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The definition of the Reality of Self in three ways - in Kashmir Shaivism
5:57
 
The definition of the Reality of Self in three ways - in Kashmir Shaivism reality of self shiva sutras śiva sūtra vimarśinī Dec 15, 2023

In this blog excerpt from the Shiva Sutras: The Supreme Awakening, Swami Lakshmanjoo explains the definition of our Self in three ways. He says “There is a difference in these three explanations of the Self…

In the first awakening, in the first sūtra of the first awakening, is the definition of your own Self. And in the second awakening, in this first sūtra of the second awakening also he has defined the reality of the Self. And in third also he explains the reality of the...

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What a yogi must do in this internal battle - Bhagavad Gita in a Nutshell
4:25
 
What a yogi must do in this internal battle - Bhagavad Gita in a Nutshell abhinavagupta bhagavad gītā kashmir shaivism Dec 15, 2023

Abhinavagupta tells us that there is a war going on between our senses. In the senses there is joy, and joy fights with sadness, sadness fights with joy. In this excerpt, we will learn what a yogi must do in this internal battle.

This video snippet is part one of the Essence of the Bhagavad Gita, as composed by the renowned 10th-century CE philosopher/saint Abhinavagupta. There are eighteen sangraha slokas, which are based on Abhinavagupta’s illuminating and original commentary, known...

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Special Lecture on Grace in Kashmir Shaivism
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Special Lecture on Grace in Kashmir Shaivism kashmir shaivism sacred shiva sutras shaktipata Dec 15, 2023

This talk on shaktipata [grace] was given by Swamiji in July 1978 on Shankarpal Rock, in Dachigam Forest, near the village of Harvan (just a few miles from Swamiji’s Ashram). This is also known as Shiva Rock, where the Sacred Shiva Sutras were revealed to Vasugupta, in the 8th century, AD.

Here, Swamiji explains grace in the Light of Kashmir Shaivism. To learn more about this subject check out our webinar “Grace on the Spiritual Path” which is extensively...

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The State of Perfect Embrace of Shiva with Shakti
2:36
 
The State of Perfect Embrace of Shiva with Shakti perfect embrace shakti āhnika Dec 14, 2023

In this excerpt from the Light on Tantra of Kashmir Shaivism, Abhinavagupta’s Tantraloka Chapter 2-3 third āhnika verse 69, Swami Lakshmanjoo describes The State of Perfect Embrace of Shiva with Shakti – “the state which is to be got, which is to be achieved, by everybody”. The full text with downloadable audio is available as hard and softcover book and ebook.

 

And this state of samghatta (this state of clash) of Lord Siva with Sakti – or perfect...

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Three States of awareness from a yogic point of view
13:29
 
Three States of awareness from a yogic point of view kashmir shaivism shiva sutras three states of awareness Dec 14, 2023

In Kashmir Shaivism, there are three states of awareness which Swami Lakshmanjoo explains here: first from the ordinary person's point of view, and then from the yogic point of view.

This is an excerpt from the Shiva Sutras: The Supreme Awakening, by Swami Lakshmanjoo, first awakening verses 8-10.

 

Now he explains this jagrat (wakefulness), svapna (dreaming), and susupti (dreamless sleep) in three sutras…

8. jñanam jagrat //

External organic knowledge...

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How Lord Shiva bestows grace to people - a very different Shaktipata - in Kashmir Shaivism
5:02
 
How Lord Shiva bestows grace to people - a very different Shaktipata - in Kashmir Shaivism grace kashmir shaivism shaktipata Dec 14, 2023

In this beautiful excerpt from the Hymns to Shiva, Utpaladeva’s Shivastotravali (Chapter 14 verse 15) Swami Lakshmanjoo explains how Lord Shiva bestows grace to people – a very different Shaktipata – in Kashmir Shaivism, and why.

To learn more about grace also check out our online course “Grace on the Spiritual Path”.

Without qualifications, You bestow grace to people! That is saktipata. ~Swami Lakshmanjoo

 
 

Chapter 14a (40:37)

...

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Lakshmanjoo Academy
What is meditation?
3:37
 
What is meditation? kashmir shaivism meditation Dec 14, 2023

In this excerpt, Swamiji explains what meditation really is.

