The Dance of Shiva – Vedanta in Code.
Understanding Non-dual Reality
DONATIONS!
People say they want bliss without thoughts but that doesn’t work because the intellect will obscure bliss with worry until it obtains doubt-free knowledge. You have people who worship the image of Shiva for an experience of bliss, which never lasts. It is absurd because you are always experiencing the bliss of existence even as you are attempting to ‘connect.”
Reality is non-dual existence shining as unborn whole and complete consciousness. It is everything that is. Not only is there no single word that can explain it, there are so many existent names and forms that it is impossible to categorize them all. But categorize them we must if we are going to remove our ignorance. Chapter 7 of the Bhagavad reduces everything that exists to two categories, Subject (consciousness) and Matter (known and unknown objects). The Gita is the essence of the Upanishads, the source texts of Vedanta, a proven means of Self knowledge.
Neither category can create by itself. Consciousness can’t because it is uncreated and eternal. It cannot modify matter, be modified by matter, or modify itself. Matter can’t create because it is inert. However, when these two factors come together creation happens. Think Big Bang: It is important to know this fact if you want the freedom that is non-different from unconditional love; the freedom that is perfect satisfaction with yourself, however you conceive it, and the satisfaction that comes from appreciating the radiant perfect beauty of the Creation. If you ever wondered if you are a spiritual entity with a material body or a material entity with spiritual inclinations, Vedanta, the science of existence shining as consciousness, solves your problem.
Vedanta accomplishes this for us in two ways. It resolves this confusion and others generated by it by using using words in a logical way, which is known as informal meditation. Logic is extremely subtle patterns of thought that generate the knowledge that remove ignorance. The second way is called formal meditation, of which this wonderful image, Dancing Shiva, is one of the most elegant, eloquent examples. It is particularly suitable for individuals who have difficulty following logical trains of thought but is an image of such provocative transcendent beauty and power that it appeals to most individuals with spiritual aspirations once it is unfolded.
Shiva Nataraj
The Dance of Bliss (ananda tandava) reconciles science, devotional love and beauty in one complex but simple image. Metaphors can remove ignorance of things we desire to know that cannot be perceived with the senses or accurately inferred by the mind.
The word Shiva means auspiciousness, the one uncreated ever-present and available thing that is good at all times, in all places and in any set of circumstances—our essence or Self—the balanced, poised confident four-armed figure momentarily suspended in time in the center of life’s passionate dancing radiant ring of fire
The dancing Ring of Fire symbolizes the dynamic, created, changing, material aspect of our selves, the body, mind, intellect and the world. The Self is always auspicious. Matter is sometimes auspicious, sometimes inauspicious, with reference to the happiness we continually seek. The poised, balanced self-contained figure symbolizes the ever-auspicious Self, whereas the ring of fire symbolizes our extroverted grasping, unreliable, insecure, material self. That self is unreliable because it is never the same from one moment to the next. The spiritual or conscious Self is always reliable because it is always-desirable, ever-reliable Bliss. It is what is to be known if you want to be secure, adequate and permanently fulfilled.
A. Meditation – Focus on the Self
Formal meditation starts with a visual symbol, which is internalized by the practice of meditation. Before you begin, see to it that the image is hanging on a wall or sitting on a desk or dresser in a clean, quiet attractive space in your home or garden. Sit in front of the image and mentally ask Shiva to give you a successful meditation. Sitting is a symbol of non-doing. Light a candle, ring a bell and burn a stick of incense to get the attention of your innermost Self. Keeping in mind that any result is acceptable (karma yoga). Because this is a dualistic meditation, we need to use “he” for the Self and “she” for the not-self. He and she do not imply a power imbalance. Brother and sister is perhaps a better metaphor.
Thinking, “I am Shiva,” focus exclusively on the pure, poised, balanced, self-contained image, ignoring all non-Shiva-related thoughts until the ring of fire disappears. You should gradually extend your concentration over time. Achieving the unbroken “I thought” is easy or difficult depending on the purity of your mind. The longer you can comfortably concentrate, the deeper the inquiry. Don’t be surprised if it brings up disturbing subconscious content, which you should gratefully accommodate during the mediation and probably investigate, once the meditation is over.
Just as dances are carefully choreographed works of artistic beauty, the blissful Dance of Life is a rhythmic choreographed work of art underlying the whole non-dual creation, designed by the Artist in Chief, Isvara/Maya the non-dual creator. It has many features or principles or truths (tattvas). It is an extremely effective practice.
