Meditation 1 (according to Non-dual Shaivism of Kashmir)

Introduction

 Introduction

Gabriel Pradīpaka, once again. We are about to start our studies in Meditation according to Non-dual Shaivism of Kashmir. This is the first document on meditation I am publishing. You will have a first glance of meditation and several techniques to practice. I advise to study this document along with Non-dual Shaivism of Kashmir (go to Trika section on this website) to be able to understand correctly the teaching.

What is to meditate? According to the sage Patañjali, there are two terms: Dhāraṇā (Concentration) and Dhyāna (Meditation). Oh, good, but: What is to concentrate? Patañjali says:

देशबन्धश्चित्तस्य धारणा॥१॥
Deśabandhaścittasya dhāraṇā||1||

Concentration (dhāraṇā) is the mind's (cittasya) fixation (bandhaḥ) on one point (deśa).

(Yogasūtra-s of Patañjali, 1^st aphorism, Book III)

So, when you can to fix your mind on a particular point, just for an instant, you are concentrating. OK. But, how is Concentration related to Meditation? Patañjali states in a second aphorism that:

तत्र प्रत्ययैकतानता ध्यानम्॥२॥
Tatra pratyayaikatānatā dhyānam||2||

In that --in Dhāraṇā-- (tatra), the continuous flow of similar (ekatānatā) mental modifications (pratyaya) is Meditation (dhyānam).

(Yogasūtra-s of Patañjali, 2^nd aphorism, Book III)

Good, but what does it mean really? In short, Concentration is to fix one's mind for a moment, while Meditation is to fix mind for a longer time. Simple! Imagine a necklace: each bead is Concentration, while the entire aggregate of beads is Meditation.

OK, so we are already meditating. True! When I study a difficult book I have to concentrate my mind for a long time. In a word, I am meditating on the subject dealt with in that book. When I am driving my car, I have to meditate on the road. Therefore, I am not about to teach you how to meditate, because you already know this, but how to meditate on your real essential nature. Call this "real essential nature" as you wish: God, Spirit, Supreme Being, Soul, etc.

And the only difference between meditating on something (roads, books, music, etc.) and meditating on your innermost essential nature is the change of the meditation object (from roads, books, music, etc. to your real essential nature). However, the process remains the same: "you will have to concentrate your mind for a certain period of time". It is that simple!

Later on, I will teach you various techniques. Please, do not be confused about them. The meditation techniques are helpful but they are not the goal of your meditation. They must be used wisely. Sometimes, you will spontaneously enter in meditation and no techniques will be necessary. The beginners often feel attachment toward a particular technique. So, they feel that their technique is indispensable to access meditation, but this is not the case really. You should behave in a wise manner.

Imagine you want to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Of course, you will have to prepare yourself and be wise while sailing. For example: If you know that a hurricane is approaching, you will attempt to evade it. And if you cannot evade it, you will haul sails down or something. And so on. Therefore, use a different meditation technique in every situation. Do not feel attachment toward any technique. It is possible you experience now and then spontaneous and natural meditation. When this happens, do not use techniques, just enjoy that spontaneous meditation. Remember that meditation has Joy as its ultimate goal. So, be happy when Joy arises and please do not use techniques at that time. Use techniques only when you cannot meditate spontaneously.

Well, I hope you have understood.

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 Upāya-s: The four means or methods

Non-dual Shaivism of Kashmir is a philosophical system coming from Northern India. As a matter of fact, it comes from God, but it is also true that the great teachers were born and taught Trika (a short name for Non-dual Shaivism of Kashmir) in Kashmir.

This system teaches four means or methods (upāya-s) for you to come near your essential nature. The word "upāya" is derived from the verbal root "upe = upa + i" (to come near, to approach). So, "upāya" is a means or method by which you come near God. Romantic, really!

Their names are as follows:

1. ANUPĀYA (AN + UPĀYA): Lit. "without any means or methods".

2. ŚĀMBHAVOPĀYA (ŚĀMBHAVA + UPĀYA): The means or method of Śambhu (Śiva or God).

