Vijnana Bhairava: The Manual for Self-Realization with CD

In the revelations that comprise this audio study set the God Realized master Swami Lakshmanjoo unfolds for us the hidden maps needed to traverse the sacred Tantric text Vijnana Bhairava.

In his Manual for Self-Realization, Lord Bhairava, in answering the Divine Mother Bhairavi's question "What is the real essence of the way we have to tread?" reveals 112 different spiritual practices for entering in the universal and transcendental state of consciousness.

Recorded original audio includes revelations from the oral tradition of Kashmir Shaivism of the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra given by Swami Lakshmanjoo. Total time of audio is seven hours.

Swami Lakshmanjoo was born in Srinagar, Kashmir on May 9, 1907. He was the last and the greatest of the saints and masters of the tradition of Kashmir Shaivism. Having a deep understanding of the philosophy and practices of Kashmir Shaivism, he was like a splendid and rare jewel. Beginning from childhood he spent his whole life studying and practicing the teachings of this unique sacred tradition. Because of his intellectual power and strength of awareness, he realized both spiritually and intellectually the reality of its thought. His other works are: Abhinavagupta's Bodhapanchadashika (with audio CD); Bhagavad Gita Samgraha, Abhinavagupta's summary of each chapter-Original audio CD; Kashmir Shaivism: The Secret Supreme, ed. John Hughes; Kshemaraja's Parapraveshika (with audio CD); Lectures of Discipline and Practice in Kashmir Shaivism; Trika Shastra Rahasya Prakriya with Hindi translation; and Siva Sutras: The Supreme Awakening.

In the revelations that comprise this audio study set, the fully God-realized master Swami Lakshmanjoo unfolds for us the hid- den maps needed to traverse the sacred landscape of the spiritual practices of Kashmir Shaivism. This text, Vijnana Bhairava, is the manual for Self Realization. It is a practical training guide, not a theoretical exposition. Having dedicated his whole life to the teach- ings of Kashmir Shaivism, both practical and philosophical, Swamiji, as we fondly called him, was uniquely qualified to offer his guidance and reveal its true meaning. He was a true master. Having realized the supreme teachings of Kashmir Shaivism, the fullness of universal God consciousness, he dedicated himself to the upliftment of all those who came to sit at his feet.

For more than half a century scholars and aspirants alike came to study the Vijnana Bhairava with Swamiji. All have given acknowledgment for Swamiji's contribution in revealing the true meaning of this difficult text. In 1959, Paul Reps authored the classic Zen Flesh, Zen Bones, dedicating his fourth chapter on "Centering" to Swami Lakshmanjoo.' In 1961, Lilian Silburn pub- lished Le Vijnana Bhairava. In 1979, Jaidev Singh dedicated Vijnanabhairava or Divine Consciousness with the following words: "With profound respects to Swami Lakshmanjoo who un- sealed my eyes.

The teachings of Kashmir Shaivism are so rich and detailed in their descriptions of the ascent of individual consciousness to universal God consciousness (Paramativa) that Kashmir Shaivism. has been aptly described as "the mystical geography of awareness." It includes a highly developed system of spirituality that emphasizes not only the intellectual understanding of its philosophy but also the direct realization, the direct experience, of its truth.

For the Kashmir Shaiva, the very nature of truth, its defining characteristic, is that it is unlimited and universal. The human intellect, on the other hand, is limited and individual, and, as such, it cannot contain within its grasp that reality which transcends it. For the Kashmir Shaiva, truth, being universal, cannot actually be expressed or revealed through language. Any attempt to define and contain it with the spoken word only limits it. If truth is to be known and understood, it must be experienced through direct realization.

**Contents and Sample Pages**