Here is a testimonial from a member of the ShiningWorld community. “With great interest I listened to your satsang on Shiva, meditation and devotion. It reminds me strongly of ‘Nirvana Shatakam’ of Adi Shankaracharya. It struck me how powerful your explanation of the symbolism is. Both the image and the poem are now much more alive. The key for me is the fact that ‘i am shiva.’ I never thought about it, but I realize that’s the meaning of shivoham.* So the poem is about me, the Self. My meditation deepens my devotion further and further. Thank you for your beautiful explanation. I hope to attend your satsang next Sunday.”
*Oham or aham means “I am” and Shiva means I am always the Good that is beyond good and bad.”
Incorporating this practice into your daily life, deepens dualistic bhakti to the point where it merges into non-dual devotional bhakti. Seeking stops and the doer is cancelled. The teaching tradition is Indebted to John Baxter for the timely introduction of a contemporary attractive sound bite that should cement this concept in your mind, “story upgrade.” I am Shiva is an upgrade, a vertical integration.
The aforementioned six Meditations on Myself by Shankaracharya follow. You need to contemplate on the meaning of every statement that follows until it is undeniably true about yourself, however you define yourself. Pause after each statement to confirm that it is really true. Think twice if the ego eagerly claims that it is true because it is subject to the dreaded enlightenment disease: a premature claim of enlightenment. Ask if you actually have anything to gain by making this claim.
If you do, you are not the real you. If you don’t, it means these statements are not claims. They are simple facts, like, “It is hot today.” Even if you turn on the air-conditioner, the weather doesn’t change, only your experience of it. Knowing what you are is never a gain. It is a loss of ignorance that appears to be a gain.
Mano buddhy-ahamkara chittani naham
Na cha srotra jihwe na cha ghrana netre
Na cha vyoma bhumir na tejo na vayu
Chidananda rupah Shivoham Shivoham
(1)
I am not the mind, intellect, ego or memory. I don’t hear, see, touch, taste or smell. I am not space, air, fire, water or earth. I am auspiciousness itself…pure unborn blissful consciousness. I am Shiva. I am Shiva.
Na cha prana sangno na vai panchavayu
Nava sapthadhatur na va pancha koshaha
Na vakpani padau na cho pastha payu
Chidananda rupah Shivoham Shivoham
(2)
I am not universal energy or the five physiological functions.*
I am not the body’s seven constituents* or the five sheaths.*
I am not a speaker, listener, grasper, procreator, or excreter. I am auspiciousness itself…pure unborn non-dual consciousness. I am Shiva. I am Shiva.
* Five physiological functions: expulsion, respiration, digestion, circulation, excretion
* Seven constituents: skin, muscle, fat, flesh blood, bone and marrow.
* Five sheaths: the body, five physiological systems, emotions, intellect and bliss.
Namae dwesha ragau na mae lobha mohau
Mado naiva mae naiva matsarya bhavaha
Na dharmo na chardho na kamo na mokshaha
Chidananda rupah Shivoham Shivoham
(3)
I don’t have likes and dislikes. I am not greedy, covetous, or infatuated. I am free of pride, envy and jealousy. I don’t seek security, pleasure or freedom and I am dharma itself…pure unborn blissful consciousness. I am Shiva. I am Shiva.
Na punyam na papam na saukhyam na dhukkam
Na mantro na teertham na veda na yagnaha
Aham bhojanam naiva bhojyam na bhoktha
Chidananda rupah Shivoham Shivoham
(4)
I am unaffected by sin or virtue so I don’t suffer pleasure, pain, joy or sorrow. I am not attached to scripture, sacred rituals or holy places. I don’t sacrifice. I am not the enjoyer, the enjoyed or the enjoyment. I am auspiciousness itself, pure unborn non-dual consciousness. I am Shiva. I am Shiva.
Na mruthyu na sangka na mae jathi bedha
Pita naiva mae naiva mata na janma
Na bandhur na mitram gururnaiva sishya
Chidananda rupah Shivoham Shivoham
(5)
I don’t die nor am I affected by castes and creeds. I was never born so I have no father, mother, relatives, or friends. I have no teacher nor any disciples. I am auspiciousness itself, pure unborn blissful consciousness. I am Shiva I am Shiva.
Aham nirvikalpo nirakara rupo
Vibhutwaccha sarvatra sarvendriyanam
Na cha sanga tham naiva mukthir na meya
Chidananda rupah Shivoham Shivoham
(6)
I am the formless changeless unmodified thought-free non-dual Self. I am the substance of all that appears and the power that permits the senses to know. I am unassociated with anything and unattached to everything. I am auspiciousness itself, pure non-dual blissful consciousness. I am Shiva I am Shiva.