This is from Abhinavagupta’s Tantraloka 9th Ahnika, revealed by Swami Lakshmanjoo, from the audio archives of the Lakshmanjoo Academy Copyright © John Hughes

 

QUESTION: What kind of action is meditating?

SWAMIJI: It is not action, it is knowledge, it is cognition. Meditating is recitation of breath, it is just knowledge.

JOHN: That rest in jnanendriya or where? Or in manas [mind], buddhi [intellect] and ahamkara...

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The supreme consciousness is the reality of everything (Shiva Sutras 1.1)
9:24
 
The supreme consciousness is the reality of everything (Shiva Sutras 1.1) prathamaḥ unmeṣa shiva sutra 1.1 supreme conciousness Dec 14, 2023

Revealing this first verse of the Siva Sutra Vimarsini, Swami Lakshmanjoo explains how
the supreme consciousness is the reality of everything“.

Prathamah unmesa

First Awakening

Now Śiva sūtras will be explained here.

tatra prathamaṁ nareśvarabhedavādi pratipākṣyeṇa caitanyaparamārthataḥ śiva eva viśvasya ātmā iti ādiśati-

First, at first he exposes here that the reality of the universe is Self, it is not false. The reality of the universe is the real Self. And it is...

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YOU are Parabhairava antarālīna tattvaughaṁ parabhairava recite Dec 14, 2023

In this excerpt, Swami Lakshmanjoo explains why YOU are really Parabhairava (supreme state of God Consciousness). This is from the Bhagavad Gita, In the Light of Kashmir Shaivism, chapter 8 by Swami Lakshmanjoo.

View on YouTube

Om. Om means:

antaralinatattvaugham cidanandaghanam mahat /
yattattvam saivadhamakhyam tadomityabhidhiyate //271

Antaralina tattvaugham, where all of these differentiated thirty-six elements and one hundred and eighteen worlds are consumed inside (antaralina...

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The path is Shakti (energy); the path is not Shiva. (Vijnana Bhairava verse 20-21)
2:38
 
The path is Shakti (energy); the path is not Shiva. (Vijnana Bhairava verse 20-21) energy shakti vijnana bhairava Dec 14, 2023

Swamiji elaborates on why “The path is Shakti (energy); the path is not Shiva.” and why “Energy is the real path you have to tread.”

This lecture is an excerpt from the Vijnana Bhairava: The Manual for Self Realization, verses 20-21, revealed by Swami Lakshmanjoo . . .

शकतयावसथापरविषटसय

निरविभागेन भावना ।

तदासौ शिवरूपी सयात

शैवी मुखमिहोचयते ॥॥

saktyavasthapravistasya

nirvibhagena bhavana /

tadasau sivarupi syat

saivi mukhamihocyate // 20 //

 

When you enter in...

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What are Malas (Impurities) in Kashmir Shaivism - Parātrīśikā Vivarana
9:51
 
What are Malas (Impurities) in Kashmir Shaivism - Parātrīśikā Vivarana kashmir shaivism malas parātrīśikā vivarana Dec 14, 2023
This is another post about this important subject in Kashmir Shaivism, “What are Malas (impurities)“.

Here are two excerpts from the unpublished manuscript of the Parātrīśikā Vivarana by Swami Lakshmanjoo, from the Audio Archives of the Lakshmanjoo Academy.
Copyright @ John Hughes, all rights reserved.

 

 

mayiyakarmamalamulamusanti tavad

ajnananamamalamanavameva bhadrah /

bijam tadeva bhavajirnataroh parasmin

samvinnisatadahane dahate ksanena //

Mayiya-ka...

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Lakshmanjoo Academy
The importance of "active" effort in meditation according to Kashmir Shaivism
9:11
 
The importance of "active" effort in meditation according to Kashmir Shaivism bondages shiva sutras Dec 14, 2023

In this important excerpt from the Shiva Sutras: The Supreme Awakening (verse 5 of the First Awakening), Swami Lakshmanjoo explains the importance of “active” effort, it is “That effort (the flashing forth of active awareness) that instantaneously makes universal consciousness shine.”

[This is not a transcript but an excerpt from the book!]

 

Image by fernando zhiminaicela

 

Now the author puts forth here the means by which all these three bondages,...
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