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The Yoga of Saints - Part 1 of 3
Kashmir Shaivism
4 Feb 2007
THE YOGA of SAINTS:
KASHMIR SHAIVISM
PART 1of 3
Swami Devi Nostrumananda
"Yoga jnanam tatha sankhyam,Vidyah shilpadi-karma cha,
Vedah Shastranivijnanam Etat sarvam janardanat."
~ Vishnu Sahasranama
(The system of yoga, knowledge of the divine, also the…
sciences, arts…the Vedas…and the sacred works
of reflection emanate from… an aspect of God,
one who brings men to their ego death)
Yoga can be said to be the work, or the way of attaining God; the spiritual practices and disciplines leading to 'Perfect Yoga', or the 'Mystical Union' with God, in Christian terms, and 'Moksha', or 'Liberations' in Sanskrit. In fact, 'yoga' means 'union', in sanskrit, and is the ancestor of the english word, 'yoke'. God, here, is both the creator of mankind’s ignorance, (or maya, illusion) of his True Self and the destroyer of mankind’s ego (Mind) to reveal true knowledge, being Awareness, or God-Consciousness.
There are many types of joga. One of the core sacred texts of Kashmir Shaivism, a revelation from the Supreme God, Shiva, is called the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, (i.e. 'divine consciousness’ ). This secret teaching explains no less than 112 yogas as a means to realization of ultimate reality. In this 3-part introductory series called, The Yoga of Saints: Kashmir Shaivism, an excerpt from an upcoming book I am writing, we shall explore the secrets of the ancient wisdom tradition, Kashmir Shaivism and its three levels of yoga practice which are based on the strength of awareness of the spiritual aspirant. We will review the 'prerequisites' for beginning this 'journey of ascension' to Sainthood and the various 'Limbs of Yoga' or styles which roughly correspond to the Chakra system, (energy centers along the spine). All Yogas are included in Kashmir Shaivism. There are various systems or schools of Kashmir Shaiva Yoga, the most advanced systems are often called the Maha Yoga, the Great Yoga, or Raja Yoga, literally meaning the 'Yoga of Royalty'. We will be exploring the way of this Great Yoga, the Yoga of Saints.
So, it may be apparent to you that the Yoga we speak of here is not what you may think, a painful stretching exercise! In fact, the goal of yoga, Self, our Home and natural state of Being, is nothing like we can imagine, intuit, predict, think or speculate. Not only that, but we are ‘hardwired’ for this mysterious state, and in fact, are in this state already, but unaware of it! Such are the many paradoxes along the way.
Ah! Paradox, the language of God! The sacred text, Shri Guru Gita, verse 40, says, "Yasyamatam tasya matam, matam yasya na veda sah; Ananya-bhava-bhavaya tasmai shriguruve namah", "One who (thinks he) knows not, knows; one who (thinks he) knows, knows not. Salutations to Shri Guru,(God) whose thinking has no thoughts (but those of the Absolute)" . It goes on to make a special example of the ‘Know-It-Alls’ and those gifted with special powers yet stuck in the illusion of false self in verse 85, "Mahahankaragarvena tapo-vidya-balanvitah, Samsara-kuharavarte ghata-yantre yatha ghatah.", "due to inflated ego and pride (even) those equipped with the power of austerity (special knowledge and powers) and learning (continue to revolve) in the (suffering of the) vortex of worldy life, like pots on a water wheel". So, for the beginner, a good rule of thumb from the very beginning for embarking on the true path (better described as unfolding or dissolving) into God, is to stay humble and not assume right knowledge of anything. It is said that yoga starts where psychology ends. Learn non-attachment to any previous fixed ideas or ways; rest comfortably in mental uncertainty, until yoga begins to reveal true divine knowledge everywhere you look, and for the true aspirant, it will. You may ask,"How do I get that, where does it come from, and how much does it cost?!". After learning more, you may also ask, "Oh, ok, and why are we doing this again?!". Great questions worthy of our attention in a future article. In the meantime, let’s continue our ‘preliminaries’; inventory, checklists and packing our bags for the Journey of Ascension, the Great Expedition Adventure, (into stillness and silence), to meet God, (your Self). Paradox. Learn to love it.
