leading to the direct experience of the divine essence pervading all of existence.

The state of Samadhi is said to be marked by the absence of mental fluctuations (vrittis) and the dissolution of dualistic perception. In this state, the practitioner experiences pure awareness and bliss, transcending the limitations of time, space, and individual identity.

While Samadhi is often associated with advanced spiritual practitioners and yogis, it is believed to be attainable by anyone dedicated to the path of self-realization and inner transformation. It represents the ultimate liberation (moksha) from the cycle of birth and death (samsara) and the attainment of eternal bliss and union with the divine.