Samadhana - One-Pointedness Toward Liberation

In Vedanta, samadhana (samādhāna) means one-pointedness or focused attention. It is the discipline of settling the mind on the pursuit of Self-knowledge, free from distraction and dispersion. The word comes from sam (together, complete) + dhāna (placing, holding), meaning “to hold together steadily.”

In the traditional enumeration of the four qualifications for Self-inquiry (sadhana-chatushtaya), samadhana arises under the third qualification—discipline (shat-sampatti). The seeker is prescribed many disciplines, starting with shama (mastery of mind) and culminating in samadhana (steadfast concentration). Together, they prepare the seeker for mumukshutva, the final and indispensable longing for liberation.

Among the six disciplines, samadhana is the fruit of all that precedes it. When the mind is tranquil (shama), restrained (dama), withdrawn (uparati), enduring (titiksha), and trusting (shraddha), it naturally attains samadhana—a steady, undistracted absorption in the pursuit of Truth. In this way, samadhana represents not only composure but the ripened capacity of a purified mind to remain fixed on the Self, ready for the knowledge that alone brings freedom.

Traditional teachers emphasize that samadhana is not about forcing the mind into unnatural rigidity. It is steadiness born of clarity. When a seeker truly knows that liberation is the only lasting aim, their mind naturally aligns with that pursuit. Just as a river flows steadily to the ocean once its course is set, so too the mind flows toward Self-inquiry when samadhana is firm.

The Bhagavad Gita (6.18) describes yoga as the state in which the mind “remains steady, fixed on the Self, free from longing for anything else.” In this sense, samadhana is both a fruit of viveka (discrimination) and vairagya (dispassion) and a necessary support for nididhyasana (contemplation). It is the inner alignment without which Vedanta remains fragmented study rather than transformative knowledge.

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Root & Meaning

• Sam = together, complete

• Dhāna = placing, holding

• Samādhāna = steadiness, one-pointedness, holding the mind firmly on Self-knowledge.

Scriptural References

• Tattva Bodha (Shankara): defines samadhana as concentration of the mind on Brahman.

• Bhagavad Gita (6.18): describes yoga as steadiness of the mind in the Self.

• Vivekachudamani (v. 25): “The mind should be steadily fixed on Brahman and nothing else — this is samadhana.”

Traditional View

In the traditional enumeration of the four qualifications for Self-inquiry (sadhana-chatushtaya), samadhana arises under the third qualification—discipline (shat-sampatti), the six-fold inner wealth. These six disciplines are:

1. Shama — mastery of the mind

2. Dama — control of the senses

3. Uparati — withdrawal from worldly engagement

4. Titiksha — endurance amid opposites

5. Shraddha — faith in the scriptures and teacher

6. Samadhana — steadfast concentration

The seeker progresses through these in order, refining the instrument of the mind until it becomes capable of sustained inquiry. Samadhana is therefore the culmination of inner discipline and the sign of true preparedness.

Vedantic Analysis

Vedanta defines samadhana not as a trance-like absorption or yogic samadhi, but as the mind’s mature steadiness in the pursuit of knowledge. It is the quiet alignment of thought and attention toward the Self, free from agitation and distraction.

This inner stillness is the natural outcome of purification. When the mind is calm (shama), the senses restrained (dama), and faith firm (shraddha), attention no longer wanders. The intellect becomes a polished mirror capable of reflecting the truth of Brahman without distortion.

Thus, samadhana bridges the disciplines of preparation and the dawn of knowledge itself. It is the poised readiness of the mind that, when exposed to Vedāntic teaching, recognizes its own nature as limitless awareness.

Common Misunderstandings

• That samadhana is trance-like absorption: In Vedanta it means steady focus on Self-knowledge, not yogic samadhi.

• That it requires rigid suppression of thought: It is steadiness through clarity, not brute force.

• That it is optional: Without one-pointedness, Vedanta becomes intellectual juggling rather than liberating vision.

Vedantic Resolution

Samadhana is the mind’s unwavering alignment with the pursuit of Self-knowledge. It is the final jewel of the sixfold wealth, integrating the earlier disciplines and ensuring that the seeker’s life and attention flow toward liberation.