All objects in existence are symbolized by the black background, the context of the image. It is known as Ignorance because it creates a world of such transcendent beauty and ugliness that we are forced to deal with it. Our likes, the beautiful bits, attract and our dislikes, the ugly bits, repel. What we think and feel about the world is nothing but our likes and dislikes personalizing it because Maya hides our whole and complete impersonal Self. It causes the auspicious Self to assume that whatever objects are attractive are capable of removing its unwarranted sense of incompleteness and inadequacy. Maya is a sense of magic created by not knowing how a trick works. Once you know however, the magic vanishes, but you still enjoy the show because you appreciate the trick’s trickiness.
Next, let’s analyze the Features of Experience.
1. Evolution
Your Shiva self is uncreated. It does not evolve. But your material self is created. It evolves and devolves.
2. Maintenance, Sustainability
Anything that is created exists from a fraction of a second to multiple billions of years. Getting what you want is fine, but it does not solve the inadequacy problem. Objects…read experiences…have legs and go south, so you are forever attached to keeping them.
3. Destruction Dissolution
Creation is Time, the interval between the birth and death of an object. Objects are experiences, which are thoughts generated by words. (See Mandukya and Karika for details. Primordial Matter itself cannot be created or destroyed. It is eternal. Discrete material experiences momentarily enter a potential state, only to remanifest in another form. Time is circular, not linear as we imagine. If it is circular, it is unreal since the beginning depends upon the end and the end depends on the beginning. It is impossible to determine which came first, the chicken or the egg for instance, leading to the valid conclusion that time is not real.
Something is real (free) if it doesn’t depend on something else for its existence. The poised secure unborn Shiva self is free. Therefore, nothing, except the removal of ignorance, can be done to attain it. We think destruction is bad because it sweeps away the things we are attached to but it is good too, as it sets the stage for the appearance of uplifting satisfying experiences. Enough background. Back to the meditation.
B. Focus on Objects
Relax your focus to include the burning ring of fire. Imagine it spinning around and around like a firebrand until it becomes an unbroken circle. Say to yourself, “The whirling circle of my experiences is caused by desire born of ignorance of my Shiva self. It generates a nagging sense of incompleteness, inadequacy, and instability. I see it. It does not see me. It does not affect me.”
4. Denial, Concealment, and Projection Cause Bondage
If something exists, it is possible not to know it. Not knowing is called denial. Conscious denial is lying. Although it is always present, the Self is seemingly (mithya) concealed because it is not perceptible to the physical senses, which is the primary means of knowledge of most individuals. When you don’t know you are unborn, whole and complete, you incorrectly assume that the objects that present themselves to your senses can remove the feeling of incompleteness.
Objects can’t compete or complete you for two reasons: because you are already complete and because they are not substantial, what the sometimes called “emptiness” by our Budhist friends. No matter how much sympathy your sad story elicits, bondage doesn’t work for anybody because, compared what you actually are, it sucks. Compared to less miserable stories it shines, however. If you are in love with your miserable life keep repeating your miserable story. If not, upgrade your story.
5. Extroversion
Not knowing something generates the two most salient features of sentient beings: fear and desire. When you are in the dark, you can’t move, so you desire light. You cannot blame yourself for extroversion. It comes with the wonder of human birth. Seeing, knowing, being the light is freedom. (moksha)
6. Grace, Release Freedom
At some point in evolution the rare animals that became aware of “the light,” were called human beings. We could say that they became “aware of awareness,” not knowing that it is not possible to become what they always were. In any case, way back in the day, Shiva, aided by the reflecting medium, the mind, graciously transmitted Vedanta to qualified individuals with inward-turned, curious, unselfish “scientific” minds who just want to know what life is and are not concerned with discrete bits of knowledge that indicate but obscure the total.
Vedanta ends the search for discrete bits of knowledge and discrete experiences, revealing the fact that you are Bliss itself. Your pre-orchestrated role in the dance of life is fun when you know this fact. Ignorance is “released” with the gain of Self knowledge. Without doubt you can say, “I am free.”
The Drum in Your Upper Right Hand
Sound is only meaningful in the context of silence. A single beat is preceded and followed by silence. If no silence follows, sound doesn’t exist. Sound and silence are unreal because they are mutually dependent. The beat represents the material changing parts of yourself and the silence represents the unchanging silent part. Shiva itself, however, is not only the unchanging part; it is “meta-silence,” the Awareness of the sound that is not opposed to silence.
