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Today, on the auspicious occasion of Swami Lakshman Joo's birth anniversary, we say a few things about why Kashmir and its philosophers are so important in the Non-Dual Tantrik tradition.Here is a playlist of lectures on Abhinava Gupta's Paramārthasāra, which is a wonderful introduction to the metaphysical and theological system of Tantra known as "Kashmir Shaivism"Lectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday 10am PST and again Friday at 6pm PST.Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrMSupport the show
In this conversation, Jacob Kyle and James D. Reich discuss the concept of Rasa in Indian aesthetics and literary theory. They explore the idea that poetry and art can evoke a specific emotional experience in the audience, known as Rasa. They delve into the theories of Anandavardhana and Abhinavagupta, who developed the concept of Rasa and its associated elements, such as Dhvani. They also discuss the relationship between aesthetics and theology in Abhinavagupta's work, highlighting how his understanding of Rasa is deeply rooted in his non-dualistic and monistic philosophy. The conversation touches on the ethical implications of Rasa and its potential to enhance our understanding of emotions and our connection to the divine.James D. Reich is the author of Save to Savor the Meaning: The Theology of Literary Emotions in Medieval Kashmir, a compelling exploration of the intellectual history of the region, focusing on the intersection of aesthetics and the philosophical theology of Kashmir Shaivism. His work engages deeply with religion in South Asia, including Hinduism and Buddhism, as well as Sanskrit literature, the theory of religious studies, and the interplay between literature and religion. ----- To learn about the comprehensive contemplative curriculum in Sādhana School, and to use coupon code CHITHEADS250 go here: https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/sadhana-school-list or learn more and enroll in the "Rasa Theory: Emotions and Imagination for Meditation & Self-Realization" Spring Sādhana only - https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/spring-2025-sadhana-school. Interested in the greater 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training? Learn more here: https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/ytt-2025.To deepen your knowledge of yoga philosophy, grab our Yoga Philosophy Reading List, a curated PDF of all the books that will give you a comprehensive overview of the yoga philosophical traditions. GET YOUR LIST HERE: https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/yp-list30-DAY SĀDHANA: 30 Days of Practices to help refine the nervous system, alleviate negative patterns, and foster a contemplative and spiritually-informed life.MANTRA Sādhana: https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/30-day-sadhanaCHAKRA Sādhana: https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/chakra-sadhanaWISDOM SCHOOL: Over 100 courses (1000+ hours) in yoga, meditation, somatics, and dharma studies for spiritual seekers, yoga teachers and, body workers, healers and therapists. Features:→ A new course every month on a variety of topics→ Learning pathways that help you digest the content→ Wisdom study emails→ Interactive member spaceStart your 7-Day Free Trial: enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/wisdom-school
This is a selection of non-dual pointers taken from Jean Klein's text, "Transmission of the Flame".Jean Klein (October 19, 1912 – February 22, 1998) was a French author, spiritual teacher and philosopher of Advaita Vedanta (Nondualism). He was born in Berlin and spent his childhood in Brno and Prague. Having left Germany in 1933 for France, he secretly worked with the French Resistance in the Second World War. Klein was a musicologist and doctor, traveled to India where he was influenced by Sri Atmananda Krishna Menon, studied Kashmir Shaivism and was sent to the West to teach Advaita Vedanta. He is regarded as one most eloquent communicators of non-duality in the second half of the 20th century.
This week's episode features a reading of six foundational articles on Shaivism, originally written for the Encyclopedia of Religion in the late 1980s. These are: Kashmir Shaivism, Krama Shaivism, Trika Shaivism, and Abhinavagupta by Alexis Sanderson, Pratyabhijñā by André Padoux, and Pāśupata by David Lorenzen.Together, they offer a concise yet profound overview of several key lineages within the Shaiva tradition. These short but potent articles explore the evolution of Shaiva metaphysics, ritual practice, the dynamics of tantric initiation, goddess worship, and the philosophical doctrines of recognition and liberation.The reading also highlights the role of Abhinavagupta as a pivotal figure who synthesized and transmitted these teachings in Kashmir and beyond. Discover a treasure trove of guided meditations, teachings, and courses at tantrailluminated.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Tantric Path: Healing and Awakening Guest: Amanda Ananda, The Tantric Mama In this juicy, playful, and deeply insightful episode of Come Back to Love®, I sit down with Amanda, The Tantric Mama, to explore the magic of Tantra—not just as a philosophy, but as a practice for healing, embodiment, and awakening. We dive into: What Tantra really is (beyond the myths and misconceptions) Ipsalu Tantra practices that help calm stress, bring you back into your body, and heal past wounds The role of pleasure in healing and transformation Mystical and awakening experiences we've both had on this journey Healing the dark shadows of childhood so you can open fully to love This conversation was full of laughter, wisdom, and powerful tools you can start using today to deepen your connection with yourself, your body, and love itself. You absolutely do not want to miss this one! BIO: Amanda Ananda is an International Tantric Facilitator and Domestic Goddess of two outrageous boys. Amanda has a diverse Tantrica background that allows for a unique, blissful and radiant experience to unfold in her workshops, online courses and sessions. She has studied with The School of Tribal Tantra based on Kashmir Shaivism and Shamanic Ritual, Ipsalu Tantra – Kriya Yoga based on Osho's dynamic teachings, and Babaji Nagaraj's esoteric Cobra Breath Technique and Urban Tantra combining modern tantric philosophy with conscious kink. Amanda is a life-long student and immerses herself in the sacred teachings from the Temple of Isis and The Rose Lineage. She is currently diving deep into Somatic Experiencing Trauma Healing and learning to incorporate scientific knowledge about our miraculous nervous systems with the ancient wisdom of Tantra. Amanda encourages everyone to make joyful well-being their first priority and to live blissfully in this intense world by gently taking care of self. Her techniques will help you become fully embodied with simple-yet-profound tools you can apply in your daily life. Working with Amanda will assist you to clear what blocks you from your true light, guiding you in opening up to the miracle of life, and embracing the bubble of “Ananda” (or, in English, Bliss!) that is constantly accessible to us all. She is tremendously enthusiastic and humbled to share these teachings with the wonderful souls who say yes to time spent with her. You can follow her at Amanda Ananda on Facebook or @thetantricmama on Instagram. For more information about Amanda's incredible work + her free offers for you, go here: https://www.thetantricmama.com For more information about Cuddle Party, go here: https://cuddleparty.com Learn more about Robyn here: https://www.comebacktolove.com
We gave this lecture some time ago, in July of last year on Swami Lakshmanjoo's birthday. However it occurred to me that it would be a very good start to 2025 if we could not only review the fundamentals of spiritual life in general but also revisit the foundations, historical, philosophical and spiritual the underlie our Tantrik tradition. Note: around 14:00 I mention a lecture I did called "Texts and Lineages in Kashmir Shaivism". I never actually got around to uploading that one but if you stay tuned for the video called "Our Tantrik Lineage", I go over the same material with albeit more detail. Anyway, in this talk, we make a few points about Tantra and texts like the Vijñāna-Bhairava Tantra and then plunge into what I consider, on perhaps a more anecdotal note, to the be the essential flavor of Shaivism and how it developed throughout history. For more detailed instructions for how to perform Kālī pūjā, watch this playlist: https://www.patreon.com/collection/233799Lectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday 10am PST and again Friday at 6pm PST.Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrMSupport the show
This is a selection of teachings taken from Jean Klein's text, "Transmission of the Flame" - formatted for guided meditation purposes. Jean Klein (October 19, 1912 – February 22, 1998) was a French author, spiritual teacher and philosopher of Advaita Vedanta (Nondualism). He was born in Berlin and spent his childhood in Brno and Prague. Having left Germany in 1933 for France, he secretly worked with the French Resistance in the Second World War. Klein was a musicologist and doctor, traveled to India where he was influenced by Sri Atmananda Krishna Menon, studied Kashmir Shaivism and was sent to the West to teach Advaita Vedanta. He is regarded as one most eloquent communicators of non-duality in the second half of the 20th century.