3. ŚĀKTOPĀYA (ŚĀKTA + UPĀYA): The means or method of Śakti (dynamic power of Śiva or God).

4. ĀṆAVOPĀYA (ĀṆAVA + UPĀYA): The means or method pertaining to the aṇu (the limited being).

Each of these upāya-s (means or methods) utilizes a particular aspect of yours. I will explain all this later, in "First glance".

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 Tattva-s or categories

And now I have to teach you Tattva-s (categories in the Process of Creation). Of course, it will be a concise explanation. Please, go to Trika section for further information.

The Tattva-s start from Śiva ("I", a Witness to all) and end in Pṛthivī (the earth element, the "solidity" in all). They are rather stable and form autonomous universes. For example: "mind" is the tattva 16, the "ego" is also a tattva (number 15) and so on. There are 36 tattva-s according to Non-dual Shaivism of Kashmir. Let us start:

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 First glance

You may wonder: "When am I going to meditate?" Wait a minute. Just as when you want to learn music you have to learn some theory before playing, so you must learn some meditation theory before practicing. Most people will agree with you if you tell them that they will have to study for several years before working as physicians or lawyers, and so on. But, when you tell them that they will have to study just a little to be able to meditate properly, they will protest. They want all at once and effortless. They are not still spiritually mature. I had to study for almost seventeen years to be able to start publishing the simple documents you can read on this website. So, you will have to study a few minutes at least to be able to start meditating by using the means and methods postulated by Non-dual Shaivism of Kashmir.

People often do not understand that the human machine is very complex. When you meditate, lots of changes are taking place both in your mind and your physical body. Even though the whole process is almost entirely controlled by the wise spiritual energy, you should have some knowledge about it. In this way, you will be able to advance more quickly and no time will be wasted in useless confusions. Besides, to study meditation theory is a good chance to develop our lazy intellects. These dull intellects are in fact a hindrance if they do not work properly. Do not listen to your intellect when it says: "Oh, I am so tired. I will study meditation theory tomorrow" or "I do not feel like concentrating my mind" or any other thing like that. Be strong and keep studying. If not now, you will realize the relevance of this knowledge later on. The knowledge itself when accumulated in you, it works as a ballast which stills your restless mind. One person with plenty of spiritual knowledge would not need any meditation techniques, since the knowledge itself would be enough to keep his mind still.

Trika states four Upāya-s (means or methods). Let us analyze them one by one:

Anupāya (lit. "without a means or method")

This is not really a means or methods but rather "the culmination of Śāmbhavopāya" (next means or method). Anupāya is the direct perception that I AM ŚIVA, that I AM THE SUPREME BEING. You do not have to resort to any practice or method. That is why, this is not really a upāya as I said before.

When you realize that YOU ARE THE LORD, that is Anupāya. It is anyway mentioned as "a kind of means or method" because on very rare occasions appears a very special disciple who just needs to receive from his Guru the revelation that he really is the Lord to become immediately conscious of his divine identity. But there is no means being practiced really, because the disciple instantly realizes that he is Śiva. That is why Anupāya is mentioned as if it were a means but at the same time it is really not a means. Hence its name: "without a means". Nonetheless, as this kind of disciples getting Liberation at once are very rare, this upāya is sometimes omitted and only the three remaining ones are mentioned.

Śāmbhavopāya (lit. "the means or method pertaining to Śambhu or Śiva")

The great master Abhinavagupta says:

मा किञ्चित्त्याज मा गृहाण।
विरम स्वस्थो यथावस्थितः॥
Mā kiñcittyāja mā gṛhāṇa|
Virama svastho yathāvasthitaḥ||

Do not (mā) abandon (tyāja) anything (kiñcid), do not (mā) accept (gṛhāṇa) anything (kiñcid); stop (virama), thus (yathā) abiding (avasthitaḥ) in your own Self (svasthaḥ).

Abhinavagupta has stated the core of Śāmbhavopāya. Only a sublime master like him can do that by just using a few simple words. Abhinavagupta, Vasugupta, Kallaṭa, Somānanda, Utpaladeva, Kṣemarāja, Bhāskara, Rāmakaṇṭha and the rest, are the founders of Non-dual Shaivism of Kashmir. I pay my respects to them. Their compassion, by taking the form of Trika, has been poured upon this suffering mankind, no doubt about it.