Shiva as Ishwara
When Shiva stops “beating his drum,” the first beat of which is a Big Bang, creation begins and when He stops, the universe begins unbanging, which ends in the dissolution of Creation. Scripture says, the self “sleeps” for billions of years only to wake up later for additional billions (even quadrillions) based on its previous momentum, whereupon it unbangs again in an endless cycle of monotonous Bliss. The word monotony only means boring to a bored mind. It is a statement of wholeness, oneness. Not to worry, ladies, “He” can’t do it without the “She,” the Ring of Fire. He needs you. Love is Spirit and Matter endlessly locked in conjugal bliss.
7. Protection – Reassurance – Dharma
The right hand with raised palm facing outward and an OM symbol is a gesture of protection to those souls caught in the tortuous whirligig of life. Shiva says, “Because of my eternal presence, you can relax. “Take it easy; there is nothing to fear. I have your back.” It implies knowledge of karma yoga.
7. Destruction – Regeneration
Worry stands to reason since everything dear to people who think they are subject to time are subject to Shiva’s next playful trick. The left hand holding the flame, symbolizes destruction which is unreal (mithya) because energy/matter cannot be created or destroyed. It is eternal. Scientific “discoveries” of hidden sources of energy are simply “uncoveries” brought about the application of reason—inference and other logical principles.
Vedanta, a “subjective” science uncovers what is always present and partially-known by application of the scientific method to the “inner” world, not only to the “outer” world, which is the obsession of material science. That we can’t fully appreciate the significance of the outer world without an investigation of the inner world is slowing dawning on the community of material scientists.
8. Grace – Salvation, Liberation (moksha)
The left hand extends across the chest, its fingers pointing graciously to the tip of the uplifted left leg, which is raised in a dancing posture. The leg symbolizes Vedanta, a uplifting mirror of words in which your true Self is revealed, granting knowledge of your completeness, which saves you from change by removing the energy (tamoguna) that conceals your fullness.
It is positioned just below the OM because knowledge of OM (everything that is) is required for freedom. In similar images, Vishnu sleeping on the Cosmic Serpent for instance, the downward hand is depicted with a noose, enabling the Self to pluck ripe souls from the ocean of samsara, the mistaken belief in the cycle of births and deaths. In the image above, his right partially-submerged hand symbolizes grace. Notice that Shiva’s hand is not grasping. It is simply offering an opportunity. The opportunity, however, implies action. In Vishnu’s case the offhand and seemingly subconscious gesture represents opportunity, which also implies action. Freedom that doesn’t require action is not free. At every stage of evolution, Vedanta requires action. Knowledge without the transformation of the personality brought about by yoga is just more suffering.
9. Concealment – Denial – Ignorance
Transformation is as inspiring as it is emotionally challenging. Everything in the mind is actually a symbol. Persistence pays off because at some point the symbol is going to deliver what it purports to symbolize—freedom and non-dual love. But persevere, you must.
This feature of consciousness is more complex and hard to grasp. In conjunction with Maya (Macrocosmic Ignorance) Isvara has three energies at Its disposal as does Jiva, a “mini-Isvara.” Shiva Isvara generates the waking dream and deep sleep states, which conceal, project, and reveal. (See the Yoga of Three Energies). Jiva Shiva manages the concealing, projecting and revealing thoughts in its reflected (pratibimba) awareness in an attempt to keep the mind under its control.
This Shiva is an image of a graceful well-balanced mature Self actualized person. The right foot is firmly placed on the back of the wiggling infantile dwarfish ego so that devotional love can flow unrestricted toward the selfless Self. To vow to actualize your full spiritual potential is the “right” thing to do for a committed inquirer.
10. Ecstasy
The ecstatic and vibrant nature of the dance, with the Lord whirling round on the one right leg is indicated by the matted hair flying on both sides of this head. When creation bangs, Shiva arises from His rapture sending flowing undulating waves of bliss, sustaining manifold phenomena reflecting the light of Awareness. Among other things snakes represent the rhymical undulating patterns of life. As He whirls with fire in hand, He destroys all names and forms, lies down and sleeps His apparently endless night. Jiva too whirls around and around in its a whirlpool of memories and desires for most of the day, lies down and sleeps fretfully for a few hours, reawakens and starts its hectic dance once more.
