samadhI - The Goal of Raja Yoga

So, the next thing one should be clear about Raja Yoga is its final Goal. 

samadhI or equanimity of being to the duality is the goal of Raja Yoga. 

 "Freedom" of being from the duality of attraction and repulsion is the Goal of Raja Yoga. 

Mind is sunk in the ocean of duality. There are infinite emotional waves that are unceasingly generated in this Ocean of Duality. These waves are called vrittis. They are originated in this ocean, they are sustained in the ocean and merge back into the ocean. One should take a "deep dive" into this ocean to realize its TRUE POTENTIAL. Other than one's own self, no one can save the mind that is entangled in the thought waves that are of various forms and shapes! 

Instruction 12: 

उद्धरेदात्मनाऽऽत्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्। 

आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः।।6.5।।

uddharēdātmanā..tmānaṅ nātmānamavasādayēt. 

ātmaiva hyātmanō bandhurātmaiva ripurātmanaḥ..6.5.. 

uddharet atmana atmanam = One should uplift own self; na avasadayet = one should not lower himself. atma eva hi atmanah bandhu = Self alone is one's Friend atma eva ripuh atmanah = Self alone is one's own Enemy. 

बन्धुरात्माऽऽत्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जितः। 

अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्तेतात्मैव शत्रुवत्।।6.6।।

bandhurātmā..tmanastasya yēnātmaivātmanā jitaḥ. 

anātmanastu śatrutvē vartētātmaiva śatruvat..6.6.. 

 yena atma eva atmana jitah = whose self is conquered by his own self tasya bandhuh atma atmanasya = his self is verily his friend. tu = but, anatmanah = for the one who has not conquered the self satrutve varteta atma eva satruvat = the self alone acts as an enemy. 

जितात्मनः प्रशान्तस्य परमात्मा समाहितः। 

शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषु तथा मानापमानयोः।।6.7।। 

jitātmanaḥ praśāntasya paramātmā samāhitaḥ. 

śītōṣṇasukhaduḥkhēṣu tathā mānāpamānayōḥ..6.7.. 

(I am not attempting to translate this sloka; I borrow the words of Swami Sivananda as follows) 6.7 The Supreme Self of him who is self-controlled and peaceful is balanced in cold and heat, pleasure and pain, as also in honor and dishonor. 

 What does this mean? One who is "balanced" in the situations of external (physical) heat and cold, and internal (emotional) pleasure and pain and the (third party view) of honor and dishonor is verily conquered the self by self, tranquil and "paramatma samahitah" and rises above the three layered duality! Such a state of being is called samadhi; Attaining such a tranquil being is the GOAL of Raja Yoga in the words of Lord. 

Rishi Patanjali explains a step-by-step process of saM+Adhi in the first pada (quarter) of Yoga Sutras to achieve this samadhI prescribed by the Lord here.