Hindrances to Samadhi in the Context of 21st Century: A Comparative Analysis of Vedic and Later Vedic Texts

Attaining Samadhi, a state of profound meditation and spiritual absorption described in ancient Vedic texts, the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and Yoga Darshana, faces intensified hindrances in the 21st century. Traditional obstacles—distractions, desires, ego, and ignorance—are systematically categorized in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras as the five 'Kleshas'. A comparative analysis with modern Western existentialist thought reveals an enduring struggle of human consciousness. Contemporary challenges such as technology, stress, and materialism add further complexity. Overcoming these requires a synthesis of ancient meditative practices with modern tools to achieve stillness and transcendence in the digital age.

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Abstract

This article explores the hindrances to Samadhi in the 21st century by drawing comparisons between ancient Vedic, later Vedic, and contemporary Western philosophical insights. Samadhi, the state of profound meditation and spiritual absorption, has been a focal point across texts like the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and Yoga Darshana. Traditional challenges to Samadhi include distractions, desires, ego, and ignorance, systematically categorized in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras as the five 'Kleshas'. A comparative analysis with modern Western thought, such as existentialist perspectives, highlights the enduring struggle of human consciousness in overcoming hindrances. The article also examines how modern-day challenges, including technology, stress, and materialism, add complexity to attaining Samadhi. Solutions require a synthesis of ancient practices with modern tools to achieve stillness and transcendence in the digital age.