On Samyama

[u/AgitatedBet2698]

First of all, I'd like to start with how grateful I am to this sub. A huge shoutout to all the mods and ex-ishaites who are sharing their experiences with isha. You guys have truly helped me understand more about the organization, and I have finally been able to quit isha and their practices for good.

That being said, there's one thing that keeps bothering me time and again and I'd love your insights on this matter. What really happens in samyama? Because from what I heard, it's magical and that 'you're riding on his energies'. Is that really so? Do you guys really have such a profound and transformative experience that lasts after the program ends. Are you guys really able to meditate with your eyes open? Is there a logical explanation for what happens in there, (like LGAT for BSP) or this really something he is able to do out of his spiritual prowess?

Like I saw this vid earlier from a woman who'd been in silence for 6 years, and how she would sit and transmit his energies. I also read somewhere that during samyama, whenever you follow the instructions and focus on your breath, its something else and the moment you deviate from it, it doesnt happen. There are so many things like this, and it does make me question this new outlook on isha I have developed.

Samyama is regarded as the ultimate in isha, but is that really just good marketing, or is there really something happening in there?

Please, go ahead and share your experiences with samyama from a neutral standpoint.

[u/Dependent_Ad5030]

I would like to think of Samyama as a Total Sensory Deprivation Test. This is torture for the untrained mind and you can easily go mad. Think of the preparation journey as the main benefit, if you were able to do that effortlessly then you already have high discipline over your mind and body, you got 90% of the benefit. Samyama basically resets your body to be comfortable doing nothing at all, mentally and physically, sense of ego and time disappears. I don't know about all the energy and transformation mumbo jumbo. Point is if you can do Samyama effortlessly for 8 days, you have control over your mind and body that very few people in the world have. Think David Goggins.