Introduced September 17, 2023
The Dance of Shiva – Vedanta in Code.
Understanding Non-dual Reality
DONATIONS!
People say they want bliss without thoughts but that doesn’t work because the intellect will obscure bliss with worry until it obtains doubt-free knowledge. You have people who worship the image of Shiva for an experience of bliss, which never lasts. It is absurd because you are always experiencing the bliss of existence even as you are attempting to ‘connect.”
Reality is non-dual existence shining as unborn whole and complete consciousness. It is everything that is. Not only is there no single word that can explain it, there are so many existent names and forms that it is impossible to categorize them all. But categorize them we must if we are going to remove our ignorance. Chapter 7 of the Bhagavad reduces everything that exists to two categories, Subject (consciousness) and Matter (known and unknown objects). The Gita is the essence of the Upanishads, the source texts of Vedanta, a proven means of Self knowledge.
Neither category can create by itself. Consciousness can’t because it is uncreated and eternal. It cannot modify matter, be modified by matter, or modify itself. Matter can’t create because it is inert. However, when these two factors come together creation happens. Think Big Bang: It is important to know this fact if you want the freedom that is non-different from unconditional love; the freedom that is perfect satisfaction with yourself, however you conceive it, and the satisfaction that comes from appreciating the radiant perfect beauty of the Creation. If you ever wondered if you are a spiritual entity with a material body or a material entity with spiritual inclinations, Vedanta, the science of existence shining as consciousness, solves your problem.
Vedanta accomplishes this for us in two ways. It resolves this confusion and others generated by it by using using words in a logical way, which is known as informal meditation. Logic is extremely subtle patterns of thought that generate the knowledge that remove ignorance. The second way is called formal meditation, of which this wonderful image, Dancing Shiva, is one of the most elegant, eloquent examples. It is particularly suitable for individuals who have difficulty following logical trains of thought but is an image of such provocative transcendent beauty and power that it appeals to most individuals with spiritual aspirations once it is unfolded.
Shiva Nataraj
The Dance of Bliss (ananda tandava) reconciles science, devotional love and beauty in one complex but simple image. Metaphors can remove ignorance of things we desire to know that cannot be perceived with the senses or accurately inferred by the mind.
The word Shiva means auspiciousness, the one uncreated ever-present and available thing that is good at all times, in all places and in any set of circumstances—our essence or Self—the balanced, poised confident four-armed figure momentarily suspended in time in the center of life’s passionate dancing radiant ring of fire
The dancing Ring of Fire symbolizes the dynamic, created, changing, material aspect of our selves, the body, mind, intellect and the world. The Self is always auspicious. Matter is sometimes auspicious, sometimes inauspicious, with reference to the happiness we continually seek. The poised, balanced self-contained figure symbolizes the ever-auspicious Self, whereas the ring of fire symbolizes our extroverted grasping, unreliable, insecure, material self. That self is unreliable because it is never the same from one moment to the next. The spiritual or conscious Self is always reliable because it is always-desirable, ever-reliable Bliss. It is what is to be known if you want to be secure, adequate and permanently fulfilled.
A. Meditation – Focus on the Self
Formal meditation starts with a visual symbol, which is internalized by the practice of meditation. Before you begin, see to it that the image is hanging on a wall or sitting on a desk or dresser in a clean, quiet attractive space in your home or garden. Sit in front of the image and mentally ask Shiva to give you a successful meditation. Sitting is a symbol of non-doing. Light a candle, ring a bell and burn a stick of incense to get the attention of your innermost Self. Keeping in mind that any result is acceptable (karma yoga). Because this is a dualistic meditation, we need to use “he” for the Self and “she” for the not-self. He and she do not imply a power imbalance. Brother and sister is perhaps a better metaphor.
Thinking, “I am Shiva,” focus exclusively on the pure, poised, balanced, self-contained image, ignoring all non-Shiva-related thoughts until the ring of fire disappears. You should gradually extend your concentration over time. Achieving the unbroken “I thought” is easy or difficult depending on the purity of your mind. The longer you can comfortably concentrate, the deeper the inquiry. Don’t be surprised if it brings up disturbing subconscious content, which you should gratefully accommodate during the mediation and probably investigate, once the meditation is over.
Just as dances are carefully choreographed works of artistic beauty, the blissful Dance of Life is a rhythmic choreographed work of art underlying the whole non-dual creation, designed by the Artist in Chief, Isvara/Maya the non-dual creator. It has many features or principles or truths (tattvas). It is an extremely effective practice.
