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Nondual Highlights Issue #2375, Wednesday, January 25, 2006, Editor: Mark
Meditations from Vigyan Bhairav Tantra
The following selected techniques from Shiva’s Vigyan
Bhairav Tantra are potent tools for transformation. Shiva
preserved these methods from the last age of light and gave them
to disciples to develop. Osho is one of those disciples, and his
extensive commentary on the Vigyan Bhairav Tantra lies at the
heart of his teaching. The Vigyan Bhairav Tantra contains 112
techniques for transcending the illusory division of
consciousness into all the multiplicity of existence. The
illusion that you transcend is of separation from the Whole.
Consciousness is monistic; it is one indivisible principle.
Existence is made of the same consciousness as the void of
non-existence or God-the-beyond. This commentary focuses on the
Vigyan Bhairav Tantra techniques that involve witnessing - the
basic method of meditation, and rests on the advaita
understanding that consciousness is all there is.
Consciousness-in-motion is existence; consciousness-at-rest is
Source.
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38. Bathe in the centre of sound, as in the continuous sound of a
waterfall. Or, by putting your fingers in the ears, hear the
sound of sounds.
You are always in the centre of sound, so this is easy. Just
close your eyes and listen to the sounds around you. Allow all
the sounds of Now to enter, do not choose or reject any sound.
Choiceless listening to Now is always a fast way to tune in. By
closing your ears you may hear an inner sound. If you do, this
method is beautiful. Just listen and let the sound carry you in.
Merge with the source of the sound. Hari Om Tat Sat.
53. Self-remembering.
This sutra is essentially an invitation to feel ‘I am’.
You exist as a flow of energy beyond the control of your ego.
This energy flow is divine. Feel your energy and let it guide you
where it wants to go. Self-remembering can be maintained while
engaged in action. You are aware of the action and of the actor.
When action and actor merge consciously you are in the flow of
Now. The key is to feel, not to think. Self-remembering is also
an advaita-based understanding: you are not the small ego-self
but the universal Self or Being. This insight is, however, just a
hypothesis that must be verified by your experiential merger with
the Self through the expansion of awareness.
62. Wherever your mind is wandering, internally or externally, at
this very place, This.
The beyond cannot be directly approached. When you are aware of
this moment the door can also open to the beyond. Even while
thinking you can become aware and enter the temple of Now. This
moment is the only bridge to truth; this moment is the sacred
door to freedom.
63. When vividly aware through some sense, remain in Awareness.
Try being aware of all your senses simultaneously. The senses can
be doors to eternal presence. Or with closed eyes, listen and
feel your energy, breath and body. It is impossible to think when
you are aware of even two senses. Just listen to the sounds and
feel your energy and you immediately enter the temple of Now.
72. Experience the cosmos as a translucent ever-living presence.
Existence is born and will die. Only Source is eternal. The
entire existence is permeated with the eternal consciousness of
Source. You can feel eternity only when there is total silence.
The slightest ripple of subtle thought brings you out of that
purity. Silence is eternal presence.
73. In summer when you see the entire sky endlessly clear, enter
such clarity.
The sky is consciousness and your thoughts are the clouds.
Awakening is the summertime of consciousness. When your inner sky
is free of clouds, awakening is at hand. Don’t be
disheartened by clouds; one day they do clear. Watch closely for
gaps in the clouds of thoughts. When you see a gap, allow your
awareness to rest there. Gradually the gestalt changes from
watching clouds of thoughts to being the sky of silent
consciousness.
80. Meditate on the make-believe world as burning to ashes and
transcend.
This world is not the ultimate reality; it is born and will die.
So will you. Before that happens let it all go. Imagine the whole
world is burning and you are just watching with equanimity. In a
real disaster do the same, just witness and remain undisturbed.
The witness is the transcendental reality, the eye of God that
watches the creation and destruction of the make-believe world.
The witness is freedom.
82. Feel: I-ness, internal organs, me.
Feel ‘I-ness’, your sense of being beyond thoughts. By
tuning in to the subtle energy currents of your body and breath,
the mind is transcended and only Beingness remains. ‘I’
has disappeared.
85. Thinking no thing will limited self unlimit.
Thoughts are all limitations, they are like toys of the mind.
Leave your toys and enter the vast cosmic freedom of silence. In
no-mind you transcend the small ego-self and merge with the
unlimited universal Self.
96. Abide in some place endlessly spacious, clear of trees,
hills, habitations. Thence comes the end of mind pressures.
Mind is always with you wherever you go. Open space is healthy
and enjoyable but it is not enough to free you from the tyranny
of the mind. Awareness cultivates the inner space that brings
freedom from all mind pressures.
112. Enter space, supportless, eternal, still.
The eternal silence awaits you with endless patience. From
silence you come, to silence you go. Enter your still inner space
and know where you come from and what you really are. The eternal
Beloved patiently awaits you in silence.
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These selected techniques lie at the heart of the Vigyan Bharav
Tantra; experiment with any of them that attract you. When a
method pulls you for some time, allow it to deepen in you and
reveal its subtle secrets. These techniques are about witnessing.
Witnessing is the quintessential method - the fundamental
bedrock, the heart and soul of meditation.
Taken from the 2005 edition of the book UNITY -The Dawn of
Conscious Civilization by Maitreya Ishwara, posted to
ConsciousOneness
Empty your mind of all thoughts.
Let your heart be at peace...
Each separate being in the universe
returns to the common source.
Returning to the source is serenity...
Lao Tsu - Tao Te Ching (16), translation: S. Mitchell,
posted to PoeticMysticism