Shambavopaya
Shiv: Prakriti differentiates ino antahkarana, indriyas, bhutas.
Antahkarana means the inner instrument, which consists of the tattvas- buddhi, ahankara & manas. Buddhi are of two types 1) external that is perceived through the eye.
2) internal- the images are built out of the samskaras. Ahankara is the product of buddhi. Manas is the product of ahamkara, it builds images & concepts.
Sati: What is Jeeva?
Shiv: I as Chaitanya is the very core of being of every individual. The physical aspect of the individual self consists of Panch-mahabhutas,known as sthula sharira 'the physical body. There is Prana-shakti working in him through which he is sustained & maintained.
In each individual there is Kundalini, a form of Shakti, lies dormant at the base of the spine. Each individual experiences the three stateof consciousness waking, dream & sleep. The 4th state, turiya is the consciousness of Shiva in each individual. The turiya is pure chidanand-consciousness & bliss.
The individual's mind is conditioned by habbit energy of prevous lives. When by yogic practices his mind becomes deconditioned, then he attains the turiya consciousness, becomes jivan-mukta ie liberated while still alive.
Sati: What is bondage & liberation?
Shiv: Bondage is due to ignorance. It comes with the limitation of the Iccha shakti of the Supreme, then the jeeva considers himself to be a separate entity cut off from the Universal stream of consciousness. Then he further limits himself by Maya & karma, which carries the jeeva from one life to another.
Liberation means recognition of one's real self, real nature, that is Moksha.
The highest attainment is that of Shiva-consciousness, which means the entire Universe appears as I or Shiva & this comes by Shaktipata- the descent of Divine Shakti or Anugraha (divine grace).
Sati: What are the Upayas for the jeeva to achieve Supreme Consciousness?
Shiva: In order to ern grace, one has to undergo spiritual discipline, known as Upaya or Yoga. They are divided into 4 broad categories. 1) Anupaya, 2) Shambhavopaya, 3) Shaktopaya, 4) Anavopaya.
The 'An' in Anupaya means 'little'. When through exterme Shaktipata, only by hearing a word from the guru, the aspirant realizes the real self & gets absorbed in the divine consciousness without any particular effort, that jeeva has attained Self-realisation through Anupaya.
Shambhavopaya:
Shiv: Chaitany means consciousness which has the absolute freedom of will, knowledge & action.Chitta & Ananda are it's assential nature. It expresses itself in Iccha, Gyan, Kriya.
Sati: If the essential nature of jeeva & jagat, of all experients & the world is Shiv, then why they don't enjoy the bliss of Shiv?
Shiv: Due to primal ignorance, maya & karma. Bondage of jeeva is due to limited knowledge. I have Swatantra Shakti of bringing into being in the cosmic drama. Through my Mahamaya shakti jeeva assume limited knowledge & forms, thus beginning the word Drama. The process of evolution begins with the play of life & mind. Only at this stage the question of recognizing one's real divine nature arises. Here Yoga helps the jeeva.
Sati: Tell me about 'Shambhav Yoga'.
Shiv:There is no Udyama here only Iccha, is known as Iccho-paya or Iccha-yoga, also known as Abhedopaya, a yoga in which there is complete identification of I & Shiva. Here I which is mere psycho-physical complex disappears & Shiva alone is experienced as the real I & the real self by the jeeva. It is also known as Avikalpa or Nirvikalpa yoga.
When the jeeva identifys with Shiv without any thought process, merely by an intensive orientation of Will power (Iccha shakti) towards the inner reality, then there is Shambhava-yoga. When this experience continues in the normal course of life, the entire Universe appears only as expansion of the collection of the Shaktis of the self. By intensive awareness of these the Universe doesn't appear separate from Shiv or the divine self. There is complete Unity- consciousness. Such Yogi through his divine Iccha-shakti can bring marvelous changes.
Anupaya is Shambhav yoga in it's highest maturity.
To be continued...
Edited by mnx12 - 13 years ago