In this excerpt from his book Kashmir Shaivism – The Secret Supreme, Swami Lakshmanjoo explains the Seven States of the Seven Perceivers (pramātṛis), and their respective energies (pramātṛi śaktis), a subject unique to Kashmir Shaivism.
Chapter Eight
The Seven States of the Seven Perceivers (Pramātṛin)
Now, let us discuss the seven states of the seven pramātṛins (perceivers) and their importance. The first state is called sakala. The sakala state is that state where perception...
A clear and unique explanation of the much-discussed term “maya” (illusion) in the light of Kashmir Shaivism as Swami Lakshmanjoo reveals to us how we have become limited being.
This is an excerpt from Abhinavagupta’s Paramarthasara: The Essence of the Highest Reality.
View on YouTube or listen to the audio below…
PS DVD 1 (00:55:10)
मायापरिगरहवशाद
बोधो मलिनः पुमान पशुरभवति ।
काल-कला-नियतिवशाद
रागाविदयावशेन संबदधः ॥॥
maya...
In this excerpt from the Essence of the Supreme Reality, Abhinavagupta’s Paramarthasara Swami Lakshmanjoo explains why in order to attain Moksha (Liberation) the starting point of the journey is the ending point.
PS DVD 3 (00:52:47)
मोकषसय नैव किंचिद
धामासति, न चापिगमनमनयतर ।
अजञानगरनथिभिदा
सवशकतयभिवयकतता मोकषः ॥॥
moksasya naiva kimcid
dhamasti, na capi-gamanam-anyatra /
ajñana-granthi-bhida
sva-sakty-abhivyaktata moks...
In this important excerpt from The Magical Jewel of Devotion in Kashmir Shaivism – Bhaṭṭa Nārāyaṇa’s Stava Cintamani, Swami Lakshmanjoo explains why, in Kashmir Shaivism, maya (illusion) is really svatantrya (freedom).
Audio 4 (45:26)
यसयाः परापयेत परयनत-विशेषः कैरमनोरथैः ।
मायामेकनिमेषेण मुषणंसतां पातु नः शिवः ॥॥
yasyah prapyeta paryanta-visesah kairmanorathaih /
mayamekanimesena musnamstam patu nah sivah //73//
Let that Lord Siva protect us (pa...
An excerpt from Abhinavagupta’s Tantraloka, 8th Āhnika, about the highest point—bindu—and it’s meaning in Kashmir Shaivism. The contents of this blog post are copyright protect and may not be used without the written permission of the owner.
Painting by Claudia Dose, used with permission of the artist.
ūrdhve bindvāvṛitirdīptā
tatra padmaṁ śaśiprabham /
śāntyatītaḥ śivastatra
tacchaktyutsaṅgabhūṣitaḥ // 377 //
Ūrdhve bindvāvṛitirdīptā, above ...
In this excerpt from the Hymns to Shiva, Utpaladeva’s Shivastotravali, Swami Lakshmanjoo reveals how to not be disturbed by your mind.
Chapter 12 (56:13)
मनसि सवरसेन यतर ततर
परचरतयपयहमसय गोचरेषु ।
परसृतोऽपयविलोल एव युषमत-
परिचरयाचतुरः सदा भवेयम ॥॥
manasi svarasena yatra tatra
pracaratyapyahamasya gocaresu /
prasrto’pyavilola eva yusmat-
paricaryacaturah sada bhaveyam //25//
There is one problem: I don’t want to control my mind because the mind is so...
In today’s excerpt, Swamiji explains the most important ingredient to meditation. This is from Tantraloka Chapter 11 verse 81, from the Archives of the Lakshmanjoo Academy, recorded by John Hughes. All Content is subject to Copyright © John Hughes.
taduktam varadena srisiddhayogisvarimate // 81 //
tena guptena guptaste sesa varnastviti sphutam /
This is why Bhagavan Bhairava, Lord Siva, has explained in Malinivijaya tantra that when meditation, or any practice, is done without the...
An interesting saktopaya practice from the Vijnana Bhairava – How to make your mind rest in-between.
Dharana 45
वहनेरविषसय मधये तु
चिततं सुखमयं कषिपेत ।
केवलं वायुपूरणं वा
समराननदेन युजयते ॥॥
vahnervisasya madhye tu
cittam sukhamayam ksipet /
kevalam vayupurnam va
smaranandena yujyate // 68 //
Now He puts another process. It is saktopaya.*
Make your mind rest between the energy of will and knowledge. Give your mind rest between the energy of will and knowledge (iccha...
Swami Lakshmanjoo explains what “causes” grace in Kashmir Shaivism and what are the “signs” by which you can understand that grace is there.
This is an excerpt from Abhinavagupta’s Tantraloka 13th anika, which we discussed during the online course “Grace on the Spiritual Path“.
vairagyam bhogavairasyam
dharmah ko’pi vivekita /
satsangah paramesana-
pujadyabhyasanityata // 98 //
apatpraptistanniriksa
dehe kimcicca laksanam /
sastraseva...
In this excerpt from the Vijnana Bhairava: The Manual for Self Realization Swami Lakshmanjoo explains a śāktopāya technique for revealing the formation of the nature of Bhairava by means of Bhairavi (Bhairavi means, uninterrupted awareness). How to maintain uninterrupted awareness?
Dharana 2
Now next.
मरुतोऽनतरबहिरवापि
वियदयुगमानिवरतनात ।
भैरवया भैरवसयेतथं
भैरवि वयजयते वपुः ॥॥
maruto’ntarbahirvapi
viyadyugmanuvartanat /70
bhairavya bhairavasyettham
bhairavi vyajyate vapuh // 25...
DVD 2.3 (28:32)
धयायतो विषयानपुंसः सङगसतेषूपजायते ।
सङगातसंजायते कामः कामातकरोधोऽभिजायते ॥॥
करोधादभवति संमोहः संमोहातसमृतिविभरमः ।
समृतिभरंशाटबुदधिनाशो बुदधिनाशातपरणशयति ॥॥
dhyayato visayanpumsah san...
![By producing some vision of pleasure, [the ego] gives rise [to the enemy] inside.](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/blogs/2147511598/images/c012e71-4081-b534-5cfa-b4d8cd772821_enemy-inside_fb_cleanup.jpg)
In this excerpt from Chapter Three of the Bhagavad Gita, In the Light of Kashmir Shaivism Swami Lakshmanjoo explains: Who is this enemy inside of our consciousness, how does it appear, and how does it rise? As those three questions of Arjuna are being answered by Lord Krsna in this unique version of the Bhagavad Gita by Abhinavagupta.
Now Arjuna places his question for this.
DVD 3.2 (35:49)
भवतयेष कथं कृषण कथं चैव विवरधते ।
किमातमकः किमाचारसतनममाचकषव पृचछतः ॥॥
...
