We asked our students: What touched you the most during this Kashmir Shaivism year? What were the highlights for you in this year?
Trisha: You’ve taught us to make everything beautiful and sacred.
-RASAS: God can be reached via any emotion – they’re all energies. Even the so called negative ones like rejection, sadness have stronger energies and can be transmuted and sublimated to transformation and compassion. In daily life now: we see every art, every movie, every person, every piece of music not just as entertainment but as a profound and sublime way of connecting to the Energy of the heart of God and ultimately reaching its source: Paramasiva. -Nityas meditation : Noticing increased synchronicities in life, the presence of Divine in everything, able to connect to different subtle energies in the Universe and expand on that. Feeling of harmony and rhythm : beating as one huge universal heart. Having more moments of eternity, glorious androgyny and neutrality, as the timeless witness.
-Paduka Pancaka: left the strongest mark for us. Felt the presence of Shiva in the Heart and the sustained awareness of the median channel for the first time. Felt a strong connection to the Guru. Helped in unlocking the way to connect to that space of void and then fullness which in turn has made all meditations easier to connect with faster. Helped us connect with the Brahmarendra and Dvadasanta which was amplified further by the method of Uccara and Awakening the Heart (able to switch between mind and heart faster and feeling more coherent)
Lord Shiva. Photo courtesy of PixaHive
Nicolas: Inner Man/Inner Woman: This concept opened me up to the balance and harmony that is potentially present within us and the concept to explore all the traits, not just masculine, that we embody within us. Also the Nityas. Their diversity and power to quickly access macrocosmic traits and the power that a woman has to channel these specific to their birthday.
Andrei: Paduka Pancaka technique: it all felt so naturally and it sort of left like a subtle mark, each time I review the experience the 2 pillars of light feel as when I had the experience. It’s enough to just think of it and the light is there – Tripura Sundari and the nityas: been initiated in TS for more than 10 years, done few tapas with the mantra, its been fun to further expand the knowledge and understanding – Kamesvari Nitya (1) initiation: been fortunate enough the receive the mantra and get literally hands on, first row experience with this energy
Zoltan: The beautiful process of alchemising any and all emotional states through the rasas, and seeing art from a completely new perspective. The wonderful ritual of Paduka Pancaka, revealing hidden esoteric secrets of the Guru.
The wisdom of Abhinavagupta, Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, Siva Sutras.
The countless exemplifications and meditations, transforming me individually and the class as a group too.
The Shri Yantra, and its multi layered meanings.
A statuette of the dancing Shiva . India, Udaipur
Nathalie: Through the application of the Rasas in certain challenging moments of my daily life, being able to alchemise more difficult/less desirable emotions. Especially the ability to use them as a way to get closer to the heart of God. The understanding of the inner man/woman, and how that translation into relationships/attraction with the opposite sex.
By working with the different Nityas on an almost daily basis, perceiving their varied nuances. Particularly after the initiation and subsequent tapas with the mantra of the 1st Nitya, there was a clear shift.
Amrit and Vivienne: What was meaningful for Amrit and I, was the study of the Tattvas in particular the Tanmatras, the Tattvas of the Subtle Essences. It was wonderful to explore our senses in all their vastness and subtlety. We became aware of the world differently. We became aware of a greater purpose for our bodies as receptors of the outer world information and nourishment. We became aware that we too were givers and changers of the world leaving our unique imprint through the subtle essences.The purpose of our bodies became very clear! Through the Tattvic resonance of sound, touch, shape, taste and smell we discovered new paths to the divine.
Every little thing, every little mystery or wonder or banal or annoying or uplifting thing that we notice or feel, resonates with the divinity inside of us. Whether it is the sound of laughter or a surprise tickle from our beloved or the sweet liquid of a cherry on our lips or the scent of a rose as we walk through a garden or the shape of an old oak tree standing before us, god of the earth: we are at one with everything. These are new paths to God that we have discovered and they are open to everyone. Everything around us in the world has this purpose, to lead us to God, even the most humble savour or a passing bumble bee.
Integrating the Subtle Essences, the Tanmatras, into our being has changed us over this last year. We now have established in our beings a pattern that we can return to regularly which is the state of union of consciousness. We are embracing what in the past we may have rejected, ignored or been totally unaware of. Our consciousness is like a dull penny which we have polished and on its shiny surface we now see reality reflected more brightly.
In addition I, have been on a year long journey with some of the Nityas and with the Yantra of Tripura Sundari. I have entered the three dimensions of her mysterious and beautiful temple. There I can bathe in the feminine mystery of Tripura Subdari and carry droplets of her wisdom into my life. I feel my femininity is emerging in subtle ways in my life. I feel very blessed that the Nityas are so kind to me particularly, Kameswari, Mahavajresvari and Jvalamalini. Laya Yoga meditations with them are gentle, free, easy, the most natural thing in the world. They are very tolerant of my excited mind and my dramatic personality. Because they are Shakti too! I am not alone in my energy tsunamis! This union has enabled me to feel the depth and subtlety of my energies which previously were hidden. I still have much work to do. I sincerely wish in the coming year to become less of a thinker and a worrier. Tripura Sundari and her Nityas have revealed to me what I always knew deep down that I dearly wish to be a force of love and goodness in the world.
Ann Marie: My reflections-even if I have been on zoom it feels that time and space don’t exist in the realms of energy and spiritual connection between us. I am grateful of the ancient wisdoms that are being gifted by our beautiful beloved teachers who embody and model the grace and love to us and all. The lessons that seem to give me the models of the sacred deities so I may transfigure myself with these great cosmic powers. Yes tripura Sundari and Bhuvaneshvari – I have enjoyed these meditations to “morph” and transform/transfigure from my mortal existence to existential supreme power (well glimpses).
I have morphed this with my body and body work. The heightened awareness of the body /the sense organs and particular the conscious touch. It’s all enhanced my state of grace/gratitude. My personal health and my physical /mental well being. Namaste
Shiva linga, an iconic representation of the Hindu god Shiva
Kashmir Shaivism is a complete path of initiation that provides everything needed to reach spiritual realisation. At the essence of this elevated path is Shiva. It offers you fundamental keys for awakening the soul, for understanding deeper and deeper who you truly are, until finally revealing the ultimate Self – in the here and now. Learn more about Kashmir Shaivism through our in-depth biweekly course in London.