Here is a testimonial from a member of the ShiningWorld community. “With great interest I listened to your satsang on Shiva, meditation and devotion. It reminds me strongly of ‘Nirvana Shatakam’ of Adi Shankaracharya. It struck me how powerful your explanation of the symbolism is. Both the image and the poem are now much more alive. The key for me is the fact that ‘i am shiva.’ I never thought about it, but I realize that’s the meaning of shivoham.* So the poem is about me, the Self. My meditation deepens my devotion further and further. Thank you for your beautiful explanation. I hope to attend your satsang next Sunday.”
*Oham or aham means “I am” and Shiva means I am always the Good that is beyond good and bad.”
Incorporating this practice into your daily life, deepens dualistic bhakti to the point where it merges into non-dual devotional bhakti. Seeking stops and the doer is cancelled. The teaching tradition is Indebted to John Baxter for the timely introduction of a contemporary attractive sound bite that should cement this concept in your mind, “story upgrade.” I am Shiva is an upgrade, a vertical integration.
The aforementioned six Meditations on Myself by Shankaracharya follow. You need to contemplate on the meaning of every statement that follows until it is undeniably true about yourself, however you define yourself. Pause after each statement to confirm that it is really true. Think twice if the ego eagerly claims that it is true because it is subject to the dreaded enlightenment disease: a premature claim of enlightenment. Ask if you actually have anything to gain by making this claim.
If you do, you are not the real you. If you don’t, it means these statements are not claims. They are simple facts, like, “It is hot today.” Even if you turn on the air-conditioner, the weather doesn’t change, only your experience of it. Knowing what you are is never a gain. It is a loss of ignorance that appears to be a gain.
Mano buddhy-ahamkara chittani naham
Na cha srotra jihwe na cha ghrana netre
Na cha vyoma bhumir na tejo na vayu
Chidananda rupah Shivoham Shivoham
(1)
I am not the mind, intellect, ego or memory. I don’t hear, see, touch, taste or smell. I am not space, air, fire, water or earth. I am auspiciousness itself…pure unborn blissful consciousness. I am Shiva. I am Shiva.
Na cha prana sangno na vai panchavayu
Nava sapthadhatur na va pancha koshaha
Na vakpani padau na cho pastha payu
Chidananda rupah Shivoham Shivoham
(2)
I am not universal energy or the five physiological functions.*
I am not the body’s seven constituents* or the five sheaths.*
I am not a speaker, listener, grasper, procreator, or excreter. I am auspiciousness itself…pure unborn non-dual consciousness. I am Shiva. I am Shiva.
* Five physiological functions: expulsion, respiration, digestion, circulation, excretion
* Seven constituents: skin, muscle, fat, flesh blood, bone and marrow.
* Five sheaths: the body, five physiological systems, emotions, intellect and bliss.
Namae dwesha ragau na mae lobha mohau
Mado naiva mae naiva matsarya bhavaha
Na dharmo na chardho na kamo na mokshaha
Chidananda rupah Shivoham Shivoham
(3)
I don’t have likes and dislikes. I am not greedy, covetous, or infatuated. I am free of pride, envy and jealousy. I don’t seek security, pleasure or freedom and I am dharma itself…pure unborn blissful consciousness. I am Shiva. I am Shiva.
Na punyam na papam na saukhyam na dhukkam
Na mantro na teertham na veda na yagnaha
Aham bhojanam naiva bhojyam na bhoktha
Chidananda rupah Shivoham Shivoham
(4)
I am unaffected by sin or virtue so I don’t suffer pleasure, pain, joy or sorrow. I am not attached to scripture, sacred rituals or holy places. I don’t sacrifice. I am not the enjoyer, the enjoyed or the enjoyment. I am auspiciousness itself, pure unborn non-dual consciousness. I am Shiva. I am Shiva.
Na mruthyu na sangka na mae jathi bedha
Pita naiva mae naiva mata na janma
Na bandhur na mitram gururnaiva sishya
Chidananda rupah Shivoham Shivoham
(5)
I don’t die nor am I affected by castes and creeds. I was never born so I have no father, mother, relatives, or friends. I have no teacher nor any disciples. I am auspiciousness itself, pure unborn blissful consciousness. I am Shiva I am Shiva.
