Lakshmanjoo Academy - Kashmir Shaivism

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Tattvas - Part Four
Now tattvas will come in subjectivity. We have to begin now tattvas in subjectivity, connected with subjectivity. Those were objectivity cm subjectivity.

https://www.lakshmanjooacademy.org/blog/pure-elements-tattvas-elements-part-four .tab=0

Tattvas - Part Three

https://www.lakshmanjooacademy.org/blog/the-bo***ge-of-purusha-in-kashmir-shaivism-tattvas-elements-part-three .tab=0

Organs of Cognition in Kashmir Shaivism - (Tattvas) Part Two
This is part two of an excerpt from the transcript of the audio that was the basis of the book Kashmir Shaivism, The Secret Supreme, book with free audio.

We offer an in-depth study of the “Tattvas (Elements); The Building Blocks of Creation according to Kashmir Shaivism” as an online course on our website, which includes Q&A and discussions by John, Denise Hughes and George Barselaar, who studied and lived for many years with Swami Lakshmanjoo.

To read more visit our website or copy and paste the link below into a browser...
https://www.lakshmanjooacademy.org/blog/organs-of-cognition-in-kashmir-shaivism-tattvas-part-two

The Secret Supreme. Chapter One – The 36 Tattvas
Part One
Mahābhūtas – the five great elements, Earth (pṛthvī), water (jala), fire (tejas), air (vāyu), and ether (ākāśa). These are gross and these are called mahābhūtas because the whole universe is based on these five bhūtas.

https://www.lakshmanjooacademy.org/blog/these-are-the-most-important-points-for-entering-in-shaivism .tab=0

Painting by Claudia Dose, used with permission of the artist.

An excerpt from Abhinavagupta’s Ta**raloka, 8th Āhnika, about the highest point—bindu—and it’s meaning in Kashmir Shaivism
Ūrdhve bindvāvṛitirdīptā, above Sadāśiva, above the element of Sadāśiva there is bindu āvṛiti, there is āvṛiti of bindu (āvṛiti means the enclosure of nothingness, enclosure of one-pointedness), that is bindu āvṛiti.

For instance, one-pointedness means all pervasiveness.

For instance, you want to go to kālāgnirudra bhuvana, you want to touch kālāgnirudra bhuvana, you can touch kālāgnirudra bhuvana there–it is bindu āvṛiti–this is the greatness of bindu āvṛiti. When you are established in bindu āvṛiti you can touch everything that is in this world. No matter if it is a million or billion thousand miles away from you, but you can touch it. It is existing in this bindu. This is bindu āvṛiti. Bindu āvṛiti, it is . .
Read more:
https://www.lakshmanjooacademy.org/blog/what-is-bindu-bindu-and-its-meaning-in-kashmir-shaivism .tab=0

Yukta svapnā, and when you dream, go into dreams with awareness. When you dream, you will enter into samādhi at the time of dreaming state; you won’t go into the dreaming state. At that time, you will go into samādhi while dreaming.

Yukta svapna āvabodhasya, and when you are awake, be awake with yoga. Yogo bhavati duḥkha, then yoga is very easy; everywhere yoga is available to you.
Read more and/or listen to the recording:
https://www.lakshmanjooacademy.org/blog/in-sensual-pleasures-what-should-you-do .tab=0

Four schools of Kashmir Shaivism by Swami Lakshmanjoo
This is a lecture of Swamiji given in Kashmiri translated into English. You can also listen and read more about the Systems and Schools of Shaivism by visiting this blog excerpt from the book Kashmir Shaivism, The Secret Supreme, Chapter 19, where Swamiji explains the four sub-systems of this philosophy in English.

Long after Sage Durvasa was first initiated into Shaivism by Lord Shiva on Mount Kailash, the Lord felt the need of explaining it in still greater detail in order to make it easily understandable to larger masses of spiritual seekers of varying intellectual levels and occupational pursuits. This caused Lord Shiva to reincarnate himself in the form of four successive masters in Kali Yuga, namely (1) Erakanātha, also known as Shivanāndanātha, (2) Vasugupta, (3) Somānandanātha and (4) Shambhunātha the Guru of Abhinavagupta, the last in the lineage of masters of Kashmir Shaivism (also known as Trika philosophy) of the medieval times. All these masters assumed human forms only for our benefit, for our spiritual enlightenment which alone guarantees liberation from the vicious circle of transmigration (samsāra) and total deliverance from the suffering attending thereon.

https://www.lakshmanjooacademy.org/blog/four-schools-of-kashmir-shaivism-by-swami-lakshmanjoo .tab=0

The place of the stage where he holds the various ways of becoming actor, various actors, and from the universal point of view this whole acting is done by that internal soul. Internal soul is only one, playing part of Denise, playing part of John, playing part of Lakṣmaṇjoo, playing the part of Andy and others. Actually, the internal soul is one and he plays various parts in this universal drama. That is antarātmā, internal self.

read more and listen to recording:
https://www.lakshmanjooacademy.org/blog/acting-in-this-universal-drama-as-revealed-in-kashmir-shaivism-shiva-sutras-3-10 .tab=0

How can the Powers of creative energy and the power of establishment in that creative energy be attained?
These two powers can be attained only through the master (guru), no one else.

