Yesterday we introduced the distinction between seeded and seedless samadhi. Today we look inside the first type—samprajñāta—to understand its internal stages.
Sutra 1.17 describes four modes of distinguished samadhi. They’re not separate experiences but a graduated refinement—the mind’s object becoming progressively subtler as absorption deepens.
💭 Vitarka: Gross Attention
The first stage is vitarka—coarse, discursive attention directed toward an object. The mind settles on something (breath, mantra, image) and holds it. Thoughts still arise, but attention keeps returning.
This is where most of us spend our meditation practice. The object is present. We know we’re meditating. The mind is active but increasingly steady.
🔍 Vicāra: Subtle Reflection
As concentration deepens, vicāra arises—subtle reflection on the object. The gross qualities fade; subtler aspects emerge. Instead of attending to the word of a mantra, we attend to its vibration. Instead of the sensation of breath, its energetic quality.
The mind is still engaged, but more refined. Less discursive, more intuitive.
✨ Ānanda: Bliss
In the third stage, the object nearly disappears into the experience itself. What remains is ānanda—bliss arising from the absorption. The meditator feels pervaded by luminous peace.
This is where practitioners often get stuck. The bliss is so compelling, so seemingly complete, that it’s easy to mistake it for the goal. But bliss is still an experience. An experiencer remains.
👁️ Asmitā: Pure I-ness
The final stage of samprajñāta is asmitā—a subtle sense of “I” that witnesses. The object has dissolved entirely. Only the sense of being aware remains.
This is the doorstep to seedless samadhi. The meditator has refined attention from gross to subtle to blissful to pure witness-consciousness. But even here, identification persists. The seed of “I” remains.
🧘 The Cartography of Practice
Why does this map matter? Because it helps us locate ourselves.
When the mind is busy and we’re just trying to stay with the breath—that’s vitarka. When the breath becomes subtle and we’re attending to energy—vicāra. When peace pervades and we don’t want to leave—ānanda. When even peace dissolves into simple presence—asmitā.
Each stage is valid. Each stage prepares the next. Dharana becomes dhyana becomes samadhi—and within samadhi, refinement continues.
The practice isn’t to force progression. It’s to recognize where we are, and to not grasp at any stage as final.
— MJH
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