Many people are becoming increasingly familiar with Advaita Vedanta, the classical Non-Duality of Adi Shankaracharya but fewer people are aware that there are indeed other versions of Non-Dual spiritual philosophy and practice. In this video, we do a cursory introduction to my favorite form of Non-Duality: The Tantrik Non-Duality of Abhinava Gupta which is sometimes called The Kaula Trika, the Pratybhijñā Vada (Recognition School) or more commonly, just "Kashmir Shaivism". We start the lesson by exploring the idea of "Bhairava", in his fierce (ugra) form and also in his more, esoteric formless aspect as pure Non-Dual Consciousness which is the interpretation Abhinava Gupta often has in mind when he uses the term "Bhairava". Then, we explore some of the drawbacks and delusions of Neo-Advaita/Direct Path Teachings and well as some of the difficulties of Bhakti with a reading from the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna which teaches us how to realize the Formless God!Finally, we take up Verses 10 and 11 from the Non-Dual Tantrik introductory manual, Paramārthasāra of Abhinava Gupta to offer a teaching on the nature of the Highest Reality, the Supreme Principle in Non-Dual Shaivism which you can call Paramaśiva of which I tend to call "Kālī." And here are the Bhairava lectures we mention early in the talk:Secret Mantras for Bhairava and His 8 FormsThe Secret Teaching of BhairavaHow To Pray To Kāla BhairavaHere's the German compound word we mentioned in the lecture: Donau-dampfschiff-fahrts-gesellschaftLectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday 10am PST and again Friday at 6pm PST.Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrMAnd if you feel moved to donate to support me and this work, you're welcome to here:https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/jaimakaliSupport the show
What if unlocking a deeper connection with yourself and your partner was a skill you could cultivate? In this episode, we explore the intricate world of Tantra with the knowledgeable Shiva J, a certified Tantra Educator and transformative empowerment coach. With a diverse background encompassing Kundalini Yoga, somatic bodywork, life coaching, and more, Shiva J guides us through the misconceptions and stereotypes surrounding Tantra. Delving into its roots, we discuss the multifaceted aspects of Tantra and explore how it can be a powerful tool for healing and transformation. Shiva J sheds light on the different forms of Tantra, exploring how it can enhance intimacy in relationships, along with providing a glimpse into a new dating experience known as Tantra speed dating. You will also discover a brief guided Tantric breath exercise that you can begin using today. Tune in for an exploration into the world of Tantra where ancient wisdom meets modern understanding. “Tantra is the art and ritual of falling in love with yourself” - Shiva J You're going to leave this episode with… What tantra is and what it isn't Ways in which Shiva J has used tantra to help transform his clients lives How tantra can build more intimacy with your partner Is tantra just sex? The danger of tantra What trauma is and different ways people experience it How Tantra will allow you to love yourself more Examples of every day people who would use tantra The difference between white tantra and red tantra How teaching men and women differs in tantra and which sex Shiva J finds harder to work with What tantra speed dating is and how it compares to modern online dating The Manhood Experiment of the week that will leave you with a Tantric breath exercise you can do right now --- Leave a Review: If you enjoyed the show, please leave us an encouraging review and tell us why you loved the show. Remember to click ‘subscribe' so you get all of our latest episodes. https://ratethispodcast.com/man What is the Manhood Experiment? It's a weekly podcast where we give you one experiment to level up your mind, career, business, health, relationships and more! For more tips and behind the scenes, follow us on: Instagram @ManhoodExperiment Tiktok @ManhoodExperiment Threads @ManhoodExperiment Submit your questions @ www.manhoodexperiment.com Resources Mentioned: Shiva J - https://shivaj.com/ Resource List: 1. "Kularnava Tantra" translated by Satyananda Saraswati 2. "The Yoga of Power: Tantra, Shakti, and the Secret Way" by Julius Evola 3. "Introduction to Tantra: The Transformation of Desire" by Lama Yeshe 4. "Hevajra Tantra: A Critical Study" by David Snellgrove 5. "Tantra Illuminated" by Christopher D. Wallis (focused on Kashmir Shaivism) 6. "Tantra: The Path of Ecstasy" by Georg Feuerstein 7. "The Roots of Tantra" by Katherine Anne Harper and Robert L. Brown 8. "Tantra in Practice" edited by David Gordon White 9. "Tantra Unveiled" by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait 10. "The Roots of Tantra" by Sir John Woodroffe (Arthur Avalon) 11. "The Yoga Tradition: Its History, Literature, Philosophy, and Practice" by Georg Feuerstein 12. "The Serpent Power: The Secrets of Tantric and Shaktic Yoga" by Arthur Avalon (Sir John Woodroffe) 13. "The Kin of Ata Are Waiting for You" (1971) by Dorothy Bryant "The Red Book" (1914-1930) by Carl Jung 14. "My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies" by Resmaa Menakem 15. "The Art of Sexual Ecstasy" (1989) by Margot Anand "Sex Matters" (1969) by Osho "Siddhartha" (1922) by Herman Hesse 16. "Tantric Quest: An Encounter with Absolute Love" (1997) by Daniel Odier 17. "From Sex to Superconsciousness" (2006) by Osho 18. "Spiritual Enlightenment: The Damnedest Thing" (2002) by Jed McKenna 19. "I Am That" (1973) by Nisargadatta Maharaj 20. "The Book of Secrets: 112 Meditations to Discover the Mystery Within" (2010) by Osho 21. "Stranger in a Strange Land" (1961) by Robert A. Heinlein 22. "Women of Light: The New Sacred Prostitute" (1994) by Kenneth Ray Stubbs 23. "In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness" (2017) by Peter Levine 24. "Mysteries of the Dark Moon" (1992) by Demetra George 25. "Spinning Straw into Gold" (2006) by Joan Gould 26. "The Recognition Sutras" (2017) by Christopher Wallis
Rupert Spira provides a profound exploration of non-dualism, addressing fundamental questions about our true nature and the essence of existence. Beginning with the inquiry “Who Are You, Really?” Spira guides us through a journey that challenges our habitual thoughts and beliefs, encouraging a deeper connection to our being. He delves into our inherent longing for happiness and the qualities of awareness that shape our experience. As he explains how the universe separates itself to know itself, he highlights the implications for morality and our relationships, viewing them as containers for growth and understanding. Spira also discusses the transformative journey of enlightenment, the different types of meditation, and the potential pitfalls of spiritual ego. This exploration not only sheds light on the nature of thoughts but also offers practical guidance to embody your true self, making it a must-watch for anyone seeking deeper understanding and fulfillment in life. Sponsor: Pique's Black Friday specials are HERE with weekly deals in November. Get 20% off all new subscription orders with my link: https://www.PIQUELIFE.COM/KNOWTHYSELF André's Book Recommendations: https://www.knowthyself.one/books ___________ 0:00 Intro 1:55 Who Are You, Really? 11:01 When Thoughts Lead You Astray, Being Leads You Within 16:28 Investigating Our True Nature 24:48 Our Inherent Longing For Happiness 28:49 The Steps to Recognize Your True Being 33:10 The Inherent Qualities of Our Awareness 47:39 How the universe separates itself to know itself 59:33 Piquelife: Experience the Pinnacle of Coffee Alternatives and Save 20% 1:01:06 What Love & Happiness Are 1:09:24 The Implication This Has on Morality & How We Experience the World 1:12:22 Relationships as a Container for Growth 1:19:52 The Journey & Experience of Enlightenment 1:26:48 3 Different Types of Meditation 1:33:04 Spiritual Ego & The Pitfalls of Intellectualization 1:42:49 Beyond Suffering: The Meaning of life 1:45:09 What Happens to Our Identity When We Die 1:55:22 How Non-dualism Sees Uniqueness 2:00:15 Properly Relating To Our Emotional Experience 2:07:01 Practices to Embody Your True Self 2:11:15 Embracing the Wholeness of Your Human Experience 2:16:29 The Nature of Our Thoughts 2:23:25 A Reminder: Spirituality is Simple 2:28:03 Conclusion ___________ From an early age Rupert Spira was deeply interested in the nature of reality. At the age of seventeen he learnt to meditate, and began a twenty-year period of study and practice in the classical Advaita Vedanta tradition under the guidance of Dr. Francis Roles and Shantananda Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of the north of India. During this time he immersed himself in the teachings of P. D. Ouspensky, Krishnamurti, Rumi, Ramana Maharshi, Nisargadatta and Robert Adams, until he met his teacher, Francis Lucille, in 1997. Francis introduced Rupert to the Direct Path teachings of Atmananda Krishna Menon, the Tantric tradition of Kashmir Shaivism (which he had received from his teacher, Jean Klein), and, more importantly, directly indicated to him the true nature of experience. Rupert lives in the UK and holds regular meetings and retreats in Europe and the USA. Website: https://rupertspira.com ___________ Know Thyself Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/ Website: https://www.knowthyself.one Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ4wglCWTJeWQC0exBalgKg Listen to all episodes on Audio: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4FSiemtvZrWesGtO2MqTZ4?si=d389c8dee8fa4026 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/know-thyself/id1633725927 André Duqum Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/
A clip of Nic Higham from the monthly Zoom meeting: https://nisargayoga.org/group/
In this episode, Joe interviews Jon Reiss: critically acclaimed filmmaker, author, and host of the Plantscendence podcast, which tells people's psychedelic stories and is beginning its second season soon. He talks about his early days of directing Nine Inch Nails and Type O Negative videos, and how Plantscendence was born after he realized that the conversations he was having with people about their most transformative experiences were perfect for a podcast. He discusses his first psychedelic experience with ayahuasca, how microdosing is helping him today, and his realization that people can get to these big experiences in many different ways. He discusses: The two episodes of Plantscendence that stand out the most to him Using the term, ‘plant medicine' His 30 years of meditation practice and how it likely helped him to integrate his first psychedelic experiences The concept of plant intelligence and how plants can stop you from being a “consciousness tourist” Kabbalah, Kashmir Shaivism, non-duality, and his Shaktipata experience and more! For links, head to the show notes page.
This week's episode is a scriptural reading from the Spanda-kārikā, or the Stanzas on Divine Pulsation, by the great 9th-century tantrik master Kallaṭa from Kashmir. The Spanda-kārikā is a foundational text of Kashmir Shaivism or nondual Shaiva Tantra, and it explores the dynamic nature of consciousness and how we can access it to live an awakened and liberated life. This episode presents a straightforward translation of the scripture, allowing the teachings to simmer in you on a deeper level beyond the mental or intellectual. For further insight, commentary on the text is available across three blog posts: 'First Flow,' 'Second Flow,' and 'Third Flow.'Discover a treasure trove of guided meditations, teachings, and courses at tantrailluminated.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) By opening to the perspective of everything arising and passing away in the space of awareness we see through the illusion of separation, directly experiencing anatta, the selfless nature of reality. We also let go of identifying with hindrances and and other ways we identify with the natural unfolding of experience. This talk includes an exploration of the Kashmir Shaivism text "Realization of Our True Heart."
