self ramana presence

This morning, a European who was sitting in front of Bhagavan said through an interpreter:
“It is stated in the Mandukyopanishad that, unless samadhi, i.e., the 8th and last stage of yoga, is also experienced, there can be no liberation (moksha) however much meditation (dhyana) or austerities (tapas) are performed. Is that so?”

Bhagavan: “Rightly understood, they are the same. It makes no difference whether you call it meditation or.austerities or absorption, or anything else.
That which is steady, continuous like the flow of oil, is austerity, meditation and absorption.
To be one’s own Self is samadhi.”

Questioner: “But it is said in the Mandukyopanishad that samadhi must necessarily be experienced before attaining
liberation.”

Bhagavan: “And who says that it is not so? It is stated not only in the Mandukyopanishad but in all the ancient books.
But it is true samadhi only if you know your Self. What is the use of sitting still for some time like a lifeless object?
Suppose you get a boil on your hand and have it operated under chloroform; you don’t feel any pain at the time, but does that mean that you were in samadhi?
It is the same with this too.
One has to know what samadhi is. And how can you know it without knowing your Self?
If the Self is known,
samadhi will be known automatically.”

- Letters from Ramanasramam.
Chapter 138. Samadhi.