Patanjali and the merits

                   


With the first stage of samadhi, the four  cognitions evolve:

• reasoning
• reflection
• bliss
• sense of individuality

Whereas, when we are going in and out between the first and second samadhis (and this goes on for quite some time, as it takes a while to be established in each stage, or level, of samadhi), we obtain the four merits.

Some call the four merits:

• faith
• energy, strong will
• memory
• intelligence

as a five fold Path, including meditation as the fifth part. All of these are to be followed to arrive at samadhi, or enlightenment.

However, although we all have the above four in some measure, it is through the practice of meditation, and dipping in and out of the first two samadhis during meditation, that the four (not five) merits "flower" in a spiritual sense. In a different way, one could say. And it is only through experiencing these effects, that one is truly able to understand them. 

We develop a strong faith in the path of meditation, because of the effects we receive. The Inner World is profound, and we are sitting with ourselves, in this world, when we meditate. And, interestingly, we develop a sense of faith on an intuitive level, to do with Life and it's happenings. 

Spiritual energy grows in leaps and bounds as the inner blockages dissolve into the ether. Our innate sense of will correspondingly grows.

Memory can be a surprise, for knowledge can flow out of oneself, not the Highest Knowledge of course, but spiritual knowledge nevertheless, without us realising that this has been within our own Being, all along.

meditation is a "merit" too

There are ways that meditation is a merit: just as in the inner world we dip in and out of various states, in the everyday world we start to do this too. And those states are the ones which we are first experiencing whilst we are in meditation. They start to become part of our Being, part of our wholeness. And, it is through memory predominantly, that this manifests, for our nervous system has created neural pathways, especially in the brain, which are a type of memory. And, although "mind" is not the brain, there is a close correlation.

These states of Being, become established through meditation, and cross-over into daily life.

Two things are especially important here:

• our nervous system needs to become more powerful, in order to handle the ever growing energy gained from meditation. Not only in our brains, but in every fibre of our being, as a result of samadhi. This is an ongoing process. Of course, meditation is not the only tool for strengthening our nervous system, the postures, mudras, bandhas, pranayamas, they are all instrumental in doing this, too.
• in order for the nervous system to do this, especially in the brain, it is best to have meditation as a daily happening. For, when we stop and start, the effects stop too. They will stay profound for quite a while, maybe three months, then start to diminish. 

It can be quite difficult to stay able to handle oneself as one is going through these experiences. The inner Shakti, or energy, it literally "shakes" our various levels and realms of consciousness. Inside of us, within our consciousness, lies not only the inner glory and majesty, but also our traumas. From this life predominantly, but from past lives and recurrent karmic patterns, too.

These traumas all come up as feelings, which is how they first manifested. Feelings, in reaction to actions. And, unfortunately, there can be a tendency to feel as though one has emotional problems.

Whom amongst us, hasn't had to deal with deep emotions? As we go (much) further along our path, both spiritual and everyday, we come to realise that these feelings, they are just part of life.

So, in order to gain, and then be established, in the differing levels of samadhi, the four merits and meditation, some say that these merits are to be employed, used, as tools along the Path.

I have found that although this is true, that meditation actually produces the other four merits.

Which leads us to the next merit: wisdom, intelligence (to be continued)