In my two nonfiction books (“Beyond the Power of Now” and “Electrical Christianity”), I provide a Spiritual Reading List (of Highly Recommended and Recommended texts in the “Great Traditions”). I made a few changes to the List between “Beyond the Power of Now” and “Electrical Christianity,” and there will be more changes to the List in my forthcoming book “The Power of Now Meditation Guide” (which should be published later this year).
My Spiritual Reading List is divided into nine categories – Advaita Vedanta, Buddhism (Original), Buddhism (Tibetan), Buddhism (Zen), Christianity, Judaism, and Gnosticism, Daism, Hinduism (Yoga), Kashmir Shaivism, and Miscellaneous. In a nine-part series, I will, in turn, consider each category and provide its latest edition.
Herewith is the eighth category, Kashmir Shaivism, followed by my consideration.
Kashmir Shaivism
Highly Recommended
Pratyabhijnahrdayam: The Secret of Self-Recognition, Jaideva Singh. (The basic introductory handbook to the abstruse philosophical system of recognition. Not for the intellectually challenged.)
Siva Sutras: The Yoga of Supreme Identity, Jaideva Singh. (The foundational text of Kashmir Shaivism.)
The Doctrine of Vibration, Mark S.G. Dyczkowski. (A scholarly analysis of the doctrines and practices of Kashmir Shaivism.)
The Philosophy of Sadhana, Deba Brata SenSharma. (Outstanding text that deals clearly and extensively with the ultra-important topic of Shaktipat, the Descent of Divine Power, or Grace. “Must” reading for serious mystics.)
The Triadic Heart of Siva, Paul Eduardo Muller-Ortega. (An ultra-esoteric text about the Heart (Hridaya) as Ultimate Reality, Emissional Power, and Embodied Cosmos.)
Recommended
Kundalini, The Energy of the Depths, Lilian Silburn. (As an Amazon.com reviewer puts it, “The foremost modern exposition of Kundalini.”)
Spanda Karikas: The Divine Creative Pulsation, Jaideva Singh. (An elaboration of the dynamic aspect of Transcendental Consciousness.)
Consideration
I’ve made no changes to this category since my first book, “Beyond the Power of Now.”
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{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Mr. Gardner,
This is the video on Kashmir Shaivism posted by a young Muslim Arab fellow by the name of Filip Almansour Holm who is from Sweden, in his YouTube page Let’s Talk Religion. Title of video is, What is Kashmir Shaivism? I thought you would be interested. Best Wishes to you.
IJ.
Thanks IJ,
I watched the video, and here is the comment I left for for the professor:
As the foremost expert and author in the field of esoteric mystical philosophy, I was disappointed in your discourse on Kashmir Shaivism. You not only failed to talk about the fundamental principles of Kashmir Shaivism – the 36 tattvas, 3 malas, and 4 upayas – you also didn’t consider Shaktipat, without which Liberation is not possible. Moreover, you, ignorantly, don’t grok Trinitarian spirituality, which you not only failed to identify as fundamental in Kashmir Shaivism, but also in esoteric, mystical Christianity. The fact is, sans Trinitarianism, the “mechanics” of the En-Light-enment project cannot be properly understood and explained.
Mr. Gardner,
Very sensible reply.
You have studied KS in depth and I am aware of your full understanding of KS unlike the young man Mr.Holm. I am a novice in the subject and knowledge of KS but I full agree with your reply to Filip. You also said Shaktipat can only make liberation possible which is absolutely true. If anyone deserves liberation among any of us here or on the internet it is you who has understood all the various subjects of philosophy and religion correctly having taking real interest in this matter your entire life.
There were also a few comments from Christopher Wallis there among over 1400 comments. CW also disagreed with Filip. I remember your exchanges with CW when you had reviewed his book at Amazon. I believe you had given it a one star rating over which he was not happy.
But I was amazed that among those 1400 comments most of them were saying how excellent the video is and how well Filip had grasped the knowledge of KS. Majority of people are so clueless and are content with mediocrity these days.
But unlike the other gentleman Daniel Shai who had blocked your comment from being seen by others except you, Filip does not monitor or block comments nor does he reply any comment. Your comment is visible to everyone.
Just have one question though, does Shaktipat have to be administered and transferred to a person by a fully enlightened living master and guru in human form while living and should it be done face to face in front of the guru by the guru physically by word of mouth, gesture, look, silence, touch etc? How is Shaktipat done and how should it be done correctly?
Once again my sincere best wishes to you Mr Gardner.
IJ
IJ, thank you. My forthcoming book “Nonduality and Mind-Only through the Prism of Reality,” has two chapters on Kashmir Shaivism, one specifically criticizing Christopher Wallis’ writings on the subject. You don’t need a guru to get Shaktipat. It can be gained through sadhana. That said, gurus, satsangs, and holy sites can be helpful in getting and intensifying it. There is no “correct” specific way gurus initiate disciples. Any of the ways you mentioned can be used.
Mr. Gardner,
Thank you for your reply above. Chris Wallis is not a Jnani like you have said before.. I appreciate you answer. I was under the belief Shaktipat had to be administered or transmitted by a physical guru who is also a fully enlightened sage having broken the knot of karma in the Heart. You are a Jnani yourself IMO.
Sincerely and my respects to you,
IJ.
IJ, Shaktipat simply means descent of Divine Power. Self-enquiry produces Shaktipat. Ramana Maharshi got it, finally full-blown as Dharmamegha, and it cut his Heart-knot, Awakening him as the Self. He didn’t get it from a guru, he got it directly from the Divine. Devotion and surrender also result in Shaktipat, so whether one is a jnani or practices bhakti yoga, one can get Shaktipat directly from the Divine, sans a physical guru.