Aham nirvikalpo nirakara rupo
Vibhutwaccha sarvatra sarvendriyanam
Na cha sanga tham naiva mukthir na meya
Chidananda rupah Shivoham Shivoham
(6)
I am the formless changeless unmodified thought-free non-dual Self. I am the substance of all that appears and the power that permits the senses to know. I am unassociated with anything and unattached to everything. I am auspiciousness itself, pure non-dual blissful consciousness. I am Shiva I am Shiva.
All objects in existence are symbolized by the black background, the context of the image. It is known as Ignorance because it creates a world of such transcendent beauty and ugliness that we are forced to deal with it. Our likes, the beautiful bits, attract and our dislikes, the ugly bits, repel. What we think and feel about the world is nothing but our likes and dislikes personalizing it because Maya hides our whole and complete impersonal Self. It causes the auspicious Self to assume that whatever objects are attractive are capable of removing its unwarranted sense of incompleteness and inadequacy. Maya is a sense of magic created by not knowing how a trick works. Once you know however, the magic vanishes, but you still enjoy the show because you appreciate the trick’s trickiness.
Next, let’s analyze the Features of Experience.
1. Evolution
Your Shiva self is uncreated. It does not evolve. But your material self is created. It evolves and devolves.
2. Maintenance, Sustainability
Anything that is created exists from a fraction of a second to multiple billions of years. Getting what you want is fine, but it does not solve the inadequacy problem. Objects…read experiences…have legs and go south, so you are forever attached to keeping them.
3. Destruction Dissolution
Creation is Time, the interval between the birth and death of an object. Objects are experiences, which are thoughts generated by words. (See Mandukya and Karika for details. Primordial Matter itself cannot be created or destroyed. It is eternal. Discrete material experiences momentarily enter a potential state, only to remanifest in another form. Time is circular, not linear as we imagine. If it is circular, it is unreal since the beginning depends upon the end and the end depends on the beginning. It is impossible to determine which came first, the chicken or the egg for instance, leading to the valid conclusion that time is not real.
Something is real (free) if it doesn’t depend on something else for its existence. The poised secure unborn Shiva self is free. Therefore, nothing, except the removal of ignorance, can be done to attain it. We think destruction is bad because it sweeps away the things we are attached to but it is good too, as it sets the stage for the appearance of uplifting satisfying experiences. Enough background. Back to the meditation.
B. Focus on Objects
Relax your focus to include the burning ring of fire. Imagine it spinning around and around like a firebrand until it becomes an unbroken circle. Say to yourself, “The whirling circle of my experiences is caused by desire born of ignorance of my Shiva self. It generates a nagging sense of incompleteness, inadequacy, and instability. I see it. It does not see me. It does not affect me.”
4. Denial, Concealment, and Projection Cause Bondage
If something exists, it is possible not to know it. Not knowing is called denial. Conscious denial is lying. Although it is always present, the Self is seemingly (mithya) concealed because it is not perceptible to the physical senses, which is the primary means of knowledge of most individuals. When you don’t know you are unborn, whole and complete, you incorrectly assume that the objects that present themselves to your senses can remove the feeling of incompleteness.
Objects can’t compete or complete you for two reasons: because you are already complete and because they are not substantial, what the sometimes called “emptiness” by our Budhist friends. No matter how much sympathy your sad story elicits, bondage doesn’t work for anybody because, compared what you actually are, it sucks. Compared to less miserable stories it shines, however. If you are in love with your miserable life keep repeating your miserable story. If not, upgrade your story.
5. Extroversion
Not knowing something generates the two most salient features of sentient beings: fear and desire. When you are in the dark, you can’t move, so you desire light. You cannot blame yourself for extroversion. It comes with the wonder of human birth. Seeing, knowing, being the light is freedom. (moksha)
6. Grace, Release Freedom
At some point in evolution the rare animals that became aware of “the light,” were called human beings. We could say that they became “aware of awareness,” not knowing that it is not possible to become what they always were. In any case, way back in the day, Shiva, aided by the reflecting medium, the mind, graciously transmitted Vedanta to qualified individuals with inward-turned, curious, unselfish “scientific” minds who just want to know what life is and are not concerned with discrete bits of knowledge that indicate but obscure the total.
Vedanta ends the search for discrete bits of knowledge and discrete experiences, revealing the fact that you are Bliss itself. Your pre-orchestrated role in the dance of life is fun when you know this fact. Ignorance is “released” with the gain of Self knowledge. Without doubt you can say, “I am free.”
