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“.
Chapter 4 (07:26)
उललङघय विविधदैवत-
सोपानकरममुपेयशिवचरणान ।
आशरितयापयधरतरां भूमिं
नादयापि चितरमुजझामि ॥॥
ullanghya vividhadaivata-...
Today’s lecture is an excerpt from the book the Shiva Sutras: The Supreme Awakening, by Swami Lakshmanjoo (Shiva Sutras 2.10), where Swamiji answers the question: “why, when you are in samādhi and are unable to maintain awareness, do you enter the dreaming state rather than the waking state?”
10. vidyāsaṁhāre tadutthasvapnadarśanam //
(Second awakening verse 10)
(The text below is from the book, it is not a transcript)
Although he is established in God...
Excerpt from the 10th chapter [Grace] from Kashmir Shaivism: The Secret Supreme, revealed by Swami Lakshmanjoo. In this lecture, Swamiji explains how Lord Shiva creates masters and disciples in the kingdom of spirituality.
(The text below is the transcript of the original audio and not the text of the book)
SWAMIJI: And I have to explain to you now how Lord Shiva creates masters and disciples in the kingdom of spirituality. But this creation is functioned by his fifth act, anugraha.
...
In this excerpt from the 10th chapter [Grace] from Kashmir Shaivism: The Secret Supreme, Swamiji explains why Lord Shiva doesn’t give grace to everyone.
(The text below is the transcript of the original audio and not the text of the book)
And there is another kind of grace, tivramadhyashaktipata, supreme medium shaktipata.
JOHN: Grace.
SWAMIJI: Yes. That [previous lecture] was [#1] super supreme. It is [#2] super medium.
JOHN: Super medium grace, madhyama.
SWAMIJI: Supreme madhyama....
This lecture is an excerpt from the Vijnana Bhairava: The Manual for Self Realization by Swami Lakshmanjoo).
Introduction by John Hughes: “The narrative begins with Bhairavi, feigning ignorance, telling Bhairava that, even though She has heard all the various theories and explanations of the nature of reality, She still has doubts and is not completely satisfied. She implores Bhairava, “What is the real essence of the way we have to tread? Please, O Lord, remove My doubts...
In this excerpt from the devotional Hymns to Shiva, Utpaladeva’s Shivastotravali, Chapter 13 verse 8, Swami Lakshmanjoo explains why Utpaladeva (the author of the Shivastotravali) wants to get drunk, what is the wine, and what are those wine glasses…
Chapter 13 (19:28)
तततदिनदरियमुखेन सनततं
युषमदरचनरसायनासवम ।
सरवभावचसकेषु पूरिते-
षवापिबननपि भवेयमुनमदः ॥॥
tattadindriyamukhena santatam
yusmadarcanarasayanasavam /
sarvabhavacasakesu purite-
svapibannapi...
Excerpt from The Mystery of Vibrationless-Vibration in Kashmir Shaivism: Vasugupta’s Spanda Kārikā & Kṣemarāja’s Spanda Sandoha, with a simple but profound message by Swami Lakshmanjoo (Spanda Karika verse 19).
“Just be attentive to one-pointedness, that is all!” ~Swami Lakshmanjoo, Kashmir Shaivism
Audio 3 – 01:00:17
यदा तवेकतर संरूढसतदा तसय लयोदयौ ।
नियचछनभोकतृतामेति ततशचकरेशवरो भवेत ॥॥
yada tvekatra samrudhastada tasya layodayau /
...
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.
Pauseless effort brings about his attainment
of God consciousness.
This yogī’s attainment of God consciousness is realized by his continued effort....
Here is a very uplifting excerpt from Abhinavagupta’s Bhagavad Gita, revealed by Swami Lakshmanjoo, which we discussed in our Weekly Sangha #81 Chapter 13, verse 25-29, where Swamiji explains how we are never lost.
DVD 13 (1:00:46)
समं सरवेषु भूतेषु तिषठनतं परमेशवरम ।
विनशयतसवविनशयनतं यः पशयति स पशयति ॥॥
samam sarvesu bhutesu tisthantam paramesvaram /
vinasyat-svavinasyantam yah pasyati sa pasyati //28//
And Paramesvarah...
In this excerpt from the Shiva Sutras - The Supreme Awakening, third awakening, verse 29, Swami Lakshmanjoo clarifies who is the one inserting knowledge in others.
In fact, only that person who has become just like Siva,28 being always busy in his daily routine with internal recitation (ajapa) and ruling his own wheel of energies, can be helpful in illuminating others. He explains this in the next sutra:
29. yo‘vipastho jñahetusca //
The one who rules the...
The festival of Maha Shivaratri, the ‘Night of Shiva’, is celebrated throughout India and the world by sincere devotees of Shiva.
In Oregon/Pacific Coast time we will privately celebrate Maha Shivaratri on Thursday, March 7th, a day earlier than the Vedic calendar, according to Kashmir Shaiva philosophy. Swamiji suggested spending the night meditating as long as one wishes, followed by a light meal before retiring to bed.
Wishing you a Happy
Maha Shivaratri!
Swami...
Swami Lakshmanjoo was very fond of Sacred Hymns of Utpaladeva’s Shivastotravali, especially the verses below, and often requested his devotees to sing these.
You can listen to Swamiji and devotees chanting the 13th Chapter here. The complete audio/transcription of the Hymns to Shiva, Songs of Devotion in Kashmir Shaivism, Utpaladeva’s Shivastotravali is available with free downloadable audio.
Below is an excerpt from the 13th Chapter (verse 1-4) revealed by Swamiji…
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