Vignana Bhairava Tantra - 57

Meditate and Realise

Asya Sarvasya Vishwasya Paryanteshu Samanthathaha
Adhwaprakriyaya Tatwam Shaivam Dhyathwa Mahodayaha

Meditation is the key to know the truth. What is the truth that needs to be known? There is one essence that pervades this whole universe of manifested creation. Everything that lives, moves or does not, has this flavour of consciousness present in it. That consciousness is the Shiva Tatwa or the Shiva Principle. This leads to the supreme realisation. - Swahilya Shambhavi.

Meditate

The space in the head

Kalalantarmano nyasya tishtanmeelita lochanaha
Kramena manaso dardhyath lakshayet lakshyam uttamam
By fixing the attention in the space within the crown of the head, with eyes steady and closed, a stable concentration can take us to the goal of all goals - realising one's own self.
- Swahilya Shambhavi

The subtle energy

Meditate on it

Aa moolath kiranabhasam sookshmaat sookshmatarathmikam
Chintyettam Dwishatkaanthe Shamyantim Bhairavodayaha
*****
There is a subtle ray of light that runs through the major chakras or vortexes of energy in the psychic, subtle body along the spine. It begins at the root, Muladhara and ends at the Sahasrara the crown energy centre. Being with this subtle line of energy that almost merges in consciousness and meditating upon it, one has the experience of that Bhairava. - Swahilya Shambhavi (swahilya.soulmate@gmail.com)

Meditation techniques

Many ways to realise

Sri Bhairava Uvacha

Urdhve Pranau Hyadho Jeevo Visargathma Parochchareth

Utpatti Dwitayasthane Bharanaath Bharitha Sthithihi

*****

The flow of the breath in and out has happening since the time we were born. And we refer to a person who passed away saying, "He breathed his last."

Besides the body, the breath has been there since birth. The very first technique of meditation that Shiva begins with, to explain to Parvathy the ways to reach the state of fullness - it is the breath that he talks about.

The breath carries the life energy that sustains the body and energises the mind. That life force is called Prana. This breath begins at a particular point at the entrance of the nostrils. They go down and ultimately touch a point within us in the chest.

My Guru, Swami Akshara in his '10 Best Meditation Techniques,' based on the Vignana Bhairava Tantra, explains a meditation technique using this verse. "Follow your breath mentally to the beginning of your inhalation and up to the end of your exhalation. It is the most effortless activity where you travel with the breath mentally. The point where your breath has reached and touching inside you is your soul. That is where Shiva is present," he says. The end of the breath where it touches the world outside is where the Shakti, the cosmic energy, the prakriti is present.

This simple technique of being with the breath mentally brings in a sense of totality and completeness to the mind. This can be done anytime, anyplace and anywhere. In a few minutes, you can see your mind becoming calm and settled. - Swahilya Shambhavi (swahilya.soulmate@gmail.com)