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Unmani

Unmani

उन्मनी, unmanī

Unmani is the specific state of thoughtlessness, which is the goal of raja-yoga. In unmani, the internal dialogue ceases, all mental fluctuations subside. At the same time, the sadhaka can perceive external objects, but is not involved in their analysis.

In "Hatha-yoga pradipika" it is said:

nirālambaṃ manaḥ kṛtvā na kiṃcidapi cintayet sa-bāhyābhyantaraṃ vyomni ghaṭavattiṣṭhati dhruvam

Having made the mind unsupported, one should not think of anything. He (the yogi) is like a motionless pot filled with space inside and outside. 4.50

mano-dṛśyamidaṃ sarvaṃ yatkiṃcitsa-carācaram  manaso hyunmanī-bhāvāddvaitaṃ naivopalabhyate 

Since everything moving and unmoving is visible (perceived) by the mind, then verily beyond the mind, in the state of unmani, duality disappears. 4.60

Unmani is the transcendental consciousness that is capable of embracing everything, all-pervading and free from any limiting factors. This trance state consists of detachment from the body, its habitual sensations and is achieved by the sadhaka through khechari-mudra and similar practices. This is the highest state of consciousness, in which the mind dissolves in its source, Parasamvit. It is the state of Shiva, the superconsciousness.

Unmani is not just a state of peace, but its perfect form, which is known through vairagya. Because if a practitioner in sadhana has achieved peace of mind, but subsequently latched onto it, began to ponder over it and idealize it, thereby creating a contradiction between subjective and objective reality, then the achieved peace passes into its tamasic form. 

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