For the Love of Yoga with Nish the Fish

After two back-to-back Kālī pūjās and a few all nighters, we plunge into a discussion of Mā Kālī's non-dual aspect, to commemorate the Shyama Kali Puja of 2023. My idea was to explore the role of the ferocious iconography around Mā, a few verses of the Candi indicated Her non-dual nature as Pure Consciousness and some similar iconography and motifs from other world spiritual traditions to present the idea that Mā is more than a Goddess in a pantheon but rather the Principle of Creative Power par excellence, the energy of Consciousness inseparable from Consciousness Herself, that is worshipped all over the world beyond the cultural confines of India. She alone exists as the sole