Twice, I touched the supreme through ten-second glimpse awakenings—once in a dream-state as an adolescent, later through Tantric-Kundalini sadhana. Both times, the sense of ‘I’ dissolved, and as per the classical definition of samadhi, meditator, meditation object, and meditation all united as one. Charming natural sceneries fleeting before my eyes, limitless self-consciousness as the background—this can be called Savikalpa Samadhi.
In Keval Kumbhak, it felt like death, although not fearsome—no observer, no memory afterward, just an occasional emergence of fleeting thoughts that were immediately replaced by the meditation object. That experience was not unconscious because it was the experience of my own existence. The unconscious or inert does not even have the experience of its own existence. If it does, it is full of darkness, like when intoxicated by alcohol. I didn’t feel light like a supernova explosion in that void. But at the same time, there was even no darkness of unconsciousness in it. Of course, there was no experience like physical light in it, but there was happiness or bliss, tensionlessness and peace in it. It is possible that these qualities were shown as light, otherwise how can these non-physical qualities be presented to the innocent public. Memory in the sense that it did not reveal anything material that could be remembered. Instead, it only revealed void or zero. But it’s amazing how void can be the origin of a world full of charm.
Probably, the world developed from the void so that God’s own soul-form called jiva could fully experience it. Then, after reaching the peak of experience through Savikalpa Samadhi, culminating in enlightenment or awakening, it returns back to the void through Nirvikalpa Samadhi, leading to final salvation. Through its soul-form, the void itself gets recognition of having experienced creation—though without actually experiencing it.
My experience means that Savikalpa Samadhi was gradually dissolving into Nirvikalpa Samadhi. Nirvikalpa literally means “no thinking”, meaning there is not even the thought of the meditation object, unlike Savikalpa, where it still remains.
Yet, if nothing remains remembered after Nirvikalpa Samadhi, how does its effect carry forward? Like deep sleep, it leaves an imprint—something shifts, refining perception without conscious effort. But Nirvikalpa alone doesn’t sustain life; complete detachment risks making one disconnected from world, even dull.
Balancing Transcendence and the World
Keval Kumbhak seems like the only direct gateway to Nirvikalpa. It is the most scientific method, effortlessly inducing thoughtlessness. But using it at will is still a challenge. Sometimes, it happens naturally, but I seek stability in activating it whenever needed. Many Rajyoga favouring people try achieving nirvikalp samadhi directly through mind but I think it’s difficult. However on achieving it, keval Kumbhak itself sets up because mind and breathing both are connected. If keval Kumbhak through directly stopping breathing induces nirvikalp samadhi through stopping mind then inducing mindless nirvikalp samadhi directly also sets up keval Kumbhak through stopping breathing. However keval Kumbhak serms like a wonderful switch putting on which immediately shut off the mind thus cutting the power supply to it. But relying too much on keval Kumbhak without putting efforts to control mind also seems too much mechanical and less effective. That’s why putting both types of efforts together seem most effective and efficient. The same was done by me that’s keeping mind in snare through sharirvigyan darshan and trying for keval Kumbhak directly through yoga.
Currently, my practice involves deep spinal breathing, aided by Shambhavi mudra, while remaining over-busy in the world during the daytime. This makes me feel the breath or prana moving up the back to the Ajna and Sahasrar Chakras, with bliss. Along with this, despite being very busy in the world, I still got plenty of energy to practice as before. This means that Kundalini Yoga should continue as it is. Many say that one should stop trying to do deep sadhana and let it happen on its own to get nirvikalp. I do not agree with this. Nothing is achieved without effort. Even I was firmly and humanely opposing the resistance coming in the way of my sadhana and continuing my sadhana. However, I was avoiding complications, otherwise if I got stuck in them, how would I have energy left for sadhana. Still, one must be aware of one’s available power and should not exceed it. One should not desire respect or recognition because recognition pulls the consciousness outwards, while renunciation allows it to turn inwards. The right belief is what seems right to oneself. We can have more knowledge about ourselves than others. Yes, we should take advice or information from everyone but the final decision should be in our own hands. Many say that for Nirvikalp Samadhi, we should leave Dhyanchitra. I do not agree with this either. Because if we do not get Nirvikalp, then at least we will remain in Savikalp Samadhi with it. Without it, we will fall even from Savikalp and get trapped in the clutches of worldly illusion. That is why we should always take shelter of Dhyanchitra. Although it is also false like the world, but it is much more true than the world. Kevali Kumbhak feels like a switch, though also needs to be supported by the right conditions to be put on.
The final trigger seems to be deep contemplation of my meditation image at Kootastha, to the extent that I even ignore breath completely, letting it move at will. As fleeting thoughts reappear, they are instantly replaced by the meditation image. Ignoring breath means prana has freedom to move independently of breath to provide energy to the stressful body. Yes I was in extreme worldly, social and working stress and extremely tired even to the extent of surrender to the meditation image at time of setting up of my keval kumbhak. Although I had kept myself balanced and avoided myself becoming lost in worldly duality through intermittent contemplation of sharirvigyan darshan during the whole day. That’s why my that stress was not ordinary but a blissful and nondual stress.
It also seems that to fully stabilize the nirvikalp samadhi, even the meditation image must dissolve. Right now, I feel helplessly supporting it, using it as an anchor to prevent getting lost in fleeting thoughts. This is an ongoing refinement, unfolding naturally. I do not rush it; I let awareness deepen on its own.
Key Realizations
Savikalpa Samadhi is the precursor to Nirvikalpa and the controller and inspirer of all creation—only after experiencing it does one’s world dissolve into Nirvikalpa.
Void can be directly experienced, but it is fully comprehended only after Savikalpa Samadhi. I think without savikalp samadhi and associated awakening one has feeling of having left something to experience or enjoy in the world. That’s why void is not respected well by him and he is drawn outward by worldly pull. In that way void doesn’t stabilise well to the extent of liberation.
Keval Kumbhak is the most scientific gateway to Nirvikalpa, inducing it effortlessly.
Balance is crucial—excessive detachment can lead to disconnection. Yes, sudden and too much indulgence in nirvikalp samadhi can make one out of the world. Therefore steady and stable approach with sharirvigyan darshan is crucial.
Sharir Vigyan Darshan bridges transcendence and practical life, preventing extreme withdrawal.
Nirvikalpa dissolves memory, yet it leaves an imprint that refines perception naturally.
This journey is not about chasing higher states but about living freely—rooted in awareness, engaged in life, yet untouched by its storms.
Demystifying Kundalini 