Śāmbhavopāya uses Icchāśakti or Power (śakti) of Will (icchā). Tattva 3 or Sadāśiva is Icchāśakti Itself (look at the table above). Since on Sadāśiva level the experience is indistinct (foggy), the techniques pertaining to this Upāya have also to do with the indistinct or foggy universe (Go to Trika section Part 3 right now and read the Introduction and Sadāśiva).

As Abhinavagupta said previously, in this Upāya you neither abandon nor accept anything. Mind continues to think of this and that, but you do not attempt to control it and simultaneously you do not accept those thoughts either. You only abide like a Witness to all of them. There is no thoughts in this upāya, i.e. the great disciple, by means of the above-mentioned attitude, obliterates all the thoughts in his mind. Afterwards, he just awaits the Grace of the Great Lord, which will bestow Liberation on him. Here the Guru is more important than the disciple, because the latter just waits for the Grace of the former. The only effort made by the disciple is to attain thoughtlessness. But this is not a great effort to disciples of this caliber indeed. When Grace touches him, he crosses the last barrier and attains Liberation, which means 'identity with one's own Self'. Another names for "Self" are: "true essential nature", "spirit", "I", "God", "Supreme Being", "Absolute", etc.

The topic is much more complex, obviously! We will continue to talk about Śāmbhavopāya in the next document (Meditation 2: Śāmbhavopāya). And now let us study the next Upāya: Śāktopāya.

Śāktopāya (lit. "the means or method pertaining to Śakti")

Śakti is the power of Śiva. Through Śakti, Śiva (You) can be conscious of His existence. Śakti is the "am" in the phrase: I AM. This very Śakti also appears to be everything around You (the Witness or Śiva). And She is also the mind, which makes you move about. Therefore, when you practice Śāktopāya, you are using the Śakti's viewpoint to search your own essential nature. The main tool to be used is the Mantra. Mantra here means 'Aham' (I AM) and not sacred formulae like Om̐ namaḥ śivāya, etc.

Śāktopāya uses Jñānaśakti or Power (śakti) of Knowledge (jñāna). Tattva 4 or Īśvara is Jñānaśakti Itself (look at the table above). Go to Trika section Part 3 right now and read Īśvara.

By means of concentration on the Mantra (I AM or the Central Reality), you will be able to realize your essential nature as Śiva. By constant concentration on the Central Reality or Mantra, "Śuddhavikalpa" (a pure thought) emerges. A Śuddhavikalpa has two functions: positive and negative. In turn, the positive one may be divided into three parts: Mantraśakti (Power of Mantra), Sattarka (true reasoning or logic) and Śuddhavidyā (Pure Knowledge). In short, you concentrate on Mantra or Central Reality (I AM) to be found in the middle of two movements. With the emergence of the Śuddhavikalpa (pure thought), you develop Sattarka or a continuous series of thoughts/ideas similar to the Śuddhavikalpa, which leads to the emergence of Śuddhavidyā (Pure Knowledge, and not the tattva 5). Śuddhavidyā is divine in nature and will lead you directly to the state of Śāmbhavopāya characterized by absence of vikalpa-s (thoughts/ideas).

The negative function of a Śuddhavikalpa (a pure thought) is as follows: a Śuddhavikalpa removes the sense of duality. You feel now different from the others and the entire universe indeed. Again, you feel different from God. All this ignorance is removed by the Glory of Śuddhavikalpa.

I will give full explaination of this subject later. And now the last Upāya: Āṇavopāya.

Āṇavopāya (lit. "the means or method pertaining to the aṇu --the limited being--")

In this Upāya (means or method of approach), you will be using the intellect, vital energy (prāṇa), physical body/senses and external objects to become conscious of your essential nature. This is so because the aṇu (conditioned being or self) consider himself to be his intellect, vital energy, physical body, etc. And he also feels attachment toward external objects and people.