Spirit Rock Meditation Center: dharma talks and meditation instruction
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) By opening to the perspective of everything arising and passing away in the space of awareness we see through the illusion of separation, directly experiencing anatta, the selfless nature of reality. We also let go of identifying with hindrances and and other ways we identify with the natural unfolding of experience. This talk includes an exploration of the Kashmir Shaivism text "Realization of Our True Heart."
In this episode, Rupert speaks with Sanskritist and scholar-practitioner of Classical Tantra, Dr Christopher Wallis. They discuss the understanding that is at the heart of some of the greatest spiritual traditions, such as Christianity, Sufism, Advaita Vedanta, and Kashmir Shaivism, and how Advaita and Tantra, even though they emphasise different aspects of the understanding, are complementary and contained within each other. They also talk about the importance of translation, how the truth needs to be reformulated by each generation, and how the self that is said to be void, or empty, from the point of view of the finite mind is, in fact, plenitude itself.
Today is the monthly śivarātri (the day before the new moon) and the Wednesday Amāvasyā (new moon) features a very special celebration, the Phalaharini Kali Puja, one of the Big Three for Kali in the calendar year! Naturally, I wanted to do something special in this lecture to mark the occasion: I felt like we should discuss the very highest, the very essence, the very heart of the Tantrik tradition. And the best way to do this, I humbly propose, is to introduce you to one of the most important Tantrik texts ever composed: The Tantrasāra of Abhinavagupta. In this lecture, we discuss the four things that Abhinavagupta points out as the defining features of this tradition that make it so awesome. I want to share with you the central insight from this text which has the power and potential to totally liberate us in a single instant! Also we can talk a little about “Kashmir Shaivism” as the scholars are calling it these days, and discuss what it means to be part of this lineageविमलकलाश्रयाभिनवसृष्टिमहा जननी भरिततनुश्च पञ्चमुखगुप्तरुचिर्जनकः। तदुभययामलस्फुरितभावविसर्गमयं हृदयमनुत्तरामृतकुलं मम संस्फुरतात्॥१॥ विततस्तन्त्रालोको विगाहितुं नैव शक्यते सर्वैः। ऋजुवचनविरचितमिदं तु तन्त्रसारं ततः शृणुत॥२॥ श्रीशम्भुनाथभास्करचरणनिपातप्रभापगतसङ्कोचम्। अभिनवगुप्तहृदम्बुजमेतद्विचिनुत महेशपूजनहेतोः॥३॥ Vimalakalāśrayābhinavasṛṣṭimahā jananī bharitatanuśca pañcamukhaguptarucirjanakaḥ| Tadubhayayāmalasphuritabhāvavisargamayaṁ hṛdayamanuttarāmṛtakulaṁ mama saṁsphuratāt || 1 May my heart, filled with the nectar of the Embodied Absolute and pervaded by the emissions of the ecstatic union of my Mother who is the stainless ground of ever new creation, and my Father who is the five faced Shiva who in fullness is always delighting himself in that creation, shine forth! Vitatastantrāloko vigāhituṁ naiva śakyate sarvaiḥ| Ṛjuvacanaviracitamidaṁ tu tantrasāraṁ tataḥ śṛṇuta || 2 Not everyone is capable of diving into the the oceanic Tantrāloka Therefore, listen, all of you, to this Tantrasāra which is written in simple language! Śrīśambhunāthabhāskaracaraṇanipātaprabhāpagatasaṅkocam | Abhinavaguptahṛdambujametadvicinuta maheśapūjanahetoḥ || 3 If you want to worship Śiva, please pick one by one these lotus petals of the the heart of Abhinavagupta in which contraction has been for ever ended, which has bloomed open through the touch of the rays from the feet of his guru, the revered Sun, Shambhunatha.Lectures happen live on zoom every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday 10am PST and Friday at 6pm PST. There's Q&A right after the lectures. It is free and open to the public. All are welcome!Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815Our hatha yoga class is Wednesdays at 11am PST and again at Friday 5pm PST via this same link also.For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrMSupport the Show.
Ellen Emmet returns to the show. Ellen is a psychotherapist and facilitator of Authentic Movement. Our first conversation in episode 29, Nonduality and the Shadow, covered psychological aspects of the awakening. This time we focus on Ellen's teaching of the Awakening Body and yoga meditations in the tradition of nonduality and Kashmir Shaivism. This is an exploration of our true nature at the level of tactility and feeling. We discuss gentle practices to relax the somatic sensation of separation and re-enliven the senses, the undefinable nature of tantra, how listening to sensation differs from hedonism and sensory indulgence, embodying vs. intellectualizing, method vs. devotional practice, the pros and cons of self-trust, valuing intuition, embracing not knowing, plus much more. And just a reminder before we jump into the conversation to please like, rate, subscribe and share to help more people access the podcast. Enjoy! Resources Ellen Emmet's website: https://www.ellenemmet.com/ Ellen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theawakeningbody/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ellenemmet
Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, originally David Nowe of Pittsburgh, met Swami Muktananda and received Shaktipat initiation from him in 1975. He spent the next 8 years studying with and working for Muktananda in various ashram settings. Along the way he took initiation as a sannyasi and received the name Brahmananda. He returned to householder life for a period of time, then resumed the swami life. At one point he founded the God Realization Ministry, which taught the principles of siddha yoga in more than 200 churches, and was also the spiritual director of Simple Peace Retreats in Assisi, Italy. Since the time Covid broke out, he has been offering satsangs and conducting Shaktipat intensives in India. He is also a team member of American Veda Tours, co-leading (with the host of this podcast) journeys to sacred sites in India. We spoke about Muktananda, Kashmir Shaivism, and other illuminating topics. Find out more about Philip Goldberg books here Philip Goldberg Author, Speaker, Spiritual Counselor, Writing Coach Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode, we speak with Dr Ben Williams, an intellectual historian specializing in Indian religions and Shaiva Tantra. His academic focus has primarily been on Abhinavagupta. He holds extensive training in Indian philosophy, literature, and aesthetics, and currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Hinduism at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, where he also leads the newly launched MA in Yoga Studies. His doctoral thesis is on revelation and the figure of the tantric guru in Abhinavagupta's writings. Ben discusses his journey into this field, the distinction between a scholar-practitioner and a traditional scholar, and shares incredible insights into Kashmir Shaivism and Abhinavagupta's teachings and texts. Discover a treasure trove of guided meditations, teachings, and courses at tantrailluminated.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this Satsang honouring Shivaratri, Swamiji shares from the teachings of Kashmir Shaivism, including his 'Shavism says...' collection and his Notes from the Tea Shop. This podcast was recorded live at The Ashram in Mount Eliza on the 9th of March, 2024. Watch the full satsang program with Swamiji and Devi Ma at The Ashram with a weekly subscription to The Ashram Online! This subscription will give you access to a library of over 100 hours of Swamiji's talks, meditation and chanting programs, hatha yoga classes and more. Click here to learn more.