Mr. Gardner,
Thank you for your educative reply. For an adept like you it will happen sooner or late certainly. But what about people like me who is not in your level spiritually? Also I hear a lot of young folks like Daniel Shai who are saying they are awakened but they never mention Shaktipat or explain the Self-realization or Divine power descent like you do? They also blatantly deny the existence of God.
This guy called Fred Davis whose book you had reviewed and who has some past sex history claims to be fully awakened and says he has people awakened regularly in his satsangs. Even he denies the existence of God or Divine Power. No one is honest like you are. There are a few like Michael James, David Godman, Sarvapriyananda etc, but they also don’t explain the Self Realization process like you do. Thanks again for taking time to reply. I appreciate it. Thanks for mentioning Dharmamegha.
IJ
IJ, you’re welcome. Interestingly enough, if you check Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, you’ll see that Dharmamegha is the final samadhi culminating in Kaivalya, a.k.a Self-Realization. Dharmamegha is the same final samadhi referred to in some Buddhist texts, including the esteemed Lankavatara Sutra. Moreover, in the Yoga Sutras, the highest practice is really devotion to God (Ishvara) and receiving His Grace (meaning Shaktipat or Anugraha Shakti). And the full-blown descent of this Divine Power is Dharmamegha, because it “produces,” or unveils, Self-Realization, which means Sahaj Samadhi. Ramana Maharshi’s Self-Enquiry is the best Jnana Yoga practice, and it produces the same “sucking down” of Shakti (and the mind) into the Heart-center as Divine devotion and surrender. And when the Heart-knot is cut, by Grace, Self-Realization ensues.
Thank you Mr. Gardner, excellent reply from you above . I fully accept what you have said. None of the so called You Tube teachers I mentioned here can explain this process like you have done. Sincerely obliged.
IJ.
If there was someone really good currently elaborating the Enlightenment project on the level I do, I’d for sure recommend them. But, unfortunately, I’m not aware of any such teacher/guru/author.
Mr.Gardner, Yes . Not a single one who knows about this subject is there. I fully agree. The people who come on batgap talk for two hours plus and after I listen to them for ten minutes I am done with those clueless imbeciles. Rick is another dingbat just like them.
Rick Archer at Batgap has interviewed a slew of spiritual jokes. A number of people have requested that he interview me–but because he doesn’t like my politics–I’m pro right-wing and anti left-wing (and he’s pro left-wing), he ignores me. I also think he didn’t like all the critical reviews of books/teachers I posted at Amazon.
Mr. Gardner, when Rick had enabled his comments section when we could post comments even I had suggested your name along with a few others I thought should be in his videos instead of the usual neo-advaita stereotypes and registered sex offenders like Fred Davis and other sex offenders posing as gurus. Also he should be interviewing people whatever their political party preferences are.
Also now he has disabled his comments section. But that is better than enabling them but only allowing comments which praise the person who is posing as a guru in the videos. Even Michael James blocks people who disagree with his comments. David Goldman allows all comments to be posted. Rick should be open to all kinds of spiritual practices to be in his interviews and not just the one’s he understands. Maybe you should send him a message and challenge him to interview you.
If people here want Rick Archer of Batgap to interview me, it is up to them to contact Rick and let him know their feelings. I’m certainly not happy that Rick has disabled comments. Only spam, outright lies, and hateful substance-lacking garbage should be censored.
Mr. Gardner,
Their Batgap website says not to suggest names as guests as they have closed that option. It also says not to email them names for suggestion of guests. If you know any prominent people who are well known in this field of spiritual teachers you may ask them to contact Rick Archer to suggest your name. He probably could care a hoot for nobodys like me anyway. He may still have you in his mind for a guest in his show. After all you are quite famous in the spirituality circle. If you are interviewed you can bet I will be among the first of many to watch it completely.
IJ
IJ, thanks for the update on Batgap. If book sales are the measuring stick, then I’m FAR from being famous in “the spirituality circle.”
Mr. Gardner,
That does not matter here. Just look at all those clowns Rick has interviewed. They don’t know a thing about religion and spirituality. All they come and say is in one sentence during a two hour video that something happened in their being and they felt awake, happy, rejuvenated etc. Who knows what they have consumed? And the rest of the podcast is about other trivial nonsense between the host and the guest. The entire video in almost all of the guest interviews is much ado about absolutely nothing.
But in your case it will be very different as you have learned a lot of truths and facts about this subject unlike the spiritual nincompoops who come on his show. Barring may be a handful not one of them is worth being interviewed. Anyway that is how I feel about his guests.
IJ.
I haven’t watched any of the Batgap interviews for years, because I have no interest in them. I don’t know what’s happening in India now, but in the U.S., Western civilization, including intellectual (and moral) standards, are being destroyed by cultural Marxism, the “woke” left and their diversion/inclusion/equity agenda. So everything is dumbed down, and those who speak out against this insanity and put forth intelligent ideas that may offend someone are often censored. and accused of hate speech or violating “community standards.” When my 300 + Amazon reviews were deleted by Amazon in 2018, the only reason given by Amazon was that I had violated “community standards.” Rick Archer may be afraid to interview me because I’m politically and spiritually incorrect and may say things that would offend many.
You are right Mr.Gardner. That is why Rick does not want to invite you as his guest in Batgap. As for Amazon it is a very shady and dishonest company. They know they can just lie and do whatever they want without any consequences.