What is The Self in Tantra?

Apr 17, 2025

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This is perhaps one of my favorite lectures yet and one of the most foundational.

In this talk, we track the idea of the "self", the most immediate reality through various different schools of philosophy: first we sketch out scientific materialism (physicalism) and use the ancient ideas of Sāmkhya philosophy to refute it. Then, we refute Sāmkhya before moving on to sketch out the Buddhist idea of no-self. Having refuted the Buddhists, we then sketch out the Shaiva Siddhānta (Tantrik Dualism) view on the Self which we then develop into the non-dual Tantrik view of the One Consciousness in all beings as all beings.

00:00:00 Opening Invocations
00:00:47 5 Forms of the Self
00:08:24 The Buddhist Idea of "No Self"
00:10:41 The Vijñāna-Bhairava Tantra on the Self
00:15:30 The Self in Sāmkhya vs the Self in Materialism
00:42:00 An Argument Against Sāmkhya: There is Only One Consciousness
00:52:38 The Buddhist Idea of No-Self
00:59:43 Refuting the Buddhist View of No-Self
01:05:30 The Self in Shaiva Siddhanta, Tantrik Dualism
01:19:45 The Non-Dual Tantrik Idea of the One Self

You'll find a complete playlist of lectures on Tantra in both theory and practice here.

Lectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday 10am PST and again Friday at 6pm 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

Jai Mā!

Support the show

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