SAMADHI VS. SATORI

Zen Buddhists say that satori is not samadhi but a stage beyond.  They explain that samadhi is essentially the unification of consciousness, whereas satori is an awakening from such a state. 

Satori, they say, comes suddenly and momentarily, and if it continues for more than an instant, it is not satori.  This is the view in the Lin-chi and Rinzai schools.  The Tsao Tsung and the Soto schools support a more gradually developing satori.

All schools of Zen concur that satori described in mental or emotional terms is not satori.  The experience is beyond communication and explanation. 

Satori, whether it comes suddenly or gradually, is an experience that is repeated.  This brings maturity to the practitioner over time.  The initial experience, known as kensho, is the most important, it is said.

But then, samadhi is also repeated, sometimes daily or even hourly for a lifetime, as with Sri Ramakrishna.  Samadhi, like satori, defies description, for it is unlike any other human experience.