‘Monism in Kashmir Shaivism’

SWAMI LAKSHMANJOO explains the differences between Kashmir Shaivism and Advaita Vedanta schools of thoughtAlthough the main principle of both Kashmir Saivism and Vedanta is advaita, monism, pure monism, yet there are many important differences in their thinking. For example, Vedanta masters teach that karmayoga means yoga in action. They believe that you must practise nishkama karmayoga, which means that you are to perform all the actions of the world without asking for any reward. They say that by acting in this way you are carried toward the existence of the Real Being, the Real Nature of Self. From our Kashmir Saiva point of view, however, karmayoga means something else. It does not mean carrying out all of the activities of the world. Yoga in action is pure yoga and nothing else. Pure yoga is one-pointedness, and this one-pointedness must be developed in three ways. You must develop one-pointedness in the existence of your being. This is one-pointedness in the state of para vak, supreme speech. You must also develop one-pointedness in the state of madhyama vak, medium speech. And finally, you must develop one pointedness in the state of vaikhari vak, inferior speech, in the state of ordinary speech.... The first difference, therefore, between Kashmir Saivism and Vedanta is in their different understanding of karmayoga. This difference, as you have seen, is very great, with the Vedantins believing that karmayoga means doing all actions without asking for their reward and our Kashmir Saivism teaching that yoga in action means doing all actions while maintaining a breakless contemplation of God. Another difference between Kashmir Saivism and Vedanta concerns the existence of individual being and Universal Being. The Vedantinsexplain that individual being is manifested only when Universal Being is reflected in the mirror of the individual intellect. They say that Universal Being is reflected in the buddhi, intellect, and that reflection becomes the existence of the jiva, individual being. Kashmir Saivism, however, does not recognize this explanation, arguing that it is without any basis. As Universal Being is absolutely pure and perfect and individual being is filled with malas, imperfections and covered by veils, it is not buddhi that will reflect Universal Being, but rather, it is Universal Being that will reflect buddhi. It is the purer and more refined reality which will take the reflection of that which is less pure and refined and not the other way around. Buddhi cannot hold Universal Being. Kashmir Saivism explains that when Siva is reflected by His pure will in the mirror of His svatantrya, freedom, this is the existence of the universe and the existence of individual being. Furthermore, in the theory of the Vedantins, it is not clearly explained how, if the world were not existing, buddhi, in which Siva is to be reflected, could exist at all. How could the intellect exist before the existence of the world? Therefore, individual being is the reflection of Lord Siva in His svatantrya sakti. This is the existence of the universe. The third area of difference between Kashmir Saivismand Vedanta concerns the essence, the substance, the basis of this universe. Vedanta holds that this universe is untrue, unreal. It does not really exist. It is only the creation of maya, illusion. Concerning this point, Kashmir Saivism argues that if Siva is real, then how could an unreal substance come out from something that is real? If Siva is real, then his creation is also real. Why should it be said that Siva is real and his creation is an illusion? Kashmir Saivismexplains that the existence of this universe is just as real as the existence of Siva. As such, it is true, real, pure, and solid. There is nothing at all about it which is unreal. The fourth important difference between Kashmir Saivismand Vedanta is that Vedanta does not recognize kundaliniyoga. The Vedantins say that kundalini yoga is meant for those who are treading on the inferior path of yoga. From our Kashmir Saivite point of view, however, kundalini yoga is the most important yoga in this system. Kashmir Saivism explains that there are three paths of kundalini yoga: para kundalini yoga, cit kundalini yoga, and prana kundalini yoga. Para kundaliniyoga is supreme kundaliniyoga. It is functioned by Siva with the universal body, not the individual body. Cit kundaliniyoga is kundalini in consciousness. Pranakundaliniyoga is kundalini in breath. The fifth significant difference between Kashmir Saivismand Vedanta concerns the question of who is fit to practise this monistic teaching.... Kashmir Saivism teaches that this monistic thought can be practised by anyone, man or woman, without the restriction of caste, creed, or color. In fact, our Saivismteaches us that this thought can be practised more fruitfully by women than by men. Kashmir Shaivism- The Secret Supreme, Ishvar Ashram Trust. ■Post your comments at speakingtree.in