This is Swami Lakshmanjoo’s translation of chapter 6, verses 21 to 24, of Abhinavagupta’s commentary of the Bhagavad Gita explaining the stages of mind and the joy of an appeased mind in Kashmir Shaivism.

In the summer of 1987 Swami Lakshmanjoo began compiling important verses from the various scriptures he had studied throughout his life. Each Sunday he would distribute one or two slokas to devotees, at the same time giving in brief their essential meaning. In all Swamiji...

In this excerpt from his book Kashmir Shaivism – The Secret Supreme, Swami Lakshmanjoo explains the Seven States of the Seven Perceivers (pramātṛis), and their respective energies (pramātṛi śaktis), a subject unique to Kashmir Shaivism.

Chapter Eight

The Seven States of the Seven Perceivers (Pramātṛin)

Now, let us discuss the seven states of the seven pramātṛins (perceivers) and their importance. The first state is called sakala. The sakala state is that state where perception...

A clear and unique explanation of the much-discussed term “maya” (illusion) in the light of Kashmir Shaivism as Swami Lakshmanjoo reveals to us how we have become limited being.

This is an excerpt from Abhinavagupta’s Paramarthasara: The Essence of the Highest Reality.

View on YouTube or listen to the audio below…

PS DVD 1 (00:55:10)

मायापरिगरहवशाद

बोधो मलिनः पुमान पशुरभवति  ।

काल-कला-नियतिवशाद

रागाविदयावशेन संबदधः  ॥॥

maya...

In this excerpt from the Essence of the Supreme Reality, Abhinavagupta’s Paramarthasara Swami Lakshmanjoo explains why in order to attain Moksha (Liberation) the starting point of the journey is the ending point.

PS DVD 3 (00:52:47)

मोकषसय नैव किंचिद

धामासति, न चापिगमनमनयतर  ।

अजञानगरनथिभिदा

सवशकतयभिवयकतता मोकषः  ॥॥

moksasya naiva kimcid

dhamasti, na capi-gamanam-anyatra /

ajñana-granthi-bhida

sva-sakty-abhivyaktata moks...

In this important excerpt from The Magical Jewel of Devotion in Kashmir Shaivism – Bhaṭṭa Nārāyaṇa’s Stava Cintamani, Swami Lakshmanjoo explains why, in Kashmir Shaivism, maya (illusion) is really svatantrya (freedom).

An excerpt from Abhinavagupta’s Tantraloka, 8th Āhnika, about the highest point—bindu—and it’s meaning in Kashmir Shaivism. The contents of this blog post are copyright protect and may not be used without the written permission of the owner.

Painting by Claudia Dose, used with permission of the artist.

In this excerpt from the Hymns to Shiva, Utpaladeva’s Shivastotravali, Swami Lakshmanjoo reveals how to not be disturbed by your mind.

Chapter 12 (56:13)

मनसि सवरसेन यतर ततर

परचरतयपयहमसय गोचरेषु  ।

परसृतोऽपयविलोल एव युषमत-

परिचरयाचतुरः सदा भवेयम  ॥॥

manasi svarasena yatra tatra

pracaratyapyahamasya gocaresu /

prasrto’pyavilola eva yusmat-

paricaryacaturah sada bhaveyam //25//

There is one problem: I don’t want to control my mind because the mind is so...

In today’s excerpt, Swamiji explains the most important ingredient to meditation. This is from Tantraloka Chapter 11 verse 81, from the Archives of the Lakshmanjoo Academy, recorded by John Hughes. All Content is subject to Copyright © John Hughes.

taduktam varadena srisiddhayogisvarimate // 81 //

tena guptena guptaste sesa varnastviti sphutam /

This is why Bhagavan Bhairava, Lord Siva, has explained in Malinivijaya tantra that when meditation, or any practice, is done without the...

This Introduction was written by John Hughes for the Manual for Self Realization: 112 Meditations of the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra revealed by Swami Lakshmanjoo.

Lord Shiva creates the objective world through the expansion of his Shakti, which is absolutely one with him; and the universe is manifest in his own nature, like a reflection in a mirror, by his own absolutely independent will.

In describing the nature of reality, the Kashmir Shaiva explains that there is only one Being...

An interesting saktopaya practice from the Vijnana Bhairava – How to make your mind rest in-between.

Swami Lakshmanjoo explains what “causes” grace in Kashmir Shaivism and what are the “signs” by which you can understand that grace is there.

This is an excerpt from Abhinavagupta’s Tantraloka 13th anika, which we discussed during the online course “Grace on the Spiritual Path“.

In this excerpt from the Vijnana Bhairava: The Manual for Self Realization Swami Lakshmanjoo explains a śāktopāya technique for revealing the formation of the nature of Bhairava by means of Bhairavi (Bhairavi means, uninterrupted awareness). How to maintain uninterrupted awareness?

Dharana 2

Now next.

मरुतोऽनतरबहिरवापि

वियदयुगमानिवरतनात ।

भैरवया भैरवसयेतथं

भैरवि वयजयते वपुः ॥॥

maruto’ntarbahirvapi

viyadyugmanuvartanat /⁷⁰

bhairavya bhairavasyettham

bhairavi vyajyate vapuh // 25...