Vijnana Bhairava Tantra – 104

Wherever I go

Vihaya Nijadehastham Sarvatrasmiti Bhavayan|

Dridhena Manasa Drishtya Nanyekshinya Sukhi Bhaveth||

So long you have been thinking and believing that this physical body is who you are. Ever one and thing outside your skin is not you.

This meditation says, drop this idea that I am in this body. Just be with the feeling that I am everywhere. When this becomes so firm in you and your vision too entertains no other thought than this, the berson becomes happy.

The larger our area of operation, the more freedom we have. The more freedom we have, the happier we are. This Tantra tells us not to limit our jurisdiction to this body. It is an imaginary limitation as even this body draws its food from that whole world not to mention the air and energh, the thoughts, the knowledge for its many decisions. When all of these have the whole world as their place of origin, then how can you limit yourself to this mortal, changing and ageing outline? Know this truth and be happy. - SS

Vijnana Bhairava Tantra – 103

Look into the pain and pleasure

Na Chittam Nikshiped Duhkha Na Sukham Va Parikshipeth|

Bhairavi Jnayayatam Madhye Kim Tatwam Avashishyate||

Pain and pleasure are two states of the mind. When the surrounding situation is conducive to the body and mind, there is pleasure. When the situations are not conducive, there is pain. While both are just waves in consciousness made of thoughts which are nothing but sounds, the dharana is to not get tossed about and flounder in the thought of pain or pleasure. O Bhairavi, know that consciousness which is present in and through pain and pleasure. What else then is left, but that consciousness? – SS

Vijnana Bhairava Tantra – 102

Everything comes and goes

Indrajalamayam Vishwam Vyastam Va Chitra Karmavat|

Bhramadwa Dhyatah Sarva Pashyatascha Sukhodgamaha||

This whole world we see around us is an illusion called Maya. Maya means, that which is not.

What we see is like a magic net of constant change. It is either imaginative, as in the case of our thoughts or like a work of art.

It is also a confusing spin sometimes. Meditating upon everything in this way, joy arises. This world is an illusion. It is not a confusing or non-existent imagination. It happens right in front of us – moments pass by, days go by, nights come, people are born and die, trees die and are born, new leaves sprout and old leaves fall. It happens every moment – only we fail to realise that change. Meditating on these changes makes us see the truth and joy arises as a result. - ss 

Vijnana Bhairava Tantra – 101

Don’t worry about negativities

Kama Krodha Lobha Moha Mada Matsarya Gochare|

Buddhim Nistimitam Kritwa Tattatwamavasishyate||

Many negative emotions do crop up in the mind – intense desire for a person or thing, mighty or frivolous anger, greed delusion, arrogance

and jealousy are the same. When they rear their head in the intellect, simply freeze that thought and study its content deeply. It is just a feeling that has a name

which is nothing but sound vibrations and ultimately pure energy that comes out of existence.

This opportunity can be seized rather than contemning the feeling, or feeling guilty or angry about it or worse – to suppress it. – SS

Vijnana Bhairava Tantra – 100

Consciousness is the same

Chid Dharma Sarva Deheshu Vishesho Nasti Kutrachit|

 Atascha Tanmayam Sarvam Bhavayan Bhavajjinaha||

Meditating on the one consciousness and its qualities of existence as present everywhere with no speciality existing anywhere, for such people, everyone is seen as one’s own self. In that realisation, for the people who meditate in this way, they conquer existence. 

Vijnana Bhairava Tantra _ 99

Concentrate on the thought

Nirnimittam Bhavejjnanam Niradharam Bhramathmakam|

Tatwatah Kasyachin Naitad Evam Bhave Shiva Priye||

Lord Shiva addresses his dearest wife and says, Meditate on that thought which rises without any cause and sheds some knowledge. That thought is indeed without any base. It’s very nature is illusory. In reality, it does not belong to anybody. Meditate in this way oh one who loves Shiva.

The word Jnanam refers to thought. You see a tree outside and immediately the knowledge of a tree arises in the mind as a thought. When that thought is examined, tracing it to the source from where it came, one realises that it is actually not there. – SS

Vignana Bhairava Tantra – 98

 Focus on the thought

Icchayam Athava Jnane Jaate Chitta Niveshayath|Atmabuddhyaananyachetaaha Tatastathwartha Darshanam||

There is another way to concentrate when a desire or a thought arises – bring the total attention of the mind to that alone. The intellect that sees this desire or thought should be firmly established as a pure witness and not strengthen the desire or thought or try to suppress it. This is just like flashing a torch at every passing thought. If this is done to the exclusion of all other thoughts, then one gets to the essential illumination that is  behind every thought and desire which is nothing but a strong thought.In a shadow puppet show, all the names and forms of  the different dolls may be good, villanous, loving, jealous, angry etc, but the light and shade that illumines them is  just one. – SS