Dharmamegha Samadhi

Dharmamegha Samadhi

by Swami Sivananda

Dharmamegha Samadhi or the Samadhi called the cloud of virtue, comes from constant discrimination, having no interest left in the highest discrimination.

NOTES

Even full discrimination is not the desired end. When the Yogi rejects the powers only, he gets the illumination Prasamkhyana or Dharmamegha. That Yogi who has understood the essence of 25 Tattvas and who has the discriminative knowledge between Prakriti and Purusha gets the power of knowing everything. He becomes the Lord of everything. When he has no attachment for this state also, he gets Viveka-khyati or full discrimination in the form of a continuous current at all places and in all conditions. This is ‘cloud of virtue.’ When the Yogi has renounced all powers, he gets the real knowledge, real peace and real strength of Purusha. He is full of bliss, purity and wisdom (Yathartha Jnana). He shines in his own native glory. He becomes ever free and independent. He who runs after Siddhis is still bound. Knowledge of the Truth or Purusha is far from him. Other thoughts which cause obstruction or breaks (vide Sutra IV-26), owing to past impressions, are not born now owing to the destruction of these impressions.

BENEFITS OF DHARMAMEGHA SAMADHI

(1) REMOVAL OF AFFLICTIONS

From the Dharmamegha Samadhi comes the removal of all afflictions and Karmas.

NOTES

The cause for Samsara is Klesha-karmas that are mixed with Vasanas. When these are destroyed, the Yogi becomes free while living. There is no fear of downfall, as the Klesha-karmas, the seeds for Samsara are totally fried now. As this Samadhi showers always the state of Kaivalya, the fruit of actions that are called Akrishna and Asukla, it is called Dharmamegha. It is quite a significant name indeed. The afflictions and Karmas are already described in Sutras II-3, 15 & 16.

(2) INFINITY OF KNOWLEDGE

Then comes the removal of all coverings of impurities due to the infinity of knowledge and the knowable becomes very little.

NOTES

When the Yogi gets this infinite knowledge, the knowledge that ordinary men get from worldly experiences and the knowable becomes very, very insignificant. The knowledge of the Yogi is like a sun. The knowledge of objects is like the light of a glow-worm. The Yogi sees without eyes, tastes without tongue, hears without ears, smells without nose and touches without skin. His Sankalpa can work miracles. He simply wills. Everything comes into being. This is described as follows: The blind man pierced the pearl; the fingerless put a thread into it; the neckless wore it and the tongueless praised it (Taittiriya Aranyaka I-ii-5). The sum total of all knowledge of this world, of all other secular sciences is nothing, nothing, is mere husk when compared with the infinite knowledge of a Yogi who has attained Kaivalya.

(3) GUNAS COME TO AN END

Then the succession of the modifications of Gunas comes to an end, having fulfilled their part.

NOTES

When the cloud of virtue dawns, when there is highest knowledge and when Para Vairagya fully manifests, the entire cessation of the effects of the three Gunas comes in. The Gunas operate for the enjoyment, experience and emancipation of the Purusha. The Purusha having realised His native state, the Gunas, of course, cease to act, they having fulfilled their end. Therefore the succession of the modifications of Gunas comes to an end for the Purusha who has attained Kaivalya.

(4) SIMULTANEOUS KNOWLEDGE

The succession is the uninterrupted sequence of moments distinctly cognised on the cessation of modification.

NOTES

Succession of moments implies order of time. Its form can only be understood if you have a knowledge of the minute particle of time Kshana. Succession is the uninterrupted flow of moments. It can be known only when a particular modification comes to an end. Succession has reference to order and time. For the Yogi who has attained Asamprajnata Samadhi, there is no succession for him. He has simultaneous knowledge. The past and future are blended in the present for him. Everything is ‘now’. Everything is ‘here’. He has transcended time and space.

