Vimarśa - Light of Self-awareness

“My Heart is the divine beatitude made visible in the form of the universe. Its very nature is manifestation bursting into the union of Śiva and Śakti. May that Heart fully flourish.”

- Tantraloka by Abhinavagupta

You are reading these words right now because a greater power drew you here. This same force leads one to question “who am I?” and instigate a life-long quest for truth and Self-knowledge. I’m talking of a universal power that is inherent to your human nature, and to reality itself.

In non-dual śaiva tantra this force is called vimarśa. To understand this phenomenon, we need to see it in the light of prakāśa. These are two primal universal forces, at work always on all levels of reality. God – the Absolute, also called Paramaśiva – is described as prakāśa-vimarśamaya: consisting of both illumination and intrinsic self-awareness.

Shiva & Shakti

First and foremost, there is prakāśa – the light of consciousness. This is Shiva, the witness and the power of awareness itself. As Shiva you are able to see and read these words. As Shiva you are aware of taste, breath, sound and all other experiential phenomena. This is a power that shines from within, and moves outwards. The divine light - prakāśa - finds expression through you and as you.

As prakāśa reminds us of the light of the sun, we all know of another power; the reflective light of the moon. Though it is more subtle, often even obscured, the lunar self-reflective force is equally powerful as its source. This is Shiva’s complementary power – Shakti. Vimarśa is like an in-built mirror within ourselves. It is the intrinsic power of the Self to know itself. Essentially you are a luminous Self - with capital S - AND you have the capacity to know that Self. This is not an intellectual knowing, but a recognition on the level of consciousness.

Paramashiva

Thus, the light of the source (prakāśa) – is reflected and brought back to the source (vimarśa). Through this reflection one gets to truly know oneself, and realize one’s true nature. That true nature is called Paramaśiva. Here we recognize that the light and its reflection are one. It is one universal throb, like a musical beat that appears and disappears. It is one ocean that expands in the ebb and withdraws in the flow.

In this way, you recognize the divine light that you already are. What else needs to be done?

Meditation Practice

Find a quiet and comfortable spot and sit in any desired position. Close your eyes.

Become aware of smell. Stay here for a moment. There is no need to mentally label what you smell.

Become aware of taste.

Open your eyes for a moment and become aware of vision. No need to label the separate object. Perceive the ‘seen’ as one field or spectrum of light. Then close the eyes again.

Become aware of touch.

Become aware of sound.

Become aware of the one that is witnessing – consciousness itself. Stay here.

Written by Maarten Surya Nada

Sources

1)      Tantraloka by Abhinavagupta

2)      Books and teachings of Christopher Wallis

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Photo by Surya Nada, Varanasi