To access our conference library of 200+ fascinating psychology talks and interviews (with certification), please visit: https://twumembers.com. Rupert Spira is a non-dual teacher, philosopher, author, and proponent of the Direct Path, based in Oxford, UK. Bernardo Kastrup is an author, philosopher, and the executive director of Essentia Foundation, whose work has been leading the modern renaissance of metaphysical idealism, the notion that reality is essentially mental. He has PhDs in philosophy and computer engineering, and previously worked at CERN. In this conversation, we explore: — An introduction to non-duality and the empirical evidence in support of it — The link between the materialist worldview and widespread addiction in our society — The possibility of an addiction arising because of a disconnection from nature — Rupert and Bernardo's definition of a life well lived. And more. Learn more about Bernardo's work by going to: https://www.essentiafoundation.org and Rupert's at https://rupertspira.com. --- Bernardo Kastrup is the executive director of Essentia Foundation. His work has been leading the modern renaissance of metaphysical idealism, the notion that reality is essentially mental. He has a Ph.D. in philosophy (ontology, philosophy of mind) and another Ph.D. in computer engineering (reconfigurable computing, artificial intelligence). As a scientist, Bernardo has worked for the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and the Philips Research Laboratories (where the ‘Casimir Effect' of Quantum Field Theory was discovered). Formulated in detail in many academic papers and books, his ideas have been featured on Scientific American, the Institute of Art and Ideas, the Blog of the American Philosophical Association and Big Think, among others. Bernardo's most recent book is Science Ideated: The fall of matter and the contours of the next mainstream scientific worldview. For more information, freely downloadable papers, videos, etc., please visit https://www.bernardokastrup.com. From an early age, Rupert Spira was deeply interested in the nature of reality, beginning to meditate at the age of seventeen and studying the teachings of the classical Advaita Vedanta tradition over the next twenty years. In 1997 he met his teacher, Francis Lucille, who introduced him to the Direct Path teachings of Atmananda Krishna Menon and to Jean Klein and the Tantric tradition of Kashmir Shaivism. More importantly, Francis directly indicated to him the true nature of experience. Rupert lives in the UK and holds regular meetings and retreats in Europe and the US. You can learn more about his work at https://rupertspira.com. --- 3 Books Rupert Recommends Every Therapist Should Read: — The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle - https://amzn.to/44wkyEY — You Are the Happiness You Seek - Rupert Spira - https://amzn.to/44x8KT4 — Be Who You Are - Ramana Maharshi - https://amzn.to/46GzEJS
This is Ep. #2 from the TGV Global Speaker Festival series."Tantra yoga, a journey of profound connection, invites us to explore the divine dance between energy and consciousness, unveiling the sacred within the ordinary and the extraordinary within the self"Tune into #TGV414 to get clarity on the above topic. Here are the pointers from Joe Bains's conversation with Naveen Samala on The Guiding VoiceFirst rapid fire/Introduction to the guest Joe Bains and context settingJoe's PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY AND THE TOP 3 THINGS THAT HELPED IN His/Her SUCCESSThe pivotal moment or realization in Joe's journey that led him to make this significant shift of moving from an IT professional to a bio-hacker in his career and lifestyle?Key strategies and lifestyle changes Joe implemented to recover from burnout and diabetes T2 - avoiding the pharmaceutical route?What biohacking is and how it can impact one's health and well-being?What are some of the key health benefits Joe has personally experienced from the Keto diet and Intermittent fasting, and how can others get started with them effectively?How do the ancient philosophies of Tantra Yoga and Kashmir Shaivism complement his approach to health and well-being, and what can modern-day individuals learn from them?When it comes to adopting a healthier lifestyle, what are the most common challenges people face, and how can they overcome them?WITTY ANSWERS TO THE RAPID-FIRE QUESTIONSTop recommendations for someone looking to optimize their health and well-being, especially in the fast-paced, high-stress world we live in today?TRIVIA ABOUT biohacking ABOUT THE GUEST:Joe Bains is a Biohacker Health Coach and a seasoned stand-up comedian and MC who has graced stages at prominent festivals and venues. His remarkable journey involves battling and overcoming diabetes type 2, which left him disabled for six months. Through dedicated self-recovery and biohacking practices like Keto, Intermittent Fasting, cold exposure, and Wim Hof breathwork, Joe has not only reclaimed his health but now, in his 50s, enjoys boundless energy, surpassing even his younger years. He is also the author of a book on healthy living. Connect with Joe on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/joebains/Connect with the Host on LinkedIn: Naveen Samala: LinkedIn | Personal WebsiteSupport Our Mission: To contribute to our mission, consider making a donation (any amount of your choice) via PayPal: Donate HereExplore Productivity: Become a productivity monk by enrolling in this course: Productivity Monk CourseDiscover "TGV Inspiring Lives" on Amazon: Volume 1 available on Kindle and Paperback:KindlePaperbackConnect in Your Preferred Language: #TGV is available in Hindi & Telugu on YouTube:HindiTelugu Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How can we uncover the unseen guiding force of Grace in our lives? Join us as we delve into the mysteries of grace, sharing personal stories and insights that illuminate how these powerful moments shape our lives. #Awakening101 #Grace #SpiritualInsights" In this episode, we delve deeper into the concept of grace, exploring its presence in both significant life events and everyday moments. We share personal experiences, like Pernilla's journey to sobriety and meeting her spiritual teacher Sally Kempton, highlighting how these moments marked significant turning points. We discuss grace as an uncontrollable, guiding force, emphasizing the importance of being present and aware to recognize it in both monumental and mundane aspects of life. Louise reflects on finding grace in nature and swimming, illustrating how being fully present transforms ordinary experiences. We also discuss finding grace in challenging times, suggesting that the right attitude and presence can reveal grace in adversity. Overall, our conversation underlines that recognizing grace is a key aspect of personal growth and spiritual practice, urging openness and awareness in daily life. Our stories and insights aim to provide a deeper understanding of grace's subtle yet powerful influence. “Grace is the energy that connects us to the ultimate truth to the source of our being to what a friend of mine likes to call the “Godfield.” The masters of Kashmir Shaivism, an Indian Tradition that sees all of life as an expression of divine energy point out that Grace is an ever present force in the universe, more pervasive than GRAVITY.” “Meditation for the Love of It” by Sally Kempton 00:00) Introduction and Background: Introduction of Louise and Pernilla and their backgrounds. (02:31) Introduction to the Topic of Grace: Initial discussion and personal interpretations of Grace. (06:46)Personal Experiences with Grace: Sharing personal stories and defining moments related to Grace. (15:21) Defining Grace and Its Uncontrollability: Attempting to define Grace and exploring its uncontrollable nature. (22:36) Grace in Daily Life and Spirituality: Discussion on how Grace manifests in daily life and spiritual practices. (30:51) Meditation and Its Connection to Grace: The role of meditation in understanding and connecting with Grace. (38:11) Practical Tips for Meditation and Recognizing Grace: Practical advice for incorporating meditation and recognizing Grace in daily life. (45:01) Concluding Thoughts on Grace and Gratitude: Summarizing the discussion on Grace and its connection to gratitude.
Immerse yourself in the transformative spirit of Ganesha as our Ashram resonates with the joyous celebrations that extend from personal realms to the universal. Delve into the symbolic journey through the story of Mushaka, Ganesha's mouse, illustrating the release of karmic obstacles and the surrender to Shakti's play, guiding us toward union with Shiva. Join us in expanding awareness beyond the five coverings, inspired by the wisdom of Ganesha and the transformative power of surrender. Om Gam Ganapataye Namah! The Mouse of the Mind: Embracing Ganesh through the Story of Mushaka It is that time of year - Ganesha pervades our Ashrams and pujas, our lives and is everywhere! The celebrations spread in a widening circle to envelop ourselves and our families, then our friends & relatives, next the people in our public lives, then the arts & artistes enriching our lives and finally, encompassing all beings in all Lokas. It feels like a wholesome practice expanding my awareness past five aspects of my karma - from the physical and personal to the subtle and Universal. These aspects are reminiscent of the five kanchukas in Kashmir Shaivism (or even the five koshas of Advaita) that limit the experience of Universal consciousness. The five heads of Ganesha seem to symbolize His help for the progress of my awareness through these five coverings. In our practices, we surrender to the play of Shakti (i.e., Parvati) which moves our ordinary awareness into union with Shiva (Universal consciousness). Ganesha's energy helps the surrender by removing obstacles manifested in these karmic covers. The story of Ganesha's vehicle, the mouse, illustrates the nature of these blocks. The story begins in Indra Loka where Krauncha was an accomplished celestial musician. His artistry however inflated his ego leading to pride and jealousy. He became miserly in praise of others, often absent when others performed or, preferred to sulk in the back or linger behind pillars in the hall. One day, Indra called on him to perform for the assembly of sages and Devas. As he sashayed to the dais, he thought he heard rapturous applause from sage Vamadeva on the way. In reality, however, he had stepped on the sage's feet and the furious sage had cursed him “Enough of your false pretenses! May your outer form reflect your inner nature!” Krauncha was immediately transformed to a huge mountain-sized rodent to match the size of his pride! Why a rodent? It loves dark places and prefers corners and edges to open spaces which are seen as threatening or negative. Our pride is invisible to us and operates in the dark recesses of our mind, delighting in gossip and thriving on the failures of others. This negativity bias is a survival instinct that causes us to blame others when they reflect our limitations back to us. Back in the story, as the mouse-mountain moved, it trampled and destroyed the dwellings and all beings in its path. A desperate Indra ejected Krauncha from the heavens to the earth. Scurrying on earth, it destroyed forests, mountains, lakes, farms and families eventually reaching the Ashram of sage Parashara. Ganesha who was visiting the Ashram decided to end the rampage and collared the mouse with his lasso. This yanked the mouse off his feet and landed him, stunned, at Ganesha's feet. The shock of the event flashed Krauncha's behavior past his mind's eye. He felt remorseful and begged Ganesha for forgiveness. Ganesha saw that Krauncha's negative nature had dissolved. So he decided to employ Krauncha's skills and talents and made him his vehicle. And, this is how Ganesha snagged a mouse for his ride. And like tiny mice, all kinds of thoughts scurry about the mind and pull it away from our practice. Unless we surrender them, we function from our mind and ego, much like Krauncha, the musician. This is the nature of the blocks manifest in our karmic coverings. As Babaji had said at a recent Satsang, ”… The Shakti will take you through every insecurity, every illusion, and every obstacle that exists in you, on the way to that state of perfection. You have to be willing to face it and move beyond all of it …” As we practice to expand our awareness past the five coverings, the Shakti will present our karma to us. Our heartfelt wish to grow draws Ganesha's energy to all parts of our mind - through the smallest openings and darkest areas like riding a mouse! To help us surrender past the karmic blocks to union with Shiva. Om Gam Ganapataye Namah!
