Musings on Kashmir Shaivism

[Unseeking Seeker]

Kashmir Shaivism or Tantra means to weave the truth and may be classified in four interwoven and overlapping verticals, namely recognition (Pratyabhijna), vibration (Spanda), energisation (Krama) and celebration (Kaula).

Pratyabhijna being simply seeing the reality for what it is, resolves the seeming paradox of duality within nonduality, while Spanda connects our cognition to the life pulse of existence as the inner sound current, music of the spheres or within the void, the omnipresent Om vibration. Krama may be taken as kundalini activation while Kaula is a moment by moment surrender of each sensation to God, being the experiencer of what the mind-body apparatus feels or thinks.

The Vijnana Bhairava Tantra lists 112 meditation techniques encompassing the three broad classifications of Para (highest ~ beyond mind), Para-para (intermediate ~ visualisation) and Apara (lowest ~ physical techniques). In reality, there is none higher or lower, since one size does not fit all; as such the aspirant can use any tool that resonates within. It is better to employ only one practice rather than floundering about. Of course, we needn’t employ any method at all, which is actually optimal, if we can simply abide in a continuum of thought rested stillness.

At the very outset, let us be clear that if seeing God face to face is our goal, nothing less than that should suffice. In other words, all intermediate experiences, knowing and siddhis (if enabled) should be witnessed but not indulged in. Else, our attention is deflected and we’re no better of than when we started, that is, stuck in delusion that our identity is what matters as a doer.

It becomes clear then that to invite grace, felt as divine magnetism within us, we need to first purify our heart by choosing the internal eternal rather than the external ephemeral. As a byproduct of this choice we make, head melds with heart, in resonation with unconditional love for all life forms, in which we see the spirit or life force of God. This consciousness shift may take time to implement since we are conditioned to be self centred in pursuit of fleeting objects of desire but if we hold steady our resolve, we become empty, so to speak, making room for the divine energy to vivify our energy body. No short cuts, no yogic postures or esoteric breath control. We shift in thought, word and deed, in lived reality, moment to moment, all moments entwined.

After this we wait, for as long as it may take in thought rested animated silence, for the bliss current within to awake. The manner of unfoldment may vary from person to person depending upon samskaras (tendencies) but most assuredly grace will descend. If we are receptive, acceptant and porous, energy centres within our body and pranic pathways (nadis) will come to life. It is critical that we do not compare what’s offered to us versus the experience of others who we may be interacting with. Witness with childlike delight, in an aspect of wonderment.

Say yes to bliss in permanence, pulsating within by day and night, for it’s ours.
Say yes to shift from separateness to interconnectedness to oneness, for it’s ours.

Peace. May the divine light that is already aglow within, be recognised by all.

[AnotherBob]

You may find this relevant, an authoritative article on Liberation in Kashmir Shaivism, by the scholar John Hughes: https://www.stillnessspeaks.com/wp-c...ohn-Hughes.pdf

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[Unseeking Seeker]

Thank you, AnotherBob.

Yes, Hughes speaks of Swami Lakshmanjoo, an authority on Kashmir Shaivism. The Swami has crossed over but there are several books and you tube videos available. I receive newsletters regularly from Lakshmanjoo.org ~ Lakshmanjoo Academy, on whose letterhead, Hughes has written the article you’ve alluded to.

I’m familiar with a fair amount of his work ~ in fact in the Hinduism section you can check the thread VBT 112 meditations, which as essentially his explanations of the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra written in poetry as understood by me.

Of note is that Swami Lakshmanjoo taught based upon his direct realisation in correspondence to the ancient agamas from the time of Abhinava Gupta and others. That’s what counts ultimately ~ our own direct realisation.

[AnotherBob]

Originally Posted by Unseeking Seeker

Yes, Hughes speaks of Swami Lakshmanjoo, an authority on Kashmir Shaivism.

I did not have the opportunity to meet him, but as far as I can tell, he was a great teacher and realizer.

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