Āṇavopāya uses Kriyāśakti or Power (śakti) of Action (kriyā). Tattva 5 or Sadvidyā is Kriyāśakti Itself (look at the table above). Go to Trika section Part 3 right now and read Sadvidyā.

Mālinīvijayatantra (a sacred scripture to Trika) describes Āṇavopāya in this manner:

उच्चारकरणध्यानवर्णस्थानप्रकल्पनैः।
यो भवेत्स समावेशः सम्यगाणव उच्यते॥
Uccārakaraṇadhyānavarṇasthānaprakalpanaiḥ|
Yo bhavetsa samāveśaḥ samyagāṇava ucyate||

The complete (saḥ... samyak) absorption into one's essential nature (samāveśaḥ) that (yaḥ) occurs (bhavet) by means of Uccāra, Karaṇa, Dhyāna, Varṇa and Sthānakalpanā (uccāra-karaṇa-dhyāna-varṇa-sthānaprakalpanaiḥ), is known as (ucyate) Āṇava (āṇavaḥ).

(II, 21)

So, Āṇavopāya may be divided into five portions: Uccāra, Karaṇa, Dhyāna, Varṇa and Sthānakalpanā.

Uccāra is concerned with fixing the attention on the various aspects of the vital energy (prāṇa).

Karaṇa uses the physical body/senses.

Dhyāna is (in this case) contemplation.

Varna is concerned with listening to the subtle anāhata (unstruck, uncaused) sound.

Sthānakalpanā is concerned with fixing the mind on certain places.

I will give full explaination of these five ones later on.

With this simple table I summarize the teachings:

And now, a few meditation tecniques at last.

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 Techniques 1

I am going to teach three meditation techniques. The first technique belongs to Śāmbhavopāya, the second one to Śāktopāya and the third one to Āṇavopāya. Of course, these techniques are not my own invention, but they have been stated by Vijñānabhairava (a sacred scripture to Trika Shaivism): Sit down and keep your back straight. If you can sit crosslegged (lotus pose and similar postures), that would be much better. However, if you cannot cross the legs, simply sit down and keep your back straight. Even though you can meditate lying down, I do not recommend this because you may fall asleep. Meditation is meditation, and sleep is sleep:

1

घटादिभाजने दृष्टिं भित्तस्त्यक्त्वा विनिक्षिपेत्।
तल्लयं तत्क्षणाद्गत्वा तल्लयात्तन्मयो भवेत्॥५९॥
Ghaṭādibhājane dṛṣṭiṁ bhittistyaktvā vinikṣipet|
Tallayaṁ tatkṣaṇādgatvā tallayāttanmayo bhavet||59||

(The yogī) should cast (vinikṣipet) his eyes (dṛṣṭim) in the empty space (bhājane) inside a jar (ghaṭa) or any other (similar) object (ādi), leaving aside (tyaktvā) the enclosing partitions (bhittiḥ). And having getting absorbed (tat-layam... gatvā), in an instant (tatkṣaṇāt), (in that empty space) he becomes (bhavet) equal (mayaḥ) to that (void) (tad) through that (tad) absortion (layāt).

Vijñānabhairava, 59

In Śāmbhavopāya there is no Supporting You remain as a formless and timeless Witness to all. This is the state of your essential Self: a formless and timeless Witness. This Upāya uses some "aid" in order that you realize your true condition as a Witness. In this case, a jar or any other similar object with an empty space is being used.

The purport behind this practice is as follows: since mind takes on the form of what it perceives, if mind perceives an empty space it will also become "empty". So, you have to take a jar or a pot and cast your eyes in the empty space inside it. If you persevere, you will notice that your mind becomes gradually empty, and thus you get absorbed in the essential reality or Śiva. Very simple!

The following technique pertains to Śāktopāya, even though it begins with Āṇavopāya.