Yoga is a means to an end. The Higher Self, True Self, Awareness, Enlightenment, God, God-Conscousness, Source, Absolute and the goal of Yoga are all the same thing; terms trying to clothe a state of being that is indescribable, and that which Siddhas, Saints,(both mean ‘holy, perfected beings’), true Guru’s and true Master Spiritual Teachers embody. There are probably thousands of enlightened beings walking this planet at this time, with many, many more individuals transcending to this ’place’ in the months and years to come as planetary shifts continue. Since Samadhi, (firm establishment in the Absolute), or Enlightenment, has several stages and takes time to integrate and stabilize, there are thousands upon thousands on Earth at this time who are in these final stages. Each of these individuals have spent great self-effort in Yogas of various sorts which are well explained and used in Kashmir Shaivism. Only relatively few of these Beings are bestowed with the gift of the ability to energetically transmit Shaktipat, which is required for the journey to begin in earnest with our Yoga of Saints, the Maha Yoga.
It may surprise you that you are in fact undertaking the road to Sainthood. However, realize that all Saints were spiritual seeker ‘newbies’ like you and me at one time too, and not ‘out to become a Saint’. Various Great Teachers, including Deepak Chopra in his recent book, ‘How to Know God’, writes that the natural evolution of man is towards Sainthood, so it’s actually natural and unavoidable! Also, it has very little to do with ‘religion’ . In this ‘Roadmap to Enlightenment’ with Kashmir Shaivism, it starts off stating that this is, in fact, not a ‘religion’ per se, but a tradition and philosophy open to those who have a desire to understand it; hence there are no restrictions of caste, creed, sex, age or color; anyone can become a Saint. So, in re-examining the word, ‘Saint’, what does that really look and feel like in this modern day and age? You may be greatly surprised. A great topic for future discussion!
Kashmir Shaivism is vast. Perhaps the best place to start is with the two ‘prerequisites’ to practicing Maha Yoga. One is the awakening of ‘Infinite Human Potential’ also known as ‘Holy Spirit’ in Christian terms and ‘Shakti Kundalini’ in Kashmir Shaivism ( and Hinduism in general). The other is self-effort, and this is where yoga comes in. ‘Shaktipat’, the awakening of the Kundalini,(or ‘True Baptism’ into the Holy Spirit), can only be done through the energetic transmission of ‘Grace’ by a true Shaktipat Guru or true Shaktipat Spiritual Teacher. The Guru Gita, verse 56, says "Yasmad anugrahum labdhva mahadajnanamutshrjet", " (upon) receiving His grace, one gives up great ignorance", meaning the veil of illusion is lifted and the natural, easeful and automatic ascent away from the ‘evils’ and suffering of mankind to the eternal peace and bliss of the Absolute begins. Although it sounds religious and unreal, the entire event and process is very tangible, well documented and widely corroborated in real time amongst the many groups undergoing this transendence in the here and now.
Needless to say that most of the Baptisms of modern churches unfortunately do not count. This may sound shocking and blasphemous, that most of the Christian world (and mankind) walks this world today without the support, guidance and protection of the awakened seed of God within them that was supported to have happened with their church Baptism. Even Radio Evangelists are broadcasting that it is prophesized in the Bible itself and quite self evident in the news these days, that "churches are no longer the safe haven from evil they once were, but are in fact the harbor of the workings of Antichrist"! This Biblical prophecy of the times may not be so far from the truth when we observe that the Catholic Church is plagued with corrupt criminal priests and many Moslem mosques are unwitting financial supporters and accomplices of the Al’Quida terrorists, the greatest perceived threat of the world. Does it seem one can no longer assume spiritual safety in established 'Houses of God' of old?
Sincere seekers of God may need to search for true agents of God outside the old established churchs. Examples of such are Saints,(irrespective of culture), Jesus, Buddha, AmmaChi and various Swami’s and even newly emergent American Masters like Gabriel Cousens and Solomae Sananda. In fact there are dozens of such Masters, living and in spirit, who are available to us as 'spiritual catalysts'. Also, one can, depending on spiritual merit and strength of awareness, follow the 'Direct Path', without bonding to a 'middle man', pe se. Shaktipat Spiritual Masters are fairly inconspicuous, found within spiritual ministries, the healthcare system, spiritual schools and society at large. Recognizing a true versus fraudulent Shaktipat Guru or Master Shaktipat Spiritual Teacher, and ‘approaching’ such a Being, rare as they are, is actually very easy once you know what to look for, and this is an excellent topic for future discussion. Once Shaktipat, or 'True Baptism' takes place, the second prerequisite is sincere, committed self-effort, otherwise generally known as Yoga. Yoga is spiritual pathwork or spiritual discipline practiced under the guidance and support of either the Guru/Master Spiritual Teacher, (being the embodiments of God through Grace), or through direct experience of the divine, or both.
~ Devi Nostrumananda
Copyright 2002-8. IBASI All Rights Reserved. Contact IBASI for permissions.
Devi Nostrumananda
International Bioenergetic Arts & Sciences Institute (IBASI)
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