# Samyama > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Samyama > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Samyama.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samyama > Source revision: 1346516144 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Meditation technique in Yoga}} {{italic title}} '''''Samyama''''' (from [Sanskrit](/source/Sanskrit) संयम saṃ-yama—holding together, tying up, binding,Sanskrit-English Dictionary by [Monier Monier-Williams](/source/Monier_Monier-Williams), (c) 1899 integration) is the combined simultaneous practice of [dhāraṇā](/source/dh%C4%81ra%E1%B9%87%C4%81) (concentration), [dhyāna](/source/dhyana_in_Hinduism) (meditation) and [samādhi](/source/sam%C4%81dhi) (union). ==Description== Samyama is a tool to receive deeper knowledge of qualities of the object. It is a term summarizing the "catch-all" process of psychological absorption in the object of meditation.[Sansonese, J. Nigro](/source/J._Nigro_Sansonese) (1994). ''The Body of Myth: Mythology, Shamanic Trance, and the Sacred Geography of the Body''. Inner Traditions. {{ISBN|978-0-89281-409-1}}. Source: [https://books.google.com/books?id=aUZBqTKTAfIC&dq=samyama+japan+koan&pg=PA26 Google Books], p.26. For Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras, [Pratyahara](/source/Pratyahara) is the preceding stage to practicing and developing Samyama. See also [Ashtanga yoga](/source/Yoga_Sutras_of_Patanjali). ==Framework== Samyama, as Patanjali's [Yoga Sutra](/source/Yoga_Sutra)s states, engenders [prajñā](/source/Prajna_(Vedic)). Adi Yoga or [Mahasandhi](/source/Mahasandhi) discusses the '[mūla prajñā](/source/Wisdom_in_Buddhism)' of "listening/studying, investigation/contemplation, realization/meditation" which are a transposition of the triune of Samyama. These are activated subconsciously in ''non-structured form'' (thus producing fragmented spontaneous Samyama-like effects) by any thinking activity or contemplative absorption (particularly the [Catuskoti](/source/Catuskoti) and [Koan](/source/Koan)) and deep levels of [trance](/source/trance). Any kind of [intuitive](/source/Intuition_(knowledge)) thinking at its various stages of expression is strongly related to Samyama-like phenomena as well.{{cite web |title=Experiences from Samyama|url=http://www.swamij.com/yoga-sutras-31737.htm|website=SwamiJ.com}} ==Practice and structure== Samyama is practiced consistently by yogis of some yoga meditation systems and schools, from simple meditation alone to week-long meditation retreats or more. Described in the [Yoga Sutras of Patanjali](/source/Yoga_Sutras_of_Patanjali), it comprises the three most mentally focusing "limbs" of Patanjali's Eight-limbed ("Astanga") in his [Yoga Sutra](/source/Yoga_Sutra)s. A meditator who is successful in learning samyama vanquishes all cognitive obstacles/problems/troubles (Sanskrit: [klesha](/source/kleshas_(Buddhism))). The Sutras then describe various psychic experiences Patanjali calls "powers," "successes," or "perfections" (Sanskrit: [siddhi](/source/siddhi)) that a yoga meditator may experience through the [conduit](/source/Conduit_(spiritualism)) of Samyama.[http://www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info/vivekananda/volume_1/raja-yoga/powers.htm Patanjali's Yoga Aphorisms: Powers], Ramakrishnavivekananda.info ==Yoga Sutras== {| class="wikitable floatright" |+ Yoga Sutras of Patanjali{{cite book |last=Stiles |first=Mukunda |title=Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: With Great Respect and Love |date=November 2001 |isbn=978-1-5786-3201-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ytHC2gJ2CbcC |page=x|publisher=Weiser Books }} |- !Pada (Chapter)||English meaning||Sutras |- |Samadhi Pada||On being absorbed in spirit|| style="text-align: center" | 51 |- |Sadhana Pada||On being immersed in spirit|| style="text-align: center" | 55 |- |Vibhuti Pada||On supernatural abilities and gifts|| style="text-align: center" | 56 |- |Kaivalya Pada||On absolute freedom|| style="text-align: center" | 34 |} Samyama is defined in the ''[Yoga Sutras](/source/Yoga_Sutras)'' of [Patanjali](/source/Patanjali) verses 3.1 through 3.6 as follows where the [Sanskrit](/source/Sanskrit) in [Devanagari](/source/Devanagari) and [IAST](/source/IAST) were sourced from LittleLittle, Alan (n.d.). ''The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.'' Source: [http://alanlittle.org/yoga/patanjali.html#III Alanlittle.org] (accessed: Wednesday March 17, 2010) and the English from [Iyengar](/source/B._K._S._Iyengar) (1993: pp. 178–183):[Iyengar, B.K.S.](/source/B._K._S._Iyengar) (1993). ''Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.'' Hammersmith, London, UK: Thorsons (an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers). {{ISBN|978-0-00-714516-4}}, pp.178-183. देशबन्धश्चित्तस्य धारणा ॥ १॥ deśabandhaścittasya dhāraṇā .. 1.. Fixing the consciousness on one point or region is concentration (dhāraṇā). तत्र प्रत्ययैकतानता ध्यानम् ॥ २॥ tatra pratyayaikatānatā dhyānam .. 2.. A steady, continuous flow of attention directed towards the same point or region is meditation (dhyāna). तद् एवार्थमात्रनिर्भासं स्वरूपशून्यम् इव समाधिः ॥ ३॥ tad evārthamātranirbhāsaṃ svarūpaśūnyam iva samādhiḥ .. 3.. When the object of meditation engulfs the meditator, appearing as the subject, self-awareness is lost. This is samādhi. त्रयम् एकत्र संयमः ॥ ४॥ trayam ekatra saṃyamaḥ .. 4.. These three together [dhāraṇā, dhyāna and samādhi] constitute ''integration'' or saṃyama. तज्जयात् प्रज्ञालोकः ॥ ५॥ tajjayāt prajñālokaḥ .. 5.. From mastery of saṃyama comes the light of awareness and insight. तस्य भूमिषु विनियोगः ॥ ६॥ tasya bhūmiṣu viniyogaḥ .. 6.. Saṃyama may be applied in various spheres to derive its usefulness. ==See also== * [Beginner's mind](/source/Beginner's_mind) * [Dhāraṇā (concentration)](/source/Dh%C4%81ra%E1%B9%87%C4%81) * [Dhyāna (meditation)](/source/Dhy%C4%81na_in_Hinduism) * [Insight](/source/Prajna_(Hinduism)) * [Jnana yoga](/source/Jnana_yoga) * [Samadhi](/source/Samadhi) * [Siddhi](/source/Siddhi) == References == {{reflist}} == External links == * [https://sivasoorya.org/samyama-in-patanjali-yogasutra/ All about Samyama] {{Yoga}} {{Meditation}} Category:Yoga concepts Category:Meditation Category:Philosophical schools and traditions Category:Hindu philosophical concepts --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Samyama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samyama) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samyama?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.