The Stanzas on Vibration


Book Description

In his Doctrine of Vibration, the author presents a synthesis of Kashmir Shaivism--an overview with Spanda as the central theme. Spanda is the vibratory dynamism of the absolute consciousness. In this book the author focuses on the school of Kashmir Shaivism that presents this doctrine as its cardinal principle and whose literature consists essentially of the works translated here. In his Introduction and in his exposition of the four commentaries, the author shows both how the Spanda tradition contributes to the other schools of Kashmir Shaivism and how it is different from them. He presents for the first time a detailed treatment of this tradition and an analysis of its development. The aim is to offer a method that affords access by the general reader to the wonderful world of the Spanda Yogi through which she travels to the liberating realization of her authentic identity vibrant with the vitality of the universal pulse of Shiva.




The Doctrine of Vibration


Book Description

Cutting across distinctions of schools and types, the author explains the central feature of Kashmir Saivism: the creative pulse of the all-pervasive Consciousness called Siva. This is also the central theme of the Hindu Tantras, and Dyczkowski provides new insight into the most literate and extensive interpretations of the Tantras. This book is significant from four points of view. First, it breaks new ground in Indian philosophy. According to the Spanda Doctrine, the self is not simply witnessing consciousness as maintained by Sankhya and Vedanta, but is an active force. Second, the ultimate reality is not simply a logical system of abstract categories, but is living, pulsating energy, the source of all manifestation. Third, the work elaborates the dynamic aspect of consciousness. It supplies an excellent introduction to the texts and scriptures of Kashmir Saivism. Fourth, it suggests a Yoga for the realization of self.




The Aphorisms of Śiva


Book Description

The Shiva Sutra was revealed to Vasugupta by Shiva in order to counter the effects of dualism. This revelation initiated the hermeneutics of syntheses and exegesis climaxed by the great Abhinavagupta. The Shiva Sutra is the most important scripture in the Trika system of Kashmir Shaivism. As a book on yoga, it explains the nature and cause of bondage and the means to liberation from bondage. Bhāskara is in the direct lineage of Vasugupta. To Bhāskara's commentary, Mark Dyczkowski has added his translation of an anonymous commentary as an aid to understanding Bhāskara's interpretation. This anonymous writer also serves as a bridge between Kṣemarāja's and Bhāskara's commentaries, drawing from both. The commentary on each sutra is thus in three layers. Bhāskara's commentary is first, followed by the anonymous commentary, after which Dyczkowski adds his own exposition and compares Bhāskara and Kṣemarāja. Kṣemarāja's commentary, the Vimarsini, has been translated by Jaideva Singh and published by SUNY Press under the title Siva Sutra.




A Journey in the World of Tantras


Book Description

The past thirty years have witnessed dramatic developmentsin the study of ¶gamic ’aivism in general. On the one handthere has been a substantial increase in the historical andanthropological data. On the other, access has been cleared tovast reserves of unedited and unpublished sources.This book is a collection of essays which document in theirown way the author s personal journey in these years throughparts of the ’aiva and, to some extent, the Vai !ava Tantras.This ground-breaking book includes the following chapters:Self-awareness, Own Being and Egoity; AbhÈvavÈda, theDoctrine of Non-being; The Sa`vitprakÈ a; The InnerPilgrimage of the Tantras; KubjikÈ, the Androgynous Goddess;The Cult of the Goddess KubjikÈ.Mark S.G. Dyczkowski is a renowned scholar in the fieldof Tantra. Living in India for over thirty years, he combines inhis books a Western academic base with deep Indian insight.




Homie


Book Description

FINALIST FOR THE 2020 NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FOR POETRY FINALIST FOR THE 2021 NAACP IMAGE AWARD FOR POETRY Danez Smith is our president Homie is Danez Smith’s magnificent anthem about the saving grace of friendship. Rooted in the loss of one of Smith’s close friends, this book comes out of the search for joy and intimacy within a nation where both can seem scarce and getting scarcer. In poems of rare power and generosity, Smith acknowledges that in a country overrun by violence, xenophobia, and disparity, and in a body defined by race, queerness, and diagnosis, it can be hard to survive, even harder to remember reasons for living. But then the phone lights up, or a shout comes up to the window, and family—blood and chosen—arrives with just the right food and some redemption. Part friendship diary, part bright elegy, part war cry, Homie is the exuberant new book written for Danez and for Danez’s friends and for you and for yours.




The Krama Tantricism of Kashmir


Book Description

The Karma Tantricism of Kashmir is intended as a ground work of the Karma system, an almost neglected area of Kashmir Saivism. The author has very ably reconstructed the history and metaphysics of the system after rummaging through relevant literature, both in print and manuscript form. The krama philosophy, Sakta esotricism and the Tantric synoptic view are seen. In this first of the two volumes, the author has given a general and historical survey in seven chapters-Karma as a distinct system, mutual exchange from allied system, different traditions and sub-schools, sources and literature and karma`s place in Kashmir Saivism. Contains chronological table of Karma author`s classified Bibliography and indexes.




Dualities


Book Description

Philosophy and theology have each struggled with the problem of dualismùthe conviction that reality comprises material arid nonmaterial entities. Too often, this split places God, spirit, mind, and the masculine in opposition to evil, body, matter, and the feminine. These intellectual divisions support social structures that oppress rather than embrace women, the poor, people of color, and others. With this volume, Voss Roberts expertly shows how comparative theology uproots dualism and fosters new modes of community built on cooperation instead of oppression.




The Canon of the Śaivāgama and the Kubjikā Tantras of the Western Kaula Tradition


Book Description

ABOUT THE BOOK:This book serves as an introductory study of Tantric Saivism in its original scriptural sources. It traces the features and content of the canon of the Saiva Tantras, making use of many unpublished manuscripts from Kashmiri Saiva author




Meditation for the Love of It


Book Description

Meditation is like a love affair with your innermost self. At times it can be ecstatic and entrancing, other times simple and still—and sometimes you might not even feel its profound effects until later. Now with Meditation for the Love of It, Sally Kempton shares practical secrets to help us turn meditation into an unconditional embrace of the fullness of our experience—on and off the meditation cushion. With the gentle wisdom and compassion of one who understands the nuances of practice, she opens us to the joy of exploring the deep and mysterious inner landscape of the heart, mind, and body. Drawing on her 40 years as a teacher and a fellow meditator, Sally teaches us how we can connect to our inner longings and creative shakti energy to allow the transformative gifts and blessings of meditation to unfold. With playfulness and devotion—two key attitudes in sustaining a daily practice—she shares indispensable guidance for this voyage of self-discovery, including: How to tune in to your own “meditation channel,” a bandwidth of tranquillity, energy, and joy Why you don’t need a quiet mind to meditate How the force known as Kundalini can fuel your practice Connecting to your ever-present Inner Beloved to let go of conditioned ideas about yourself and make space for the True Self to come forth Ripening your practice beyond technique into the “sweet mysterious expanse of spontaneous meditation” More than 20 practices for bringing the peace and insight of meditation into your daily life “Remember: what you seek in meditation is your own Beloved, your own inner intelligence, your own Awareness, and your own Truth,” teaches Sally. Meditation for the Love of It points us back to our own intimate heart of hearts, our own deepest experience, and the bliss of existence itself.




Walking in Two Worlds


Book Description