“Lord Shiva is the essence of all beings, His existence is nature, everybody’s nature. Lord Shiva is found in the absence of Lord Shiva also.” ~Swami Lakshmanjoo

This is the continuation of the previous lecture on the Bodhapañcadaśikā by Abhinavagupta, who wrote the [15 verses of wisdom] for ‘those dear devotees who are not intellectually inclined”. In this final part Swamiji is explaining the 15th and 16th, which are the ending verses.

इत्थमिच्छाकलाज्ञानशक्तिशूलाम्बुजाश्रितः ।

भैरवः सर्वभावानां स्वभावः परिशील्यते ॥१५

ittham icchā kalā-jñāna śakti śūlāmbujā śritaḥ /

bhairavaḥ sarva-bhāvānāṁ svabhāvaḥ pariśīlyate  // 15  //

In this way Bhairava⁵³, Lord Śiva is the essence of all beings, bhairavaḥ sarva bhāvānāṁ svabhāvaḥ pariśīlyate. This is svabhāvaḥ, this is ‘the nature’ of all of the universe, the existence of Lord Śiva. Lord Śiva’s existence is nature . . . everybody’s nature. Lord Śiva is found in rocks, Lord Śiva is found in the absence of Lord Śiva also. When Lord Śiva is absent, there too Lord Śiva is existing.

Itthaṁ, in this way, icchā kalā jñāna śakti śūlāmbujāśritaḥ, this Bhairava, he has held in his own way three great energies: icchā, energy of will, icchā; kalā, energy of action; jñāna, energy of knowledge. Energy of will, energy of action, and energy of knowledge, he has held in his own nature. Śakti śūla, and these three energies are just like triśūla, as you have understood in Tantrāloka, this is triśūla⁵⁴. And that is ambuja, lotus, three-fold lotus. And āśritaḥ, on that lotus is seated Lord Śiva – Bhairava. Sarva bhāvānāṁ svabhvaḥ, and he is the nature of the whole universe of one hundred and eighteen worlds.

He is nature.

He is only residing, it is his kingdom only. No one else is found anywhere.

सुकुमारमतीन् शिष्यान प्रबोधयितुमञ्जसा ।

इमेऽभिनवगुप्तेन श्लोकाः पञ्चदशोदिताः ॥१६

sukumāra-matīn śiṣyān – prabodhayitum-añjasā /

ime’bhinava-guptena ślokāḥ pañca-daśoditāḥ // 16 //

And what for I have composed these fifteen ślokas? For some of my dear disciples who have got very tiny understanding power.

You know tiny understanding power? What is tiny understanding power?

Very little understanding power, and who are devotedly devoted to me. For those disciples I have composed these fifteen ślokas, just to make them elevated in an instant, instantaneously . . . to make them elevated only in five minutes.

Ime, these, ślokas pañcadaśā, these fifteen ślokas have been exposed and written by Abhinavagupta.

There ends our lecture today.

Do you like it?

BRUCE P:  Yes.

— ॐ —

Here ends the Bodhapañcadaśikā of Abhinavagupta.

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53  Bhairava in Sanskrit means ‘bha’ who protects, ‘ra’ who destroys, and ‘va’ who creates. In this context Lord Śiva is also called Bhairava because he creates, protects, destroys, conceals and reveals the universe in his own nature. The monistic texts of Kashmir Shaivism are known as the Bhairava Tantras.

54  Literally, triśūla means a trident, or Lord Shiva’s weapon. In Kashmir Shaivism the three points of the triśūla represent the three energies of will (icchā), knowledge (jñāna) and action (kriyā).

Source: The Bodhapañcadaśikā, Abhinavagupta’s “Fifteen Verses of Wisdom” featuring Swami Lakshmanjoo’s revelation is available as a six part online study series: “Kashmir Shaivism and the Transformation of Life“. Includes 127 page transcript in PDF format, with downloadable video and audio material. Total audio time 8 hours.

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