SATORI VS. SAMADHI

Zen Buddhists say that satori is not like samadhi in Vedanta, but a stage beyond it.  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 agree that satori described in mental or emotional terms is not satori, as it is beyond communication and explanation. 

Satori, whether it comes suddenly or gradually, is an experience that is repeated.  Over time it brings maturity to the practitioner.  The initial experience, known as kensho, is the most important one, 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.  It is unlike any other human experience.