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Tantrasāra (Tantrasara) - Non-dual Shaivism of Kashmir
Essence of Tantra
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Introduction
This work was composed by the great Master Abhinavagupta and is a summary of his celebrated Tantrāloka. It was written by the sage in order to spare their disciples from the hassle of having to read (and understand) Tantrāloka (a helfty book!). Anyway, he created another hefty book (the present Tantrasāra) with the only difference that it is mostly in prose, while Tantrāloka was totally in verse. The nature of Abhinavagupta was just massive. So, all that he created is massive like his nature. Is this a good thing? It is good for people with strong intellects and wisdom (0.00001% of humankind, being optimistic), but it is not good for people with weak intellects and almost non-existent wisdom who cannot even understand the meaning of the simplest stanza in Abhinavagupta's scriptures. All in all, if his massiveness is something good or bad entirely depends on the quality of the reader. In general, nonetheless, in this insignificant humankind, a synthesis is preferred, and not this monstrosity (because of its size) of a teaching exhibited by the Great Master.
Now, regarding Abhinavagupta, I will repeat what I wrote in my introduction to Tantrāloka: "So many people have already written about the 'historical' Abhinavagupta, who was the teacher of Kṣemarāja --wrongly-written Kshemaraja or Ksemaraja-- (the author of the celebrated Śivasūtravimarśinī --wrongly-written Shiva Sutra Vimarshini-- and Spandanirṇaya --wrongly-written Spanda Nirnaya--) and lived about 975-1025 AD in Kashmir, etc. If you are interested in time and space, simply search the Web for 'Abhinavagupta' and you will receive tons of information about the historical Abhinavagupta. But all that has nothing to do with the real Abhinavagupta. My statement is valid regarding all saints, obviously, because they merged their individualities into the Supreme Self, but as far as the most remarkable ones among them are concerned, my statement is even more valid. In my own case, having studied Trika for so many years, the act of adding time and space to Abhinavagupta is absolutely nonsensical. Abhinavagupta is my own Self and his Tantrasāra --wrongly-written Tantrasara-- is His Revelation. So, my approaching Tantrasāra now is something that took me innumerable births".
Finally: I will be reading and writing Tantrasāra completely, God willing, and translating it to the extent of my own capacities, God willing again. Without His Grace, it is impossible to translate it properly. It was even His Grace which let me approach this "summary of Tantrāloka", in the first place, and it will be His Grace which will decide if I am fit for fully translating it in the right way.
Let the holy Tantrasāra begin!
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.
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