The Drum in Your Upper Right Hand
Sound is only meaningful in the context of silence. A single beat is preceded and followed by silence. If no silence follows, sound doesn’t exist. Sound and silence are unreal because they are mutually dependent. The beat represents the material changing parts of yourself and the silence represents the unchanging silent part. Shiva itself, however, is not only the unchanging part; it is “meta-silence,” the Awareness of the sound that is not opposed to silence.
Shiva as Ishwara
When Shiva stops “beating his drum,” the first beat of which is a Big Bang, creation begins and when He stops, the universe begins unbanging, which ends in the dissolution of Creation. Scripture says, the self “sleeps” for billions of years only to wake up later for additional billions (even quadrillions) based on its previous momentum, whereupon it unbangs again in an endless cycle of monotonous Bliss. The word monotony only means boring to a bored mind. It is a statement of wholeness, oneness. Not to worry, ladies, “He” can’t do it without the “She,” the Ring of Fire. He needs you. Love is Spirit and Matter endlessly locked in conjugal bliss.
7. Protection – Reassurance – Dharma
The right hand with raised palm facing outward and an OM symbol is a gesture of protection to those souls caught in the tortuous whirligig of life. Shiva says, “Because of my eternal presence, you can relax. “Take it easy; there is nothing to fear. I have your back.” It implies knowledge of karma yoga.
7. Destruction – Regeneration
Worry stands to reason since everything dear to people who think they are subject to time are subject to Shiva’s next playful trick. The left hand holding the flame, symbolizes destruction which is unreal (mithya) because energy/matter cannot be created or destroyed. It is eternal. Scientific “discoveries” of hidden sources of energy are simply “uncoveries” brought about the application of reason—inference and other logical principles.
Vedanta, a “subjective” science uncovers what is always present and partially-known by application of the scientific method to the “inner” world, not only to the “outer” world, which is the obsession of material science. That we can’t fully appreciate the significance of the outer world without an investigation of the inner world is slowing dawning on the community of material scientists.
8. Grace – Salvation, Liberation (moksha)
The left hand extends across the chest, its fingers pointing graciously to the tip of the uplifted left leg, which is raised in a dancing posture. The leg symbolizes Vedanta, a uplifting mirror of words in which your true Self is revealed, granting knowledge of your completeness, which saves you from change by removing the energy (tamoguna) that conceals your fullness.
It is positioned just below the OM because knowledge of OM (everything that is) is required for freedom. In similar images, Vishnu sleeping on the Cosmic Serpent for instance, the downward hand is depicted with a noose, enabling the Self to pluck ripe souls from the ocean of samsara, the mistaken belief in the cycle of births and deaths. In the image above, his right partially-submerged hand symbolizes grace. Notice that Shiva’s hand is not grasping. It is simply offering an opportunity. The opportunity, however, implies action. In Vishnu’s case the offhand and seemingly subconscious gesture represents opportunity, which also implies action. Freedom that doesn’t require action is not free. At every stage of evolution, Vedanta requires action. Knowledge without the transformation of the personality brought about by yoga is just more suffering.
9. Concealment – Denial – Ignorance
Transformation is as inspiring as it is emotionally challenging. Everything in the mind is actually a symbol. Persistence pays off because at some point the symbol is going to deliver what it purports to symbolize—freedom and non-dual love. But persevere, you must.
This feature of consciousness is more complex and hard to grasp. In conjunction with Maya (Macrocosmic Ignorance) Isvara has three energies at Its disposal as does Jiva, a “mini-Isvara.” Shiva Isvara generates the waking dream and deep sleep states, which conceal, project, and reveal. (See the Yoga of Three Energies). Jiva Shiva manages the concealing, projecting and revealing thoughts in its reflected (pratibimba) awareness in an attempt to keep the mind under its control.
This Shiva is an image of a graceful well-balanced mature Self actualized person. The right foot is firmly placed on the back of the wiggling infantile dwarfish ego so that devotional love can flow unrestricted toward the selfless Self. To vow to actualize your full spiritual potential is the “right” thing to do for a committed inquirer.
10. Ecstasy
The ecstatic and vibrant nature of the dance, with the Lord whirling round on the one right leg is indicated by the matted hair flying on both sides of this head. When creation bangs, Shiva arises from His rapture sending flowing undulating waves of bliss, sustaining manifold phenomena reflecting the light of Awareness. Among other things snakes represent the rhymical undulating patterns of life. As He whirls with fire in hand, He destroys all names and forms, lies down and sleeps His apparently endless night. Jiva too whirls around and around in its a whirlpool of memories and desires for most of the day, lies down and sleeps fretfully for a few hours, reawakens and starts its hectic dance once more.