Only He can make you realize the fullness of mudra and mantra.

But who is the master?

The one who demands that his disciples donate money to him or who requires his disciples to provide service to him, all in the guise of attaining enlightenment, is not the guru.

Then who is the guru?

The guru is that person who puts before you the reality of God consciousness. It is said that the guru is the means here because only he can make you realize the fullness of these two awarenesses, mudrā and mantra.

Read more and listen to Swamiji's original voice...
https://www.lakshmanjooacademy.org/blog/only-he-can-make-you-realize-the-fullness-of-mudra-and-mantra

Sacred Hymns of Devotion by Utpaladeva - Kashmir Shaivism
Swami Lakshmanjoo was very fond of Sacred Hymns of Utpaladeva’s Shivastotravali, especially the verses below, and often requested his devotees to sing these.

https://www.lakshmanjooacademy.org/blog/sacred-hymns-of-devotion-by-utpaladeva-kashmir-shaivism

This is the great story of my torture in this universe
In this excerpt from the Hymns to Shiva, Upaladeva’s Shivastotravali, Swami Lakshmanjoo tells of the “great story of my torture in this universe” as he relates Utpaladeva’s devotional plea to Shiva: “O Lord, keep the avenues always open, just for the time being, as long as I would pass through them and reach at Your feet“.

https://www.lakshmanjooacademy.org/blog/this-is-the-great-story-of-my-torture-in-this-universe

What is the reality of supreme consciousness? - the essence of all Ta**ras

https://www.lakshmanjooacademy.org/blog/what-is-the-reality-of-supreme-consciousness-the-essence-of-all-tantras

Why God consciousness is never in any way absent from being

https://www.lakshmanjooacademy.org/blog/why-god-consciousness-is-never-in-any-way-absent-from-bein

"This is the way of creation, how it appears in this world. And He makes you feel [it] like that [i.e., differentiatedly]. Actually, it is not felt like that. If you go to its “truth-ness”, then there is nothing. Nothing is created. Nothing has begun to create. It is all the drama of one Parabhairava and the collection of all of these energies."
Abhinavagupta's Paramāthasāra.

Online course available. Swami Lakshmanjoo, the fully realized philosopher saint of the long concealed and secret tradition known as Kashmir Shaivism, translates and illuminates Abhinavagupta's Paramāthasāra. Originally a work of Patanjali, Abhinavagupta chose to revise and update this revered treatise in order to reveal the profundities of the Trika Shaivite doctrine.
Abhinavagupta's Paramāthasāra encapsulates the essential teachings of the more difficult and challenging Kashmiri Shaiva works such as his voluminous Tantråloka and Utpaladeva's Ishvarapratyabijna. Unlike these treatises, however, Abhinavagupta's Paramāthasāra does not indulge in exacting dialectic or concise logical argumentation. Rather, it is a straightforward piece intended primarily for novices and yet it is highly beneficial even for the more advanced Shaivite practitioner. Abhinavagupta reveals Kashmir Shaivism's unique understanding of the One and the Many and prescribes highly advanced and effective means for recognizing our true identity as the One.

https://www.lakshmanjooacademy.org/purchase-video-series-paramathasara .tab=0

In this excerpt from the Bhagavad Gita in the Light of Kashmir Shaivism, chapter 16, Swami Lakshmanjoo explains that there are two kinds of glories in Kashmir Shaivism:

“Now, Lord Śiva (Lord Kṛṣṇa) says that there are two kinds of glories: one is divine glory, one is not divine glory. Divine glory shines in those who are blessed and the symptoms of divine glory are what He says now.”

https://www.lakshmanjooacademy.org/blog/there-are-two-kinds-of-glories-in-kashmir-shaivism-as-explained-by-swami-lakshmanjoo .tab=0

[One] is never lost! Who sees this, who understands this, he is understanding, he is understanding it in real sense, and he is filled with wisdom and he is likely to become, sooner or later, one with Parabhairava [Lord Shiva].
Swamiji on Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13, verse 25-29

https://www.lakshmanjooacademy.org/blog/he-is-never-lost-he-is-likely-to-become-one-with-parabhairava .tab=0

