The Theory of Reflection, pratibimabavāda, is one of the core principles of Kashmir Shaivism. In this excerpt from Chapter 4 of his book Kashmir Shaivism The Secret Supreme, Swami Lakshmanjoo reveals to us this unique principle as Abhinavagupta has written in his famous Tantraloka.
“The Universe, as we see it, is a reflection in the mirror of God-consciousness.” ~Swami Lakshmanjoo
Just as in a fine, clean mirror, where there is no dust, it’s spotless, a refined and absolutely clear ...
These verses from the Hymns to Shiva, Utpaladeva’s Shivastotravali, as illuminated by Swami Lakshmanjoo, reveal a profound vision of devotion in Kashmir Śaivism—one in which worship is no longer confined to ritual acts, but permeates the entirety of lived experience. The devotee does not merely perform pūjā; rather, the whole universe is felt as the substance of worship itself.
Chapter 17 (43:29)
पूजोपकरणीभूतविश्वावेशेन गौरवम् ।
अहो किमपि भक्तानां किमप्येव च लाघवम् ॥३५॥
pūjopakaraṇ...
In this excerpt from the book Light on Tantra in Kashmir Shaivism, Abhinavagupta’s Tantraloka, Chapter One, Swami Lakshmanjoo explains the nature of ignorance in Kashmir Shaivism.
General Introduction
A) The nature of Ignorance (22–30)
Audio 1 – 42:04
इह तावत्समस्तेषु शास्त्रेषु परिगीयते।
अज्ञानं संसृतेर्हेतुर्ज्ञानं मोक्षैककारणम्॥२२॥
iha tāvatsamasteṣu śāstreṣu parigīyate /
ajñānaṁ saṁsṛterheturjñānaṁ mokṣaikakāraṇam //22//
In this world of spirituality, everywhere, in each and every ...
In this excerpt from the book Shiva Sutras: The Supreme Awakening, Swami Lakshmanjoo reflects on the second sūtra of the First Awakening, where Lord Shiva says, “differentiated perception is bondage.” Then, in the the 9th sūtra of the second Awakening, we learn what knowledge means on the level of Shaktopaya, and what we need to do in that state…
9. jñānamannam //
(For such a yogī)
Differentiated perception is his food
or
Knowledge of his own nature is his food.
This yogī ...
In this excerpt from The Magical Jewel of Devotion in Kashmir Shaivism – Stava Cintamani, by Bhaṭṭanārāyaṇa, Swamiji reveals why we need to develop sāttvaguṇa in Kashmir Shaivism.
“The avenue for crossing the cycle of guṇa is through sāttvaguṇa. It is not through rajoguṇa, it is not through tamoguṇa.” ~Swami Lakshmanjoo
triguṇatriparispanda-dvandvagrastaṁ jagattrayam /
uddhartuṁ bhavato’nyasya kasya śaktiḥ kṛpātha vā //46//
In this three-fold world (jagat trayam, in these three worl...
In this excerpt, from Abhinavagupta’s Bhagavad Gita revealed by Swami Lakshmanjoo, Chapter 13, verses 28-29, Swamiji talks about the real way of realization of reality in Kashmir Shaivism. This is from an unpublished audio recording and we included it in the Weekly Sangha #81 – Bhagavad Gita in the Light of Kashmir Shaivism, where you can learn more about the subject.
Bhagavad Gītā audio (1978)
Chapter 13, verses 28-29
समं सर्वेषु भूतेषु तिष्ठन्तं परमेश्वरम् ।
विनश्यत्स्वविनश्यन्
...
In the tradition of Kashmir Shaivism, enlightenment or liberation can be said to have been attained when a yogi has attained the intensity of the supreme state of God consciousness and feels that everywhere the oneness of Shiva exists. In the sacred text Shiva Sutras, Lord Shiva tells us that when this state is attained while in the body, then this yogi becomes just like Shiva. He does not become one with Shiva; he becomes just like Shiva.
Why?
Because he remains in his body, his physical fram...
Article from “The Speaking Tree” by John Hughes…..
Swami Lakshmanjoo, of the Kashmir Shaivism tradition, says you too can experience bliss
Are you asking whether sambhava samavesa, the mystical absorption in the state of Shiva, is equivalent to moksha, liberation? In fact, it is not. It certainly must exist if moksha is to occur, but it is not its defining characteristic. Philosopher and aesthetician Abhinavagupta tells us in his Tantraloka that “Moksha only exists when your being becomes...
In this excerpt from the earlier Bhagavad Gita audio recordings (compare to the later video recordings), Swami Lakshmanjoo explains the importance of prakṛti (nature) in Kashmir Shaivism.
“Through prakṛti you’ll rise. It is prakṛti through which you will fall.” ~Swami Lakshmanjoo
puruṣaḥ prakṛtistho hi bhuṅkte . . . (verse 22 Chapter 13)
prakṛtiriti kāryakāraṇabhave hetuḥ / (comm. verse 21)
Prakṛti is the cause of kārya and kāraṇa, cause and effect. The field of cause and effect is created...
In this section from the Light on the Tantra of Kashmir Shaivism, Abhinavagupta’s Tantraloka, Chapter One Swami Lakshmanjoo is explaining two different types of knowledge that are important in Kashmir Shaivism.
Intellectual knowledge is nourished by that pauruṣa jñāna and pauruṣa jñāna is nourished by that intellectual knowledge, side-by-side. ~Swami Lakshmanjoo
Audio 2 – 13:11
अहमित्थमिदं वेद्मीत्येवमध्यवसायिनी।
षट्कञ्चुकाबिलाणूत्थप्रतिबिम्बनतो यदा॥३९॥
धीर्जायते तदा तादृग्ज्ञानमज्ञा
...
There is only one difference between the one who is residing in the state of God Consciousness (Parabhairava state) and the other one who is residing in his limited cycle of being.
Here, Swami Lakshmanjoo reveals the essence of Kashmir Shaivism while translating the Bhagavad Gita in the Light of Kashmir Shaivism.
DVD 3.2 (16:46)
प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि गुणैः कर्माणि भागशः ।
अहंकारविमूढात्मा कर्ताहमिति मन्यते ॥२७॥
तत्त्ववित्तु महाबाहो गुणकर्मविभागयोः ।
गुणा गुणार्थे वर्तन्ते इति मत्वा न ...
Excerpt from the 10th chapter [Grace] from Kashmir Shaivism: The Secret Supreme, revealed by Swami Lakshmanjoo. In this lecture, Swamiji explains the acts of Lord Shiva versa the actions of individuals – the will of god versa acting according to our ego.
(The text below is the transcript of the original audio and not the text of the book)
JOHN: This is the seventh lecture to be given by Swami Lakshmanjoo on December 22nd, at his ashram in Srinagar, Kashmir, 2:30 pm.
SWAMIJI: It is going ...