2

कपालान्तर्मनो न्यस्य तिष्ठन्मीलितलोचनः।
क्रमेण मनसो दार्ढ्याल्लक्षयेल्लक्ष्यमुत्तमम्॥३३॥
Kapālāntarmano nyasya tiṣṭhanmīlitalocanaḥ|
Krameṇa manaso dārḍhyāllakṣayellakṣyamuttamam||33||

Fixing (nyasya) (one's) mind (manaḥ) on the interior (antár) of the cranium (kapāla) and remaining (tiṣṭhan) with the eyes (locanaḥ) closed (mīlita); one gradually (krameṇa) perceives or discerns (lakṣayet), by the mental (manasaḥ) stability (dārḍhyāt), that which is greatly (uttamam) perceivable or discernible (lakṣyam).

Vijñānabhairava, 33

In Śāktopāya one uses his mind to search for the Ultimate Reality or I. In this case, you will use the interior of your cranium as a starting point in your search for God. Within the cranium lies a brilliant light equal to that of millions suns. However, do not imagine any light, but simply fix your attention inside the cranium or kapāla. Experience by yourself.

There is also a secret meaning for "kapāla" (cranium): "ka" would mean "Śakti" and "pāla" would mean "Śiva" (the protector). Therefore, according to this interpretation, kapāla would stand for the union of Śiva and Śakti, the union of "I" and "AM". So, you should fix your mind on the union of Śiva and Śakti, but this is very difficult to do for the time being. In consequence, practice firstly by using the ordinary meaning of "kapāla", in sum: "cranium". Fix your mind inside your cranium and you will gradually perceive your own essential nature, which is greatly perceivable or discernible. This essence is obvious indeed, and at the same time it is apparently hidden and one has to find it. A real mystery!

The following technique pertains to Āṇavopāya.

3

कालाग्निना कालपदादुत्थितेन स्वकं पुरम्।
प्लुष्टं विचिन्तयेदन्ते शान्ताभासस्तदा भवेत्॥५२॥
Kālāgninā kālapadādutthitena svakaṁ puram|
Pluṣṭam vicintayedante śāntābhāsastadā bhavet||52||

(The Yogī) should (thus) imagine (vicintayet): "(My) own (svakam) body (puram) has been burnt (pluṣṭam) by Kālāgni (kāla-agninā) rising (utthitena) from the (big) toe of my right foot (kālapadāt)". At last (ante), a Flash (ābhāsaḥ) of Peace (śāntá) will then (tadā) shine forth (bhavet).

Vijñānabhairava, 52

"Kālāgnirudra" is the universal destroyer. He burns all the universe by means of "Kālāgni" (the fire of the end of Time). You imagine here the aforesaid fire is rising from the big toe of your right foot, and then it is spreading all over the body. The term "kālapada" means "toe of the right foot", but according to my own experience the heat is actually felt firstly in the big toe. So, visualize a fire rising from this big toe "of your right foot".

What is the meaning of fire? There are two answers:

1) From the aṇu's viewpoint (viewpoint of the limited self), the fire burns all your impurities and thus you are free.

2) From a higher viewpoint, the fire burns your identity separated from Śiva. You become conscious that you are not different from Him. You understand your own divinity.

You may choose either and everything will be fine.

Have fun!

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 Concluding remarks

All right, the document is finished. A final recommendations: remember that you must keep your back straight when meditating. Besides, it is auspicious to meditate in the early morning. But if you cannot do this, you may meditate just before going to bed. I recommend you to meditate for one hour and a half or less (not more) every day. To meditate for a longer period of time, you will have to practice celibacy and be on a milky diet. Since every person is a particular case, you will need a meditation guru to do this.

What is the hurry? Start meditating for a short period and gradually increase it up to one hour and a half. Then, if you want to meditate more, you will have to go to a true meditation guru and ask for instructions. Do not understimate meditation. It generates a powerful fire which will burn all your erroneous notions. In consequence, follow my advises and everything will be fine, be sure. If you ignore my instructions, you will be getting into troubles, no doubt about it.

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 Further Information

This document was conceived by Gabriel Pradīpaka, one of the two founders of this site, and spiritual guru conversant with Sanskrit language and Trika philosophy.

For further information about Sanskrit, Yoga and Indian Philosophy; or if you simply want to comment, ask a question or correct a mistake, feel free to contact us: This is our e-mail address.