In this lecture, we are going to discuss the Abhāsa-Vada (Reflection Model) of Kaula Trika Tantra: how is it that the one Unchanging Absolute, śiva, manifests playfully as this dazzling display of phenomena called the world without
(a) losing pristine transcendent nature
(b) while actually literally and really manifesting as everyone and everything?
This sounds like a flat out contradiction. What's more, tonight I'm going to show how Kaula Trika Śaivism gives us a worldview that is neither Realism nor Idealism (as we carefully introduced last week), but something that is better and more satisfying than both! Naturally, to demonstrate this, we'll compare Trika to Ramanuja's parinama-vada (real transformation model) and Shankara's vivārta-vada (illusory appearance model).
Then, at the very end of the lecture, I'm going to offer the mantra OM Namah Shivāyah and Mā willing, explain its esoteric significance in light of what was discussed. This understanding is intended to empower your practice and allow you to experience everyone and everything as nothing but God!
Now, this discussion is extremely philosophically subtle. As Abinava Gupta himself says in Tantrāloka II.28:
Durvijñeyā hi sāvasthā kimapyetad anuttaram
"It is very difficult to understand this state and hence it is called the Absolute (anuttara)"
Nevertheless, let me offer one reason why it is very important to understand this idea:
In Indian philosophy, to know is to become (brahma veda brahmaiva bhavati). A darśana, or philosophical view, is about realization and experience. The words that describe that realization are secondary and yet because the words carry with them the power of the realization, they can act as a doorway through which one realizes for themselves the state to which they point. That's probably why Abinava Gupta uses the term āvastha here in the quote, to mean "state".
So ideally, by the end of tonight's lecture, you won't leave with merely understanding but with realization.
Lectures happen live on zoom every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday 10am PST and Friday at 6pm PST. There's Q&A right after the lectures.
It is free and open to the public. All are welcome!
Use this link and I will see you there:
https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815
For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:
https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnish
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