Pause-less effort and its real importance is the subject of this excerpt from the most unique book on Kashmir Shaivism, Shiva Sutras, The Supreme Awakening as revealed by Swami Lakshmanjoo. This is from the second awakening, verse number two.

https://www.lakshmanjooacademy.org/blog/pause-less-effort-and-its-real-importance-in-kashmir-shaivism

In this excerpt from the Spanda Kārikā, which is part of the book: The Mystery of Vibrationless-Vibration in Kashmir Shaivism – Spanda Kārikā & Spanda Sandoha Swami Lakshmanjoo talks about the two states which we experience in this world. Read along with the transcript in this video recording or read the transcript below…
https://www.lakshmanjooacademy.org/blog/there-are-two-states-which-we-experience-in-this-world

This is a continuation of blog posts on the Bodhapañcadaśikā by Abhinavagupta, who wrote the [15 verses of wisdom] for ‘those dear devotees who are not intellectually inclined”. In this final part Swamiji is explaining the 15th and 16th, which are the ending verses.
In this way Bhairava53, Lord Śiva is the essence of all beings, bhairavaḥ sarva bhāvānāṁ svabhāvaḥ pariśīlyate. This is svabhāvaḥ, this is ‘the nature’ of all of the universe, the existence of Lord Śiva. Lord Śiva’s existence is nature . . . everybody’s nature. Lord Śiva is found in rocks, Lord Śiva is found in the absence of Lord Śiva also. When Lord Śiva is absent, there too Lord Śiva is existing.

https://www.lakshmanjooacademy.org/blog/what-is-the-essence-of-all-beings-in-kashmir-shaivism .tab=0

There are four sections of the means (caturdhā, fourfold). One is anupāya, the next is śāmbhavopāya, the third is śāktopāya, and the fourth is āṇavopāya. In fact, these fourfold means are the nature of God consciousness; svabhāva eṣa1 vibho mantavyaḥ, [these upāyas are] the nature of God consciousness. Sa hi nityodito vibhuḥ, and that state of God consciousness is shining everywhere–in āṇavopāya, in śāktopāya, in śāmbhavopāya, and in anupāya, too.
Light on Ta**ra in Kashmir Shaivism – Abhinavagupta’s Ta**raloka Volume 2 Chapters Two & Three.

https://www.lakshmanjooacademy.org/blog/the-nature-of-god-consciousness-upayas-in-kashmir-shaivism .tab=0

O Lord, there is one desire in me. Whenever I enjoy anything, I want to perceive You along with Pārvatī. Whether in the world of senses or the world of objects, you must appear to me and I will worship you.

But not because I want to see you!

Only, I would like to feel that I am worshipping You and Pārvatī with my own hands, and your fullness would appear to me in all the three worlds.

Oh, my master Lord Śiva! Without obstacles and without delay, I would like to ascend daily to that throne where you are seated.

And once there, with your divine hands you will pat my back and the grace of that patting will be absolute nectar, and will intoxicate me just like the best Scotch Whisky.

Then O master, holding that bottle, I will dance with You and get absolute peace and satisfaction. This is my desire.

The complete audio/transcription of the Hymns to Shiva, Songs of Devotion in Kashmir Shaivism, Utpaladeva’s Shivastotravali is available with free downloadable audio. Listen to an excerpt from the 13th Chapter (verse 1-4) and read the transcript along with it.

https://www.lakshmanjooacademy.org/blog/shivastotravali-sung-by-swami-lakshmanjoo-and-devotees .tab=0

🕉

In Saturday's sangha on the Shiva Sutras we heard Swamiji explain how siddhis are appreciated by ordinary people and they view them as a sign that those possessing "special powers" is "a real yogi" and yet, in fact, they are obstacles for the yogi.

4. garbhe cittavikaso’viśiṣṭa vidyāsvapnaḥ

When a yogī’s mind is satisfied with the expansive body of illusion, then he falls in the world of differentiated perceptions and his knowledge of being is just like that of ordinary living beings.

