For the Love of Yoga with Nish the Fish Kālī and the 5 Levels of Void
Last week, to mark the auspicious occasion of Cinnamastā Jayanti and also the Thrice Blessed Day, Buddha Pūrnimā, we gave a few talks on Tantrik Buddhism with an especial focus on Goddess worship within the context of Vajrayāna deity-yoga.
We picked up the Cinnamunda Vajravārāhi Sādhanā, attributed to the mysterious Srī Matī (Laksmīnkarā Devī) who, like Cinnamunda herself, is said to have decapitated herself in act of yogic perfection (siddhi). This text (really, a paddathi or ritual manual) is featured in the Tengyur, a text in the Tibetan Buddhist commentarial tradition.
There we saw enough similarities between so called “Buddhist” Tantrik ritualism and the “Hindu/Śākta” form that we were able to make a few general and universal claims about the principles of Tantra in practice! You can watch that talk here:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/104859531?utm_campaign=postshare_creator
Today I want to zoom out even more and discuss the philosophy as it evolves from the time of the Buddha to modern day Vajrayāna practices to make a comparison between Kali as she is described in the more radical śākta texts like Maharthamanjari, Mahanayaprakasha & Mahanirvanatantra and the concept of the Void in Buddhism!
Lectures happen live on zoom every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday 10am PST and Friday at 6pm PST. There's Q&A right after the lectures.
It is free and open to the public. All are welcome!
Use this link and I will see you there:
https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815
Our hatha yoga class is Wednesdays at 11am PST and again at Friday 5pm PST via this same link also.
For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:
https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnish
To get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM
Lectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and again at Friday 11am PST
Use this link and I will see you there:
https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815
For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:
https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnish
To get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM