ALWAYS IN SAMADHI

In the Gita it is said that all actions must be done in the state of samadhi: what samadhi are they talking about? The state after the first experience of samadhi?
Guruji: After going through several samadhis and practicing yoga for a very long time, your mental state will be different. Lahiri Mahasaya has written in his diaries that after going through 4000 samadhis the mental state will be different (smiling) – and I agree it will be different. Whatever you will do – you will be doing it in that mental state.

But in general, in samadhi the body is still?
Guruji: Initially, when you are practicing samadhi – then. But the experience will always be with you.

But in Autobiography of a Yogi I remember when Yukteswar Giri granted samadhi to his disciple he was standing in front of the gates; maybe it was something different? He was just standing for a few minutes and realized something?
Guruji: He granted samadhi – he just struck him 3 times on his chest – and he was in a superconscious state. Yes, it may be possible for Yogananda and Yukteswar Giri. It is an experience of samadhi; but then again you realize: his progress was forced – he was to go to America.

And I will say: you will feel more confident when you achieve it yourself, with the guidance of your Guru. You can call me an egoistic or a very arrogant person – but this is how I like it with myself and with my disciples. It gives a different type of confidence – and a sense of achievement as well. If somebody just gives you a million dollars – ok; but if you earn a million dollars – the feeling will be very different.

I don’t mind if somebody gives me a million dollars!
Guruji: Yogananda died young: he was hardly 59 when he died. If the experience were so overwhelming – I keep saying – the symptoms of ageing will appear. And he was too busy in public life; it was his duty to do – so he did that. And he could not find enough time to exercise – or maybe weight training was not that popular in those days.

I’ve been stressing it from day one with every disciple: you must work out religiously every day. You must be in your top physical condition.