Dharmamegha Samadhi – Cloud of Virtue, Supreme Wisdom, and Liberation

Dharmamegha Samadhi is a very high state in yogic realization where the seeker becomes free from selfish desire, ego, and attachment even to spiritual attainments. The word suggests a “cloud of virtue” or “cloud of righteousness,” because at this stage divine qualities shower naturally from the purified consciousness. The aspirant no longer practices for personal gain, power, fame, or even inner experiences. The heart becomes established in purity, wisdom, and freedom.

This state is not reached through curiosity, argument, or sudden emotion. It comes after long discipline, deep meditation, detachment, purity of conduct, and complete surrender of ego. The seeker has already seen the limitations of worldly pleasure, subtle powers, intellectual pride, and even refined spiritual experiences. Nothing temporary can attract the mind in the same way anymore.

Dharmamegha Samadhi arises when discrimination becomes perfect and the mind no longer clings to anything seen or unseen. The aspirant understands that all objects, states, powers, thoughts, and experiences belong to the changing field. Even heavenly joys and yogic abilities are not the final truth. The seeker wants only liberation and rests in the light of pure awareness.

In earlier stages of practice, the mind may seek peace, knowledge, visions, bliss, or special insight. These can inspire the seeker, but they may also become subtle attachments. At this higher level, even the desire for reward is dissolved. The mind becomes like a clear sky, and divine wisdom showers naturally like rain from a cloud.

Dharmamegha Samadhi is marked by the weakening of deep impressions. Old tendencies that once pushed the mind toward desire, fear, pride, anger, and attachment lose their force. The seeker is not easily disturbed by praise or blame, gain or loss, pleasure or pain. There is a profound freedom from inner compulsion.

This state also shows the maturity of virtue. Compassion, truthfulness, humility, forgiveness, purity, patience, and universal love are no longer forced practices. They become natural expressions of the purified being. Just as fragrance naturally comes from a flower, noble qualities naturally flow from one who is established in higher consciousness.

Dharmamegha Samadhi is not dullness, blankness, or escape from life. It is luminous spiritual maturity. A person established in such wisdom may still speak, serve, teach, guide, and perform actions, but there is no selfish doership. Action becomes spontaneous, pure, and free from ego. Service flows as an expression of inner fullness.

The seeker should understand that this state cannot be imitated. Outer silence, simple clothing, or spiritual language does not prove realization. The real signs are complete detachment, steady peace, freedom from craving, natural compassion, humility, and absence of egoistic claim. True greatness becomes quiet and effortless.

Dharmamegha Samadhi is connected with the final removal of ignorance. When the covering of ignorance becomes thin, the light of the self shines without obstruction. The seeker no longer mistakes the body, mind, senses, intellect, or ego as the true self. Pure consciousness is recognized as the eternal reality beyond all changing states.

This realization brings freedom from fear. Fear belongs to attachment and identification with the limited personality. When the seeker rests in the deathless self, fear of loss, insult, failure, and death becomes weak. The world continues to change, but the inner being remains steady, peaceful, and unattached.

Aspirants should not become impatient after hearing of such a high state. The path begins with simple daily discipline. Control speech, purify thoughts, practice truthfulness, meditate regularly, serve others, reduce desires, keep good company, and remember the Divine. Every sincere effort prepares the mind for higher realization.

The desire for powers is a major obstacle. Yogic attainments may appear attractive, but they can bind the mind if the ego claims them. A true seeker does not stop at powers, visions, or praise. The aim is freedom, not display. Humility protects the aspirant from spiritual downfall.

Dharmamegha Samadhi finally points to the showering of supreme knowledge. When the mind becomes completely pure and detached, wisdom is no longer partial or intellectual. It becomes direct, transforming, and liberating. The seeker sees clearly that the true self is beyond all limitations, actions, and mental modifications.

In the end, this exalted state is the flowering of long spiritual discipline into perfect freedom. It is reached through discrimination, dispassion, meditation, purity, devotion, surrender, and freedom from even subtle desire. When the cloud of virtue showers, ignorance is washed away, ego dissolves, and the seeker moves toward complete liberation and eternal peace.

Guide to Samadhi