The Shiva Sutras – The Third Section – The Means to Enlightenment & Why Learn
Kashmir Shaivism?
In Kashmir Shaivism there are three basic ‘means’
(upayas)
and one more, which is quite unique in that it is not
a means at all. For most, the journey to union with God moves through these
three means (upayas),
again and again until we are able to hold our
consciousness in the final state of realization – the state of ‘Knowing’ we
always have been that God consciousness which we sought.
The first section in the Shiva Sutras dealt with the first
means, shambhavopaya; and is for very
advanced aspirants who are able to maintain thoughtlessness in continuity.
Shambhavopaya originates from the
energy of Will (iccha) and thus requires an intensely focused will.
For example in
shambhavopaya, the intricate mysterious mechanisms of the Matrikacakra
theory of Letters that create this universe are revealed spontaneously. Here the
yogi enters into “that transcendental consciousness where he finds that this
whole universe has come out from sentences and sentences from words and words
from letters and letters from the real ‘I’ which is Parama Shiva (the Oneness).”
[SLJ – Kashmir Shaivism, The Secret Supreme]
This state of ‘thoughtlessness’ is said to be almost
automatic and comes from the grace
(anugraha)
of an enlightened Master - or from the ‘master’ within
you. Swami Lakshmanjoo, who left this world in 1991, has said that his grace
will come through his recorded teachings made in Kashmir during his lifetime. I
personally have experienced this ‘nectar’ in various degrees, so I know that it
is true that the sounds coming from his voice have the power to vivify the
teachings and alter consciousness.
***
The second section of the Shiva Sutras relates to the next
means of achieving God consciousness –
Shaktopaya, which originates from the energy of knowledge
(jnana).
The aspiring yogi must raise his/her consciousness to
the point that the wisdom can be absorbed of the Master who is within or a
living teacher.
“In shaktopaya,
the yogi does not have to recite mantras or use his breath to be aware or
concentrate on any particular spot. [SLJ-KS]” Here centering on the “reality
between any two actions or any two thoughts” results in an “unbroken awareness”
which leads you into God consciousness. [SLJ]
Swami Lakshmanjoo refers to the three sections in the
Shiva Sutras as Awakenings. The third section/awakening is concerned with
anavopayah, which is termed the
‘inferior’ means to enter into God consciousness and uses imagination. It is the
longest section with 45 sutras that explain various techniques - such as the
process of concentrating on breathing, the organs of sensation (the five senses,
etc.), contemplation, and concentrating on a particular place. It also informs
the aspirant of the possible consequences of these practices, how we achieve
elevated states and yet often lose what we attain.
These three means of achieving God consciousness are explained in greater detail
in Swami Lakshmanjoo’s book, ‘Kashmir Shaivism – The Secret Supreme.’ This book
serves as a sort of reference-dictionary or shortened encyclopedia of Kashmir
Shaivism. It is said to be a condensed version of Abhinavagupta’s magnum opus
The Tantraloka, in which the enlightened Kashmiri genius, superb writer and
poet, Abhinavagupta collected and brilliantly arranged all the wisdom of Kashmir
Shaivism.
Swami Lakshmanjoo’s ‘Kashmir Shaivism – The Secret Supreme’ is the result of a
series of lectures given by 1971-1972 in response to John and Denise Hughes who
fortunately for us, in those days long past, asked to be taught Kashmir
Shaivism.
There is one final means
(upaya), which has to be everyone’s
favorite because you don’t have to do anything. It is called
anupaya and is actually no ‘means’ at
all. In anupaya “nothing is to be
done. Be as you are. If you are talking, go on talking…Do not do anything, only
reside in your being. [SLJ-KS]” Fun, and of course easier said than done!
Obviously this is for the very advanced yogi and one who is just on the edge of,
or already in God consciousness. Still the idea of doing nothing to achieve what
you already are is very appealing.
***
Why should we learn Kashmir Shaivsm? Why bother with all these Sanskrit terms
that describe the systems by which the universe is manifested and help us to
understand the mechanics of our own consciousness. After all, this is not
five-sense western science.
I feel that the state of the world these days is a reflection of the effects of
western science. In spite of the comforts and advances that science has
contributed to our current civilization – the fact remains that we are
effectively poisoning our own planet. This has happened in a very short time,
within my lifetime of 65 years. We are contaminating the land, air, ocean and
the waters that we depend on for our survival. You know this.
Unless we change our consciousness, it seems that the Earth herself may soon
reject us as a species. It is my personal view that the most important
achievement, the greatest goal for any of us is a higher consciousness. An
elevated awareness in you will in turn change others by the process of
contagion, a kind of psychic osmosis.
There will be those who will achieve the highest goal of total Liberation (jivan
mukti). While many who aspire may not reach the final goal, they will become
greater in their own understanding and awareness of our intrinsic relationship
to the Oneness. Yet they will influence and alter the world around them, and
what is certain is that allowing the God-within to permeate our very being and
thinking does have the power to change the world.
I have seen this for myself. Yes, I want complete
enlightenment, liberation from the endless cycles of birth & death
(samsara). And every step I take
towards that goal makes my life better not only for me, but also for those I
love - and for the planet. As Krishna says, do this for the Well-Being of the
world (loka-samgraha). What would
this world be like if our leaders were enlightened men and women - or even
partially enlightened? What if they understood and allowed the God-within them
to permeate their thoughts and actions, just as Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita
relied on Krishna before the great battle.
Awareness is everything. Kashmir Shaivism is telling us that God is ubiquitous,
immanent, permeating everything. God is not far away from us, not up in the
clouds or seated on a golden throne high in some inaccessible heaven. God is
within us. There is nowhere to ‘ascend’ to. We have no distance to cross, except
in our own consciousness. God is Love. God is waiting eternally within our
Hearts, waiting patiently for us to turn and embrace that which we always are.
Awareness sets us free. Consciousness has the power to be
conscious of its self! As we learn these systematic understandings of the
mechanics of the manifested universe, and come to understand how our own
consciousness operates as if on automatic (through the
gunas), this acquired awareness will
expose the processes by which we have ensnared ourselves in the temporal
illusory hologram. Kashmir Shaivism gives us the means to observe and thereby
master our careless compulsions. We can become aware of the fact that thoughts
and words as sound entrap us in our own webs of self-generated illusions.
As long as we remain oblivious of the various reckless ways we as individuals
‘imagine’ our world, the inevitable consequences will always be the same – ever
repeating cycles of birth and death. Only by uniting with the God-within can we
free ourselves from the illusory entanglements we create.
***
KASHMIR SHAIVISM, The Secret Supreme, Revealed by Swami Lakshmanjoo, edited by
John Hughes; Universal Shaiva Fellowship, 1985, 2003.
Swami
Lakshmanjoo
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