Differences between Vedanta & Kashmir Shaivism IV - The path to liberation yoga & upayas (paths)
In the last post we saw how the views on liberation differ from Vedanta and Kashmir Shaivism. In this post, we are exploring the means or the path that leads to liberation. As discussed below, in vedanta emphasis is laid on controlling the mind by discipline and by various practices. There are paths like jnana yoga, karma yoga, bhakti yoga, etc. in the Vedanta system. Kashmir Shaivism has it's own unique paths in this regard. They are 3 upayas (paths or methods) 1) Samhavopaya, 2) Shaktopaya and 3) Anavopaya. The emphasis is more on getting initiated or by getting transmission (shaktipat or anugraha) from the divine in KS vs. the individual solving the puzzle by various practices in Vedanta.
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7. Yoga
Both Vedanta as well as Kashmir Shaivism recommends Yoga for achieving moksha. However, there are differences in practice.
In Vedanta Yoga practices, emphasis is laid on controlling mind by strict discipline in day-to-day life that for its success can be practiced by highly motivated ones or ascetics. A Shiva Yogi is free to live without restrictions - be a householder - and participate in the pleasures of the senses of the mind (bhoga) within the limits of the socially accepted norms. He is advised to pursue some yogic practices known as trika yoga that leads its practitioner to self-bliss and at that stage the lust for worldly enjoyments automatically loose its charm. At that stage, senses develop a spontaneous indifference known as anadaravikrati to former pleasures.
The three yogic practices of trika system are:
i) Shambhavayoga – In this highest form of practice, the minds’ tendency is to think of himself as one with Ultimate Reality and nothing else. The practitioner stands still and loses itself in the vibrant glow of I-consciousness. It is the practice of non-ideation (nirvikalpa).
ii) Shaktiyoga – In this practice, one uses the mind and imagination to constantly contemplate the real nature of Self as taught by Shiva monotheistic philosophy. One is supposed to think that one is everything and yet beyond everything. It is a practice of “pure-ideation” (shuddhvikalpa). It is also known as jnanayoga.
iii) Anavayoga – Its practice is recommended for those who are not capable of adopting the higher yogic practices mentioned above. Anu stands for finite ordinary beings bounded by their limitations and objective meditation is recommended for them where the focus of attention shifts to kriya (action).
Kashmir Shaivism encourages practitioners to start from higher yogic practices (shambhavayoga) down to the last by stages if he is not comfortable there. Vedantic yoga recommends a completely different set of yoga practices and one has to go up the ladder from lower practices to upper practices.
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