Here, the Sanskrit word garbhe means that expansive body of the energy of illusion. That is mahāmāyā, the great illusive energy of Lord Śiva. The body of illusion that is being referred to are the limited yogīc powers (e.g., creating divine incense or the materialization of sacred ash to give to disciples, walking on water, flying in air, etc.). All these powers are existing in the sphere of māyā. When the yogī exhibits the world of limited powers and his mind becomes satisfied and does not move ahead, then for him, his knowledge of being is like the world of dreams; it is not knowledge at all. His knowledge is just the same as the knowledge held by ordinary worldly people. And so, like ordinary living beings, he falls and is established in the world of differentiation with various perceptions and thoughts.

see www.lakshmnajooacademy.org for more about the weekly sangha

Swamiji's explanation of Abhinavagupta’s Ta**rāloka, 13th āhnika how Parvati asks Siva to explain how knowledge works to liberate.
nanu prāgdīkṣayā mokṣo-

‘dhunā tu prātibhātkatham // 167 //

Nanu (it is a question of Pārvatī), prāk dīkṣyā mokṣāḥ, previously you have told that liberation comes forth by being initiated by a master, i.e. when you are initiated by a master you are liberated. Now you say by your own automatic knowledge [prātibha] you get liberation. What is the right thing then? I am confused!

iti devyā kṛite praśne

prāvartata vibhorvacaḥ / 168a

On this question of Pārvatī prāvartata vibhorvacaḥ, Lord Śiva explains again.

dīkṣayā mucyate jantuḥ

prātibhena tathā priye // 168 //

Priye, O Dear, dikṣaya mucyate jantuḥ by initiation also one gets liberated, [and] by pratibhā also one gets liberated. This is the main thing. By being initiated you get liberated, and with your own automatic knowledge, you get liberated.

Read more:
https://www.lakshmanjooacademy.org/blog/the-difference-between-initiation-and-awareness-pratibha-knowledge-2 .tab=0

The explanation of this whole universe, both subjective and objective, in Kashmir Shaivism. In this unique lecture about “The Sixfold Path of the Universe,” Swami Lakshmanjoo explains the most important points for entering into Kashmir Shaivism.

The combination of all of these six adhvans (paths), the three objective adhvans and the three subjective adhvans is called ṣaḍadhvan, the six fold adhvans (The Sixfold Path of the Universe). This is the explanation of this whole universe, both subjective and objective.

This excerpt is from the book Kashmir Shaivism, The Secret Supreme, chapter two. This book contains the essential teachings of Abhinavagupta’s ‘magnum opus’ Ta**raloka. It was the first text of Swamiji’s Teachings recorded and turned into book form by John Hughes. It is not in transcript form like our recent books! Also, check out our 4-part online course consisting of an in-depth study of “The Tattvas (Elements) as The Building Blocks of Creation in Kashmir Shaivism”.

Read more and listen to the recording:
https://www.lakshmanjooacademy.org/blog/the-explanation-of-this-whole-universe-both-subjective-and-objective-in-kashmir-shaivisma .tab=0

Because in reality Lord Śiva has, nothing has happened to Lord Śiva, he is never ignorant, he is never elevated.
But in fact these two cycles of bo***ge and liberation; the cycle of bo***ge is concerned with that ‘not knowing cycle’, i.e. when you don’t know what you are doing. When you don’t know where you are established – that is the cycle of bo***ge.

And that cycle of knowledge, liberation (what is that?) when you come to understand that it is only a trick, it is the play of Lord Śiva and nothing else. Nothing has happened, nothing is lost, nothing is gained. When nothing is lost, nothing is gained, there is nothing right. And in that cycle you must understand that, you should not attach that kind of understanding in this cycle, i.e., in the cycle of ignorance.

https://www.lakshmanjooacademy.org/blog/the-misunderstanding-about-bo***ge-and-liberation .tab=0

How to enter in the transcendental void state of Shiva.
Swami Lakshmanjoo explains a śāktopāya154 practice of supreme awareness of voidness, where one enters in the transcendental void state of Śiva. You must not recite just like “oṁ”; not like that. Plutānte, you must end it in pluta. “Ooooooooooooooṁṁṁ”, like this [Swamiji demonstrates]. In the same way, you must recite hūṁ and you must recite hrīṁ. Any of these mantras you may recite.

When you recite it, in the end you must concentrate on the voidness of that sound, where this sound merged in the end. The sound is finished afterwards, and there you must concentrate, there you must contemplate.
Śūnya bhāvanāt parayā śūnyayā śaktyā, and, by that supreme awareness of voidness, he enters in the transcendental void state of Śiva. Śūnyatāmeti bhairavi, he enters in the transcendental state of Lord Śiva, transcendental void state, voidness.

This excerpt is from The Manual for Self Realization, 112 Meditations of the Vijnana Bhairava (verse 39), by Swami Lakshmanjoo.
Read more:
https://www.lakshmanjooacademy.org/blog/how-to-enter-in-the-transcendental-void-state-of-shiva .tab=0