Kashmir Shaivism - Part 1

Please have a read below of the quoted text from the book by Shri Laxmanjoo...

"The Theory of the Alphabet

Lord Śiva, the reflector of this whole universe, is full of five energies, and these five energies are cit śakti, the energy of consciousness; ānanda śakti, the energy of bliss; icchā śakti, the energy of will; jñāna śakti, the energy of knowledge; and kriyā śakti, the energy of action.

These five energies are represented in the sixteen vowels of the Sanskṛit alphabet: a, ā, i, ī, u, ū, ṛi, ṛī, li, lī, e, ai, o, au, ṁ, ḥ, which comprise śiva tattva.

The Theory of Reflection

In the ordinary worldly course, sound is reflected outwardly in ether and inwardly in the ear. Touch is reflected outwardly in air and inwardly in the skin. Form is reflected outwardly in fire and in a mirror and inwardly in the eye. Taste is reflected outwardly in water and inwardly in the tongue. Smell is reflected outwardly in the earth and inwardly in the nose. These reflections, however, are just like the reflections in a mirror. They only take place individually. All five reflections are not available at once; only one thing is reflected in each. In a mirror, form is reflected. Touch can not be reflected in a mirror nor can taste, smell, or sound. A mirror will only reflect form. It is only in Supreme God Consciousness that you find all five reflected at once. In fact, although these reflections are experienced individually in all of the sense organs—sight in the eye, sound in the ear, etc.—these reflections could not even be observed if consciousness were not there. Awareness is needed and this is found in consciousness, not in the organs.

Svātantrya śakti is one with God Consciousness. There are not two elements, such as the mirror and the object which is reflected in the mirror. The reflected and the reflection are one. The mirror, which is the absolutely independent will of God (svātantrya), is God Consciousness.

The Theory of Speech Vāk

The word parā means “supreme,” and parā vāk is the “supreme speech.” It is that soundless sound which resides in your own universal consciousness. It is the supreme sound which has no sound.

Gross speech is vaikharī vāk, subtle speech is madhyamā vāk, and subtlest speech is paśyantī vāk. Each state of speech is itself also gross (sthūlā), subtle (sūkṣmā), and subtlest (parā).

When you play on any metal-string instrument, such as a sitāra, the sound which is produced by that instrument resides in gross paśyantī. And when one concentrates on that sound which exists in gross paśyantī, one should enter in samādhi, enter in that supreme transcendental.

The sound of gross madhyamā is produced by a drum instrument which is covered by leather. Concentration on this gross madhyamā is also helpful for carrying the aspirant inside his own real nature.

The third speech, gross vaikharī, is said to be all the sounds which are produced by the mouth, through the contact of the lips and tongue.

 A baby experiences the nirvikalpa state, without thought. As the baby grows up, his experiences are both nirvikalpa and savikalpa. When he becomes old, he only experiences in the savikalpa state. Here, in this state of differentiation, he is only barking, “do this, do this, do this.” Yet, there is no strength in doing this. In the end, this is a degraded state for individual souls. He has lost the charm of that supremeness. To regain that supremeness, one must gain the nirvikalpa state in this savikalpa state. It is only then that the nirvikalpa state will remain permanently.

Although it is easier to enter into gross paśyantī than it is to enter into gross madhyamā, it is more difficult to reside in gross paśyantī than it is to reside in gross madhyamā. You cannot

easily reside in gross paśyantī unless you have the grace of the Master.

Abhinavagupta explains these three states of subtle sound together in the third chapter of the Tantrāloka."

Reference Book: Kashmir Shaivism by Laxmanjoo

These are a few excerpts from the Book on Kashmir Shaivism, The Secret Supreme by Shri Laxmanjoo

If you are interested in Knowing more on these lines please read this book . Its is highly recommended.