Samadhi shines as the pinnacle of Patanjali’s eight-limbed path, where mind, breath and object of focus merge so seamlessly that duality fades away. In the Yoga Sutras, samadhi sprouts from “dharana” (single-pointed concentration) and “dhyana” (unbroken flow of awareness). Patanjali names this triumvirate “samyama,” spelled out in Sutras I.17–I.22, meaning mastery over object, mind, and seer.

Sutra I.17 paints samadhi as the coming-together of drashta (seer), drishya (seen) and drishti (seeing), while I.18 distinguishes savikalpa samadhi—where a subtle “seed” of duality still remains—from nirvikalpa, the shoreless ocean beyond concepts. In savikalpa, vivid impressions, memories or images may bubble up, but the practitioner simply observes without getting swept away. In nirvikalpa, mental chatter falls silent and awareness rests in its own pure light.

Fast-moving cultures today chase “flow states” in sport or art; neuroscience even maps these moments to heightened focus and blissful ease. Patanjali, centuries ahead of current research, teaches that samadhi dismantles the knotted threads of ego, unveiling an inner peace that’s more than wishful thinking. Think of it as surfing a singular wave of consciousness—there’s no paddling left, just riding.

This ancient guide remains deeply relevant—International Yoga Day celebrations, mental-health apps and mindfulness retreats all borrow its wisdom. Each stitch in the Yogasutras emphasizes practice (abhyasa) and letting go (vairagya): keep returning to breath and sensation, dropping any narratives that pop up. Over time, samadhi isn’t a distant dream but a lived reality—where every inhalation, exhalation and heartbeat embodies unity.