The Doctrine of Vibration: An Analysis of the Doctrines and Practices of Kashmir Shaivism (The Suny Series in the Shaiva Traditions of Kashmir)

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 BOOK-COVER......Page 1 TITEL......Page 3 COBYRIGHT......Page 4 DEDICATION......Page 5 CONTENTS......Page 7 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......Page 9 The Land of Kashmir......Page 11 The Saivism of Kashmir and Kashmiri Saivism......Page 13 Abhinavagupta and the Flowering of Trika Saivism......Page 19 Tantra, Kashmiri Saivism and Kashmiri Society in the Eleventh Century......Page 24 The Philosophy of Recognition and the Doctrine of Vibration......Page 27 The Doctrine of Vibration......Page 30 Notes on Methodology and Synopsis of Contents......Page 32 CHAPTER I: The Integral Monism of Kashmiri Saivism......Page 43 Saiva Idealism......Page 56 Kashmiri Saiva Realism......Page 61 CHAPTER II: Light and Awareness: The Two Aspects of Consciousness......Page 69 Prakasa: The Light of Consciousness......Page 70 Self-Awareness and Consciousness......Page 79 Awareness and the Integral Nature of the Absolute......Page 83 CHAPTER III: Spanda: The Universal Activity of Absolute Consciousness......Page 87 Three Moments in the Vibration of Consciousness......Page 99 The Conative Power of Consciousness......Page 100 The Cognitive Power of Consciousness......Page 106 The Power of Action......Page 107 CHAPTER IV: Siva and Sakti......Page 109 Sankara......Page 113 The Nature of Sakti......Page 120 CHAPTER V: Sakti Cakra: The Wheel of Energies......Page 127 The Wheel of Vamesvari......Page 139 The Wheel of the Senses......Page 142 CHAPTER VI: The Divine Body and the Sacred Circle of the Senses......Page 149 CHAPTER VII: The Path to Liberation......Page 173 The Means to Realisation......Page 180 No-Means (Anupaya)......Page 185 The Divine Means (Sambhavopaya)......Page 190 The Empowered Means (Saktopaya)......Page 199 The Individual Means (Anavopaya)......Page 214 ABBREVIATIONS......Page 229 NOTES......Page 231 CHAPTER I......Page 244 CHAPTER II......Page 248 CHAPTER III......Page 251 CHAPTER IV......Page 254 CHAPTER V......Page 257 CHAPTER VI......Page 261 CHAPTER VII......Page 264 SANSKRIT TEXTS......Page 279 MANUSCRIPTS......Page 284 SECONDARY SOURCES—BOOKS......Page 286 ARTICLES......Page 288 INDEX......Page 291 Cutting across distinctions of schools and types, the author explains the central feature of Kashmir Shaivism: the creative pulse of the all pervasive Consciousness called iva. 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 Snkya and Vednta, 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 manifestations. Third, the work elaborates the dynamic aspect of consciousness. It supplies and excellent introduction to the texts and scriptures of Kashmir Shaivism. Fourth, it suggests a Yoga for realization of self. 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 Sankya 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 Shaivism. Fourth, it suggests a Yoga for the realization of self. Mark S.g. Dyczkowski. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [269]-280) And Index.