June 7, 2026
samādhibījaṁ saṁsāranirvedaḥ patati svayaṁ
cittabhūmau vivikttāyāṁ vivekijanakānane (5)
VASIṢṬHA continued:
I shall now describe the tree known as samādhāna (equanimity) which grows in the forest known as the heart of the wise.
Its seed is a turning away from “the world”, whether this is caused naturally or otherwise by the experience of sorrow. Mind is a field. It is ploughed by right action, it is watered day and night by right feeling, it is nourished by the practice of prāṇāyāma. On this field known as the mind the seed known assamādhi (turning away from the world) falls of its own accord when one is alone in the forest known as wisdom.The wise man should endeavour constantly to keep this seed of meditation watered and nourished by intelligent methods.
One should seek the company of the wise who are one’s own real well-wishers and who are pure and friendly. Then one should water the seed of samādhi or meditation by means of hearing, reflecting on and contemplating the scriptures which bring about total inner emptiness and which are full of wisdom, pure and cool like nectar. Being aware of the precious seed of meditation or samādhi that has fallen in the field of one’s mind, the wise man should carefully cherish and nourish it by means of austerities, charity, etc.
When this seed begins to sprout, it should be further protected by peace and contentment. At the same time, one should guard it against the birds of desire, attachment to family, pride, greed, etc., with the help of contentment. With the broom of right and loving action the dirt of rājasic restlessness must be swept away, whereas the darkness of tāmasic ignorance must be driven away by the light of right understanding.
The lightning known as pride of wealth and the thunderstorm known as pursuit of pleasure strike the field and devastate it. These should be prevented with the trident of magnanimity, compassion, japa, austerity, self- control and contemplation of the significance of the praṇava (OṀ).
If it is thus protected, this seed grows into wisdom. With it the entire field of the mind shines beautifully. The sprout grows two leaves. One is known as study of scriptures and the other is satsaṅga (company of the men of wisdom). Soon it will grow the bark known as contentment with the sap known as dispassion or uncolouredness of mind. Fed by the rain of scriptural wisdom, it will soon grow into a tree. Then it is not easily swayed even if it is shaken by the monkeys known as rāga-dveṣa (attraction and aversion). Then there arise in it the branches known as pure knowledge which reach out far and wide. Clarity of vision, truthfulness, courage, unclouded understanding, equanimity, peace, friendliness, compassion, fame, etc., are its other branches that arise when one is fully established in dhyāna or meditation.