On eve of Gurudev Sri Swami Ram's Birthday, we are publishing this new post, about the scope of discussions and establishing of relationship between author and readers.
We have established a lineage
system, we can work on foundation now. Before any gigantic work or thing can be
understood, a ground work has to be laid. This work helps both reader and
writer to communicate things. It removes ambiguity from discussion and provides
reader a clear perspective. I know lots of people starting the study of Kashmir
Shaivism, only to go towards dry intellectual discussions or lost amass the
scriptures!
Like any systematic study of
philosophy (Eastern), it must lead man to total freedom and understanding,
otherwise it becomes petty. Philosophy from Kashmir Shaivism perspective or
from Indian perspective for that matter, is never an intellectual jargon or speculations.
It is a deep realization within oneself to know one's true nature. Man, from
outside, looks similar, but is quite diverse internally. When I say internally,
I don't mean mentally, because that is superficial. I mean loaded with a
quality or blueprint that is unique to individual. Each person is on a unique journey
and on a specific place within broader fabric of life. To elaborate, the reader
of this writing, is reading it from a specific physical space-time and with
unique mind. That makes each of us unique in perspective! We need to go beyond
this perspective, only to return back with higher understanding and outlook. By
subjectivity, I mean, from person's point of view, objectivity on other hand means
non-personal. The subjectivity is internal to human, while as objectivity is
outside. For example, Sun is objective to us all, while as experience of heat is
subjective. Whole of science is based on objectivity, while as realm of
religion lies in subjectivity. This has to be understood first, before any
philosophical study is undertaken. Kashmir Shaivism only accentuates on this
and move from limited subjectivity to absolute subjectivity, having objectivity
in middle or in traversing! I know many of these things won't make much sense
in first reading or numerous, but by the end of series it would be completely
understood.
To understand life, we need to
get off from this mental perspective and get towards objectivity first! That
would be main aim of all philosophical studies and this would act as a bridging
between higher realms. Then objectivity is to be transcended, paving a way
towards unique or absolute subjectivity. That's why establishing a relationship
between writer and reader is so important. Writer might be discussing things
from objective manner, while as reader might read it subjectively. It would
only end in a catastrophe and total misunderstanding of study. As is seen
in past and done by many higher minds throughout histories. So writer would be
explicit in telling the perspective of each theory, exhort reader to do the
same adjustments. This isn't a blog where writer just writes things in a pedantic
way, instead writer/reader are engaged in an active mental flow, learning
from each other. The intent of writer is to put a focus on study, so as to make
it expand on itself. Nothing can be understood without a focus and without
expansion things won't make sense.
Writer would be happy to answer
any queries within study. We are listing out things which would be discussed in
future writings and things which would be left out.
Things within scope of discussion:-
1. Framework of Kashmir Shaivism
and its basic tenets, as propounded by older masters and by Gurudev Sri Swami
Ram.
2. Meditative techniques, which
can be inculcated by anyone in their lives.
3. Survey of literature around
Kashmir Shaivism and its delicate handling.
4. Propounding advanced topics
which enrich Kashmir Shaivism study.
5. Broader road-map for any enthusiastic
student, avoiding typical pitfalls.
Things which are left out or out of scope:-
1. Tantric Systems, they are part
of Kashmiri culture, nevertheless, aren't required for basic Kashmir Shaivism
study.
2. Juxtaposition of Various
Philosophies, as it would further confuse the reader, who has no background (a
fruitless activity).
3. Meticulous study of Kashmir
Shaivism scriptures, as this would incur both time and can easily become dry.
4. Study of Tantraloka, this has
to be explicitly stated, as most people erroneously start there and end up
nowhere. This is a very advanced work, left only for most advanced students or
elite teachers. In fact great Abhinavgupta emphasized it being a scripture for
Gurus, in Sanskrit “Gurur ev vicharane” and who’s Mala (impurities, will touch
later) have been absorbed, in Sanskrit “Galit Mala”! Yet no one pays heed to
his advice and handles scripture wrongly. We will mention this in scriptural
survey but would leave this work alone, at least for this series.
Writer is apologetic if anyone
was interested in knowing the Out of Scope material. That material would be
discussed separately under advanced part of the series.
----"It is primordial throb that thrives within all of us and nourishes life"----