What if unlocking a deeper connection with yourself and your partner was a skill you could cultivate? In this episode, we explore the intricate world of Tantra with the knowledgeable Shiva J, a certified Tantra Educator and transformative empowerment coach. With a diverse background encompassing Kundalini Yoga, somatic bodywork, life coaching, and more, Shiva J guides us through the misconceptions and stereotypes surrounding Tantra. Delving into its roots, we discuss the multifaceted aspects of Tantra and explore how it can be a powerful tool for healing and transformation. Shiva J sheds light on the different forms of Tantra, exploring how it can enhance intimacy in relationships, along with providing a glimpse into a new dating experience known as Tantra speed dating. You will also discover a brief guided Tantric breath exercise that you can begin using today. Tune in for an exploration into the world of Tantra where ancient wisdom meets modern understanding. “Tantra is the art and ritual of falling in love with yourself” - Shiva J You're going to leave this episode with… What tantra is and what it isn't Ways in which Shiva J has used tantra to help transform his clients lives How tantra can build more intimacy with your partner Is tantra just sex? The danger of tantra What trauma is and different ways people experience it How Tantra will allow you to love yourself more Examples of every day people who would use tantra The difference between white tantra and red tantra How teaching men and women differs in tantra and which sex Shiva J finds harder to work with What tantra speed dating is and how it compares to modern online dating The Manhood Experiment of the week that will leave you with a Tantric breath exercise you can do right now ----- Leave a Review: If you enjoyed the show, please leave us an encouraging review and tell us why you loved the show. Remember to click ‘subscribe' so you get all of our latest episodes. https://ratethispodcast.com/man What is the Manhood Experiment? It's a weekly podcast where we give you one experiment to level up your mind, career, business, health, relationships and more! For more tips and behind the scenes, follow us on: Instagram @ManhoodExperiment Tiktok @ManhoodExperiment Threads @ManhoodExperiment Submit your questions @ www.manhoodexperiment.com Resources Mentioned: Website for Shiva J: https://shivaj.com/ Shiva J's Book Resource List: 1. "Kularnava Tantra" translated by Satyananda Saraswati 2. "The Yoga of Power: Tantra, Shakti, and the Secret Way" by Julius Evola 3. "Introduction to Tantra: The Transformation of Desire" by Lama Yeshe 4. "Hevajra Tantra: A Critical Study" by David Snellgrove 5. "Tantra Illuminated" by Christopher D. Wallis (focused on Kashmir Shaivism) 6. "Tantra: The Path of Ecstasy" by Georg Feuerstein 7. "The Roots of Tantra" by Katherine Anne Harper and Robert L. Brown 8. "Tantra in Practice" edited by David Gordon White 9. "Tantra Unveiled" by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait 10. "The Roots of Tantra" by Sir John Woodroffe (Arthur Avalon) 11. "The Yoga Tradition: Its History, Literature, Philosophy, and Practice" by Georg Feuerstein 12. "The Serpent Power: The Secrets of Tantric and Shaktic Yoga" by Arthur Avalon (Sir John Woodroffe) 13. "The Kin of Ata Are Waiting for You" (1971) by Dorothy Bryant "The Red Book" (1914-1930) by Carl Jung 14. "My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies" by Resmaa Menakem 15. "The Art of Sexual Ecstasy" (1989) by Margot Anand "Sex Matters" (1969) by Osho "Siddhartha" (1922) by Herman Hesse 16. "Tantric Quest: An Encounter with Absolute Love" (1997) by Daniel Odier 17. "From Sex to Superconsciousness" (2006) by Osho 18. "Spiritual Enlightenment: The Damnedest Thing" (2002) by Jed McKenna 19. "I Am That" (1973) by Nisargadatta Maharaj 20. "The Book of Secrets: 112 Meditations to Discover the Mystery Within" (2010) by Osho 21. "Stranger in a Strange Land" (1961) by Robert A. Heinlein 22. "Women of Light: The New Sacred Prostitute" (1994) by Kenneth Ray Stubbs 23. "In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness" (2017) by Peter Levine 24. "Mysteries of the Dark Moon" (1992) by Demetra George 25. "Spinning Straw into Gold" (2006) by Joan Gould 26. "The Recognition Sutras" (2017) by Christopher Wallis
Caroline welcomes spicy, deep-delving Shambhavi Sarasvati Diving into the Dark Underworld where our souls can speak more deeply to us. Tyranny seeks to destroy Community, then creates the toxic mimic, which be a cult…. that must have conflict and cruelty on which to feed…. So we animate Community arising from the Earth, across all borders…. Community be dedicated to collective well-being- democracy- equal rights a cult be a prison….. wonder and responsive augury conversing. this ongoing crisis of cruel carnage – reminds us to practice everything we hold dear, & invite in power to resolve. Shambhavi is the spiritual director of Jaya Kula. Her principle training is in the View and practices of Trika Shaivism (a.k.a. Kashmir Shaivism or Shaiva Tantra) and the Dzogchen tradition of Tibet. Shambhavi emphasizes direct encounters with the wisdom of the heart through the more explicitly devotional teachings and practices of Trika Shaivism and Dzogchen. At one time, Shambhavi taught at Northwestern University. She left academia in 2004 in order to devote herself to practice, writing and teaching in her spiritual tradition. Shambhavi is the author of The Reality Sutras: Seeking the Heart of Trika Shaivism (2018), Nine Poisons, Nine Medicines, Nine Fruits (2017), The Play of Awakening: Adventures in Direct Realization Tantra (2012), Pilgrims to Opennness: Direct Realization Tantra in Everyday Life (2009), Returning (2015), and No Retreat: Poems on the Way to Waking Up (2016). In addition, she published an academic book, Avatar Bodies: a Tantra for Posthumanism. She holds an MFA in Fiction from Mills College and a Ph.D. in Modern Thought and Literature from Stanford University. jayakula.org timemedicine.org (a project of Jaya Kula) kindred108.love (articles) and her recent article, her shared last week: Mourning the victims of the cult of Israel https://www.kindred108.love/p/mourning-the-victims-of-the-cult The post The Visionary Activist Show – Diving into the Dark Underworld, Animating Community appeared first on KPFA.
This episode dives into the journey of Anderson Pugash, a sound meditation facilitator, Reiki master practioner, co-founder of Palm House Hospitality which owns and operates Palm House, The Dorian, Bergerac, and Audio, and is a partner in the Flamingo Resort in Santa Rosa, CA. We dive into his journey in healing his debilitating pain and herniated neck and how that took him off the path of hospitality to spirituality. Resources: Anderson Pugash Website Anderson's Instagram In this episode we cover: Overcoming grief and death of a parent Various healing modalities including Reiki and energy healing neurofeedback sound healing Yogic perspective of non-dualism Anderson's practice of Kashmir Shaivism
Christian Dittrich Opitz has worked intensively with biophysics, Ayurveda and yoga. He is a seminar leader and author of various books in the fields of health and learning and also educates as a bioelectric health advisor. Dive into this conversation which unravels the intricacies of consciousness, Kundalini energy, and the journey to self-discovery.
We'll explore how it might be possible for a person to be instantly free here and now, as suddenly and as effortlessly and easily as one "falls from a tree after losing one's footing". Naturally, this will take us into a discussion on anupaya, the notorious "no path path" of instant liberation and jīvanmukti, the somewhat paradoxical doctrine of being free of the world/body while remaining in it! Some schools of spirituality, dualistic theistic traditions foremost amongst them, wholeheartedly reject this idea, preferring instead a post mortem salvation, and a "there" and "then" God as a opposed to a "here" and "now" one while other schools, like Advaita Vedanta and Kaula Trika (Non-Dual Shaivism) see jīvanmukti not only as a theoretical necessity given their reasoning, but as a practical guarantee! In so many words: at the end of today's lecture you could very well, by śiva's grace, leave enlightened, completely and irrevocably because as you will see from the citations below, bondage and liberation are nothing but the Lord's play - i.e your play! We will explore, Mā willing, exactly the mechanism by which this kind of instant liberation comes about to induce it (or at the very least prepare for the possibility of it) in our own immediae experience. Citations (from Paramārthasāra of Abinava Gupta):paramaṃ yat svātantryaṃ durghaṭasaṃpādanaṃ maheśasya devī māyāśaktiḥ svātmāvaraṇaṃ śivasyaitat ( 15 )The supreme Lord's great freedom, which is capable of accomplishing the most difficult task, is called the Goddess Maya-sakti. It serves Paramasiva as a veil to hide Himself.svajñānavibhavabhāsana - yogenodveṣṭayennijātmānam | iti bandhamokṣacitrāṃ krīḍāṃ pratanoti paramaśivaḥ (33)Lord Paramaśiva liberates himself from bondage by loosening its grip through the glory of knowledge of the Self. Thus bondage and liberation are his divine play.tadvat kañcukapaṭalī -pṛthakkṛtā saṃvidatra saṃskārāt |tiṣṭhantyapi muktātmātatsparśavivarjitā bhavati (86)In the same way, Consciousness once its been separated from its complex of sheaths (kañcukas) is forever alien to their touch, even though as a liberated self, it remains there due to impressions (samskāras). tīrthe śvapacagṛhe vānaṣṭasmṛtirapi parityajandeham |jñānasamakālamuktaḥkaivalyaṃ yāti hataśokaḥ (83)Whether he departs from his physical body in a holy place or in an outcaste's hovel, and even if he loses his memory, he obtains liberation immediately upon receiving knowledge thus overcoming sorrow.**ādarśe malarahite yadvad vadanaṃ vibhāti tadvad ayam |śiva - śaktipātavimale dhītattve bhāti bhārūpaḥ ( 9 )As a face shines forth in a spotlessly clean mirror, in the same way the supreme Lord who is of the nature of illumination shines forth in the buddhi (intellect) tattva that has been purified following the descent of divine grace by the Lord.We'll also continue to explore our list below with an emphasis on grades one and two which guarantee instant, spontaneous, and permanently abiding realization. note also iśopanishad 6 & 7:yas tu sarvāni bhūtani atmany'eva'nupasyati sarva bhūteshu catmanam tato na vijugupsateHe who sees everything in himself and his Self in everything, never hates anythingyasmin sarvāni bhutāni atma'iva bhūdvijānatah:tatra ko'moha kah shoka ekatvam anupaśyatah: When a person knows that he Himself has become everything and he knows the Oneness of things, how can he hate or love anythingSupport the show
Tara Judelle has taught yoga around the world for over 20 years. With asana as a gateway, Tara steeped herself in the non-dual philosophy of Kashmir Shaivism or Tantra. In 2014 she co-created the school of Embodied Flow with Dr. Scott Lyons; an integrative blend of hatha yoga, somatics, meditation, and transpersonal psychology that elicits the experience of meditation in action. In this reflective episode we discuss how asana can be used skilfully to support our awakening process. Tara shares the philosophy of tantra and how it informs her practice as well as the influence of her own teachers Sally Kempton and Bonnie Bainbridge-Cohen. She explains the concept of 'embodied anatomy' and what it really means to have freedom. Tara shares how in order to fully inhabit the body, healing must first take place, and how tapping into healing energy happens naturally when coming into a place of stillness within or by touching the "ground of being". We discuss the importance of getting in touch with the memory and resonance of early embryological aspects of our bodies, and how macrocosmic, universal energy flows are reflected in the movements of our physical body. Tara's classes focus on the discovery of embodied anatomy, bringing to the yogic tradition a scientific yet playful study of the movement vocabulary of the body and the ever-expanding perceptual awareness of the human mind. Following an initial move from Los Angeles to direct a yoga program and retreat center in Bali for several years, Tara now teaches workshops, retreats and teacher trainings worldwide; her dynamic style bringing ease and authenticity into a new yoga culture.www.tarajudelle.comwww.embodiedflow.comLiked what you heard? Help us reach more people! Please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts Start Energy Healing Today!Unlock your healing potential with our informative and fun introductory 10 hour LIVE online class in energy healing Our Flagship Training is Setting the Standard in Energy HealingThe next 100 hour EHT-100 Energy Healing Training is open for enrollment! LIVE & online - 10th February - 21st July 2024. Join us in Bali in 2024 - Our Retreat AND first in-person EHT-100 Training are now booking! Contact Field Dynamics Email us at info@fielddynamicshealing.com fielddynamicshealing.com Thanks for listening!
There are few theories regarding God's grace in Indian philosophy:1. It is earned through good works (karma)2. It is earned through devotion (bhakti)3. It is earned through renunciation (tyāga)4. It comes as a result of two equally strong samskaras bubbling up at the same time and checking one and another, thus artificially stalling all future karmas from fructifying (karmasāmya) Using some arguments from Abinava Gupta's commentary on the Mālinīvijaya Tantra, we'll show why all of these are absolutely wrong. We'll demonstrate how:(a) grace comes from the independent, playful will of Divine Mother. (b) since all this is verily śiva, God is really ever gracing Herself.We will also, Mā willing, respond to a few objections regarding grace:1. If there is such a thing as grace, then, surely God is partial to some and not to others? Why would she keep some in bondage and liberate only a few?2. If God is playfully enacting her will a bondage and liberation, then, why bother? Why go through the trouble of bondage at all?3. If God's grace is the only operant factor in a person's liberation and if God's grace cannot be earned through spiritual practice, why bother to engage in practice at all?Naturally, we'll review the 9 grades of śaktipāta (grace) in Abinava Gupta's classification. This will help us gauge what level of spirituality we are currently at so that we can better enjoy our time as aspirants!Also, we get to talk a little about enjoyment and renunciation in spiritual life and why renunciation is an absolutely natural, easeful and effortless process, like we started talking about last week! (anādara virakti).And finally, if there's time, I want to share some quotes from Utpala Deva's Shivastoravali to show how Devotion is the highest attainment in Kashmir Shaivism (i.e. bhakti is the total ripening of jnana, which is itself synonymous with liberation itself) thereby linking it so Sri Ramakrishna's views on the same! The 9 Levels of Śaktipāt:1. Tīvra tīvra = Intensely intense = videha mukti2. Madhya tīvra = Moderately intense = jīvanmukti3. Manda tīvra = Weakly Intense = jīvanmutki4. Tīvra madhya = intensely moderate = krama mukti5. Madya madya = Moderately moderate = krama mukti6. Manda madhya = Weakly moderate = krama mukti7. Tīvra manda = Weak but Intense8. Madya manda = Moderately weak9. Manda manda = Weakly weakQuotes from Abinava Gupta's Paramarthasaraādarśe malarahite yadvad vadanaṃ vibhāti tadvad ayam |śiva - śaktipātavimale dhītattve bhāti bhārūpaḥ ( 9 ) As a face shines forth in a spotlessly clean mirror, in the same way the supreme Lord who is of the nature of illumination shines forth in the buddhi (intellect) tattva that has been purified following the descent of divine grace by the Lord. paramaṃ yat svātantryaṃ durghaṭasaṃpādanaṃ maheśasya devī māyāśaktiḥ svātmāvaraṇaṃ śivasyaitat ( 15 ) The supreme Lord's great freedom, which is capable of accomplishing the most difficult task, is called the Goddess Maya-sakti. It serves Paramasiva as a veil to hide Himself.kambukamiva taṇḍulakaṇa - viniviṣṭaṃ bhinnamapyabhidā |bhajate tattu viśuddhiṃ śivamārgaunmukhyayogena (18)The husk existing on a grain of rice, though existing separately, appears inseparable from the grain. But [the fettered being, who similarly seems attached to his fetters] attains purity by turning towards Siva through Yoga and treading on his path.svajñānavibhavabhāsana - yogenodveṣṭayennijātmānam | iti bandhamokṣacitrāṃ krīḍāṃ pratanoti paramaśivaḥ (33)Lord ParamaSiva liberates himself from bondage by loosening its grip through the glory of knowledge of the Self. Thus bondage and liberation are his divine pSupport the show
This is a selection of some key teachings of Abhinavagupta extracted from various sources and texts. Abhinavagupta (c. 950 – 1016 CE ) was a philosopher, mystic and aesthetician from Kashmir. He was also considered an influential musician, poet, dramatist, exegete, theologian, and logician – a polymathic personality who exercised strong influences on Indian culture. Abhinavagupta was born in a Brahmin family of scholars and mystics and studied all the schools of philosophy and art of his time under the guidance of as many as fifteen (or more) teachers and gurus. In his long life he completed over 35 works, the largest and most famous of which is Tantrāloka, an encyclopedic treatise on all the philosophical and practical aspects of Kaula and Trika (known today as Kashmir Shaivism).
In this lecture, we are going to discuss the Abhāsa-Vada (Reflection Model) of Kaula Trika Tantra: how is it that the one Unchanging Absolute, śiva, manifests playfully as this dazzling display of phenomena called the world without (a) losing pristine transcendent nature (b) while actually literally and really manifesting as everyone and everything?This sounds like a flat out contradiction. What's more, tonight I'm going to show how Kaula Trika Śaivism gives us a worldview that is neither Realism nor Idealism (as we carefully introduced last week), but something that is better and more satisfying than both! Naturally, to demonstrate this, we'll compare Trika to Ramanuja's parinama-vada (real transformation model) and Shankara's vivārta-vada (illusory appearance model).Then, at the very end of the lecture, I'm going to offer the mantra OM Namah Shivāyah and Mā willing, explain its esoteric significance in light of what was discussed. This understanding is intended to empower your practice and allow you to experience everyone and everything as nothing but God! Now, this discussion is extremely philosophically subtle. As Abinava Gupta himself says in Tantrāloka II.28:Durvijñeyā hi sāvasthā kimapyetad anuttaram"It is very difficult to understand this state and hence it is called the Absolute (anuttara)" Nevertheless, let me offer one reason why it is very important to understand this idea:In Indian philosophy, to know is to become (brahma veda brahmaiva bhavati). A darśana, or philosophical view, is about realization and experience. The words that describe that realization are secondary and yet because the words carry with them the power of the realization, they can act as a doorway through which one realizes for themselves the state to which they point. That's probably why Abinava Gupta uses the term āvastha here in the quote, to mean "state". So ideally, by the end of tonight's lecture, you won't leave with merely understanding but with realization.Lectures happen live on zoom every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday 10am PST and Friday at 6pm PST. There's Q&A right after the lectures. It is free and open to the public. All are welcome!Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrMSupport the show
Join me on a journey through the life and poetry of Lal Ded, one of the most revered mystic poets of Kashmir. Lal Ded lived in the 14th century and her poetry has since inspired generations of people in the region and beyond. In this video, we explore Lal Ded's life, her poetry, and her impact on the culture of Kashmir.Sources/Suggested Reading:Dyczkowski, Mark S.G. (1987). "The Doctrine of Vibration: An Analysis of the Doctrines and Practices of Kashmir Shaivism". SUNY Press.Hoskote, Ranjit (Translated by) (2013). "I, Lalla: The Poems of Lal Ded". Penguin Classics.Marjanovic, Boris (Translated by) (2004). "Abhinavagupta's Commentary on the Bhagavad Gita: Gitartha Samgraha". Indica Books.Muller-Ortega, Paul (1988). "The Triadic Heart of Siva: Kaula Tantricism of Abhinavagupta in the Non-Dual Shaivism of Kashmir". SUNY Press.Singh, Jaideva (Translated by) (1990). "The Doctrine of Recognition: A Translation of the Pratyabhijnahrdayam with an Introduction and Notes, by Ksemaraja". SUNY Press.Swami Lakshmanjoo (2015). "Kashmir Shaivism: The Secret Supreme". CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.Torella, Raffaele & Bettina Bäumer (2016). "Utpaladeva: Philosopher of Recognition". D.K. Printworld.Torella, Rafaele (Translated by) (2013). "The Isvarapratyabhijnakarika of Utpaladeva: Critical edition and annoted translation". Motilal Banarsidass Publishers.#shaivism #mysticism #kashmir Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Pratyabijñāhṛdayam of Rājānaka Kṣemarāja is an 11th century foundational text of Nondual Kashmir Shaivism. This ancient and profound 20-verse text reveals the direct non-path path to liberation. It explores how to achieve freedom from all limitations and unfolds the recognition that all things—you, me, and everything sentient and non-sentient are one, not separate. The Pratyabijñāhṛdayam is an essential text that holds immense significance when studying the teachings of Sāṁkhya-Patañjali Yoga, Advaita Vedanta, and the unqualified nondual teachings of Kashmir Shaivism. This profound scripture, written by the sage Kṣemarāja, serves as a bridge connecting these philosophical systems, offering profound insights, and deepening our understanding of the ultimate reality. Rajanaka Kṣemarāja (क्षेमराज) (late 10th to early 11th century) was a philosopher and brilliant disciple of Abhinavagupta, who was a peerless master of tantra, yoga, poetics, and dramaturgy.
Is there anything quite so joyful as thinking in terms of eternity and infinity? Perhaps that's why coming together every Monday night for our 7pm PST Satsangh remains ever fresh and ever blissful even after all of these years together. There is just such a sweetness to holding these profound and refined conceptions of the Absolute. By holding and contemplating vast concepts, you taste the vastness of our own being to which those concepts can only point! Tonight's lecture will explore “The 5 faces of Lord Śiva”, that is, the subtlest and most refined concept of “God” (Pure. Non Dual Awareness) articulated by the Kaula Trika Tantra tradition. I want to ask; What does God want? If this is God's play (līla) then what is the nature of the game? How can we take spiritual life seriously without taking ourselves too seriously? We'll continue our study of the 36 tattvas by considering the very highest to make the claim that God's face is Your face, God's dance is Your dance!Lectures happen live on zoom every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday at 6pm PST. There's Q&A right after the lecture. It is free and open to the public. All are welcome!Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrMSupport the show
Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati is joined by special guest scholar George Barselaar, a disciple and attendant of the great master of Kashmiri Shaivism His Holiness Swami Lakshmanjoo, live from Swamiji's ashram in Srinagar, Kashmir. We are continuing the discussion we started last week on verse 2.10: विमर्श इति तां प्राहुः शैवशास्त्रविशारदाः | अविद्यामितरे प्राहुर्वेदतत्त्वार्थचिन्तकाः || १० || 10. vimarśa iti tāṃ prāhuḥ śaiva-śāstra-viśāradāḥ | avidyāmitare prāhur-veda-tattvārtha-cintakāḥ || 10 || "Those versed in Shaiva scriptures (Shaivites) declare Her to be vimarśa (reflective awareness), while those who contemplate the doctrines of the Vedas (Vedantins) declare Her to be powerful avidya (ignorance).”
Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati is joined by special guest scholar George Barselaar, a disciple and attendant of the great master of Kashmiri Shaivism His Holiness Swami Lakshmanjoo, live from Swamiji's ashram in Srinagar, Kashmir. We are continuing the discussion we started last week on verse 2.10: विमर्श इति तां प्राहुः शैवशास्त्रविशारदाः | अविद्यामितरे प्राहुर्वेदतत्त्वार्थचिन्तकाः || १० || 10. vimarśa iti tāṃ prāhuḥ śaiva-śāstra-viśāradāḥ | avidyāmitare prāhur-veda-tattvārtha-cintakāḥ || 10 || "Those versed in Shaiva scriptures (Shaivites) declare Her to be vimarśa (reflective awareness), while those who contemplate the doctrines of the Vedas (Vedantins) declare Her to be powerful avidya (ignorance).”
What is "God" and what does it mean to "attain" That?In this lecture, we discuss discuss "The Absolute" on a few different levels from a philosophical perspective but more importantly, we offer a few practice methods for "attaining", that is "recognizing, integrating and acting/thinking/feeling according to" that Absolute Truth. This lecture is part of a series on Kashmir Shaivism which you can watch here https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfGGe32PDNMb9bvgn4Vfn1mtrfF7JPZQnIn this installment, we hint at the metaphysical explanation behind the Shiva līla (God's play) idea which is central to this tradition by explaining the 5 powers of God with an emphasis on Vimarśa or ānanda-śakti! At the end of the lecture we read a beautiful poem by Shankara that Swami Vivekananda sings to M. towards the end of the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. And I'd like to share with you what is for me one of the most moving moments in the Gospel, the final scene where M. smiles and Narendra talks about the ultimate in spiritual life, in one concise sentence. And then I'd like to share the final line of the Gospel and its significance which changed my life and I pray, will change yours too! Lectures happen live on zoom every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday at 6pm PST. There's Q&A right after the lecture. It is free and open to the public. All are welcome!Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrMSupport the show
Does your life have a purpose or meaning? In order to ask the question, "what is the purpose of my life?" you have to first take a few steps back and ask "what is the purpose of the Universe?" Since you are an active participant in and a veritable fraction of (if not entirely) the Universe, your purpose must be in some what articulated along with and according to the purpose of the Universe. But does the Universe even have a purpose? Or is it just insentient matter? Is there a God who created the Universe as in dualistic theistic religion? Or is God embodied AS the Universe as in pantheistic and panentheistic religion? If so, what is God's purpose for creating/becoming all of this? And what does any of that have to do with you? But again, before asking "why the Universe" or "why God", we must first ask "what"! WHAT is God and what is the Universe?! In this lecture, we sketch out the map of Reality as per the Sāmkhya, Advaita Vedanta and Trika-Krama (Kashmir Shaiva) systems of philosophy before offering a teleology (a raison d'etre) for all of it.Ironically, right as we got to the "why" question", my internet connection cut out and the recording stopped. And since I have no idea how to do video editing whatsoever, this video ends in somewhat of a cliff-hanger. You can watch the final ten or so minutes of this lecture for absolutely free here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/true-purpose-of-84533452?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkI promise this is not some clever marketing scheme to direct traffic from here to Patreon! Its only because I felt the last section was too short and out of context to upload unto YouTube as a stand alone video or as a podcast!Lectures happen live on zoom every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday at 6pm PST. There's Q&A right after the lecture. It is free and open to the public. All are welcome!Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrMSupport the show
“For now, what is important is not finding the answer, but looking for it.”― Douglas R. Hofstadter, Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid Donald Hoffman is a cognitive scientist and author of more than 100 scientific papers and three books, including Visual Intelligence: How We Create What We See (W.W. Norton, 2000). He received his BA from UCLA in Quantitative Psychology and his Ph.D. from MIT in Computational Psychology. He joined the faculty of UC Irvine in 1983, where he is now a full professor in the departments of cognitive science, computer science and philosophy. He received a Distinguished Scientific Award of the American Psychological Association for early career research into visual perception, the Rustum Roy Award of the Chopra Foundation, and the Troland Research Award of the US National Academy of Sciences. He was chosen by students at UC Irvine to receive a campus-wide teaching award, and to be included in Who's Who Among America's Teachers. Hoffman studies visual perception, visual attention and consciousness using mathematical models, computer simulations, and psychological experiments. His empirical research has led to new insights into how we perceive objects, colors and motion. His theoretical research has led to a “user interface” theory of perception, which proposes that natural selection shapes our perceptions not to report truth but simply to guide adaptive behavior; this is the subject of his TED Talk entitled “ Do we see reality as it is ?” and of an article in The Atlantic entitled “ The case against reality .” It has also led to a “ conscious realism ” theory of consciousness—which proposes a formal model of consciousness and a new solution to the mind-body problem. Rupert Spira lives in the UK and holds regular meetings and retreats in Europe and the U.S. In these meetings he explores the perennial non-dual understanding that lies at the heart of all the great religious and spiritual traditions, such as Advaita Vedanta, Kashmir Shaivism, Hinduism, Buddhism, mystical Christianity, Sufism and Zen, and which is also the direct, ever-present reality of our own experience. It is a contemporary, experiential approach involving silent meditation, guided meditation and conversation, and it requires no affiliation to any particular religious or spiritual tradition. All that is needed is an interest in the essential nature of experience, and in the longing for love, peace and happiness around which most of our lives revolve. Rupert is author of The Transparency of Things – Contemplating the Nature of Experience (2008); Presence, in two volumes: The Art of Peace and Happiness and The Intimacy of All Experience (2012); The Light of Pure Knowing – Thirty Meditations on the Essence of Non-Duality (2014); The Ashes of Love (2016); and Transparent Body, Luminous World – The Tantric Yoga of Sensation and Perception (2017). Forthcoming titles include The Nature of Consciousness – Essays on the Unity of Mind and Matter (2017) and The Essence of Meditation – Being Aware of Being Aware (2017). Topics: 00:00:00 – Introduction 00:03:30 – What's at the Your Current Edge? 00:10:35 – Is the Mind the Right Instrument for Exploring Consciousness? 00:18:52 – Resting in the Unknown and What Is Understanding, The Ultimate Science? 00:26:44 – What Does the Ego Want? 00:37:00 – Why Does the One Let Itself Go Unconscious? 00:52:00 – What Are The Limits of Language and Thoughts to Express Consciousness? 00:56:56 – The Amplitudhedron and Beyond 01:02:00 – How Can We Perceive Outside of Spacetime? 01:16:39 – Spiritual Bypassing: Awakening and Transcending –Previous Episode with Donald Hoffman and Rupert Spira hosted by Simon Mundie: The Convergence of Science and Spirituality | Donald Hoffman & Rupert Spira
If you'll allow me to be a little controversial, I'd like to make a case in this lecture for why you should have a spiritual ego. I'm going to explain what I mean by "spiritual ego" on a few levels in order to transmit to you strength, self-reliance and confidence. I'm going to say that "weakness" (which typically disguises itself as false "humility") is the ultimate obstacle in spiritual life. To combat that, I want to assure you of your own power, your own indomitable strength! And to do that, I'm going to try to convince you to have a very robust sense of ego, a "spiritual" ego! Lectures happen live on zoom every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday at 6pm PST. There's Q&A right after the lecture. It is free and open to the public. All are welcome!Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrMSupport the show
Get early access to our latest psychology lectures: http://bit.ly/new-talks5 In this interview, I'm joined by Rupert Spira. Rupert is one of the world's leading teachers on the nondual understanding of consciousness and its application to improving our everyday quality of life. He gives talks internationally and has written several books, including: Being Myself, The Nature of Consciousness, and You Are The Happiness You Seek. In this conversation, you'll learn: — What the nondual understanding is and how it's at the core of almost every religious or every spiritual tradition — How understanding this simple idea can transform your felt experience of being in the world; helping you to feel more connected both internally and to everyone and everything in the world around you — The pitfalls of seeking happiness in external things and why this almost always fails — The practical implications of nonduality for the individual and society And more. You can learn more about Rupert's work by visiting: www.rupertspira.com. --- From an early age, Rupert Spira was deeply interested in the nature of reality, beginning to meditate at the age of seventeen and studying the teachings of the classical Advaita Vedanta tradition over the next twenty years. In 1997 he met his teacher, Francis Lucille, who introduced him to the Direct Path teachings of Atmananda Krishna Menon and to Jean Klein and the Tantric tradition of Kashmir Shaivism. More importantly, Francis directly indicated to him the true nature of experience. Rupert lives in the UK and holds regular meetings and retreats in Europe and the US. You can learn more about his work at www.rupertspira.com. 3 Books Rupert Recommends Every Therapist Should Read: — You are the Happiness You Seek - Rupert Spira: https://amzn.to/3VmUUhf — Conscious is all - Peter Dziuban: https://amzn.to/3icDxBt — Awareness and Tranquility - William Samuel: https://amzn.to/3Vf1czE
This lecture is going to be an exciting one: Can You Become Enlightened From Watching YouTube Videos? Despite the cheeky title, we're going to explore some of the subtlest linguistic mysticism ever: the Kashmir Shaiva development of the 5th CE sage Bhatrhari's claim of the śabdabrahman, the "sound Brahman". Interestingly, it is a beautiful commentary on the opening of the Gospel of John, "in the beginning was the logos, the word." What does it mean for the "word" to be "with" God and BE God? etc. Then, using this linguistic mysticism as a foundation we'll expound on the "four levels of the Word", a central model in Non-Dual Shaivism which teaches us how to: 1. benefit truly from lectures, reading, studying etc. 2. "rewrite" limiting beliefs 3. empower mantas/do japa And so much more! Lectures happen live on zoom every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday at 6pm PST. There's Q&A right after the lecture. It is free and open to the public. All are welcome!Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrMSupport the show
Finally it is time to talk about the tantric tradition of non-dual Kashmir Shaivism, as well as some of its representatives like the great Abhinavagupta.Music by:Filip HolmBanaras Baba & Kolkata KidPawan KrishnaPalace on WheelsSources/Suggested Reading:Chakravarty, H.N. (Translated by) (2012). "Tantrasara of Abhinavagupta". Edited by Boris Marjanovic. Rudra Press.Dyczkowski, Mark S.G. (1987). "The Doctrine of Vibration: An Analysis of the Doctrines and Practices of Kashmir Shaivism". SUNY Press.Hoskote, Ranjit (Translated by) (2013). "I, Lalla: The Poems of Lal Ded". Penguin Classics.Marjanovic, Boris (Translated by) (2004). "Abhinavagupta's Commentary on the Bhagavad Gita: Gitartha Samgraha". Indica Books.Muller-Ortega, Paul (1988). "The Triadic Heart of Siva: Kaula Tantricism of Abhinavagupta in the Non-Dual Shaivism of Kashmir". SUNY Press.Singh, Jaideva (Translated by) (1990). "The Doctrine of Recognition: A Translation of the Pratyabhijnahrdayam with an Introduction and Notes, by Ksemaraja". SUNY Press.Swami Lakshmanjoo (2015). "Kashmir Shaivism: The Secret Supreme". CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. Torella, Raffaele & Bettina Bäumer (2016). "Utpaladeva: Philosopher of Recognition". D.K. Printworld.Torella, Rafaele (Translated by) (2013). "The Isvarapratyabhijnakarika of Utpaladeva: Critical edition and annoted translation". Motilal Banarsidass Publishers.#hinduism #kashmir #mysticism Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We are about to have a very fascinating discussion: how do I know if I am enlightened? First of all, while there are certainly different conceptions of realization among the various spiritual traditions, there is a universal principle that is common to the all. We first discuss this and offer a few insights about why this discussion would even be valuable to have from the point of view of spiritual practice. Then, we take up the unique conception of realization offered by Kashmir Shaivism and derive about 7 symptoms or signs of enlightenment. Essentially, this is a Kashmir Shaiva take on the "stitha prajnya" (stabilized wisdom) conversation between Krishna and Arjuna at the end of Bhagavad Gita Chapter II.May this be an offering to Swami Lakshman Joo whose birthday it is today! (9th May 2023)Lectures happen live on zoom every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday at 6pm PST. There's Q&A right after the lecture. It is free and open to the public. All are welcome!Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrMSupport the show
What is the ultimate goal of spiritual life? I'm going to propose that it's freedom, however we choose to articulate it. But what is that exactly? And does freedom mean the categorical end of all suffering and the attainment of the supreme bliss? What's so blissful about freedom? Today we're going to articulate the Kashmir Shaivism position on freedom and contrast it against the freedom of other systems like Samkhya and Advaita Vedanta to show that ultimate freedom requires ultimate agency and absolute infinitude, i.e non duality. Remember, not all freedoms are the same. Different schools of spiritual philosophy offer different versions of freedom. As such, I hope to have a nuanced conversation regarding the goal of the various paths. Let's compare the concept of freedom of Cārvāka with that of Sāmkhya, Advaita Vedānta and finally, Kashmir Shaivism. Lectures happen live on zoom every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday at 6pm PST. There's Q&A right after the lecture. It is free and open to the public. All are welcome!Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrMSupport the show
In this lecture, we do a lot of philosophical work to show, at least for the sake of theoretical understanding, that everything you see in this world is nothing but Consciousness. From this, we come away with three insights:1. To judge, criticize or resent anyone is to judge, criticize and resent God.2. To serve and help anyone is really an act of worship to God. 3. You yourself are God so you have infinite strength and potential to do anything, including overcoming #1 and doing #2 above! Of course, this is the central teaching of the Ramakrishna movement: "shiva jnane, jiva seva": knowing that everyone is Shiva, serve them as an act of worship. In this lecture, we explore the metaphysical foundation for such a teaching in light of the insights of Paramadvaya Vada, or Kashmir Shaivism. Here is an abstract of what was discussed:What is Consciousness? None other than your very own Being, your own essence. Consciousness is You! And also, because of its Transcendent nature and its innate Freedom, Consciousness is God. Wait a minute! Doesn't that mean...you are God? Yes! Absolutely, yes! But of course here in Advaita Vedanta, or Classical Non-Duality the God that you are is the Impersonal God, Brahman without Attributes. What about the Personal God who creates, maintains and destroys? Non-Dual Shaivism, in its radically reconciliatory attitude shows that the Impersonal God is also the Personal God and such, Consciousness/You is/are also, like the Personal God, performing all the divine acts of God: creation, maintenance, destruction, self-revelation/grace, self-concealment/judgement. You can never be parted from God because you ARE God, in both the passive and dynamic aspects! But then why don't I have any control over what happens to me? Ah, because God is Consciousness and Consciousness is distinct. from and prior to the mind which is where our preferences live! Naturally, then, the preferences of our mind and our inability to exercise personal will to meet them is not a rebuttal against our essential nature as Consciousness, God, who wills sometimes independently of the mind in a spirit of play! Support the show
In this Rupert Spira Podcast episode with Deepak Chopra, happiness is the main subject of discussion. What can we do to attain it and alleviate our suffering? How can we transform painful emotions so that we too can experience Ananda — the joy of existence we all long for? Also in this episode, Rupert gives us three steps to deal with painful emotions. And Deepak explains how Rupert's teaching is a modern, practical and experiential interpretation of Yoga, Tantra, Vedanta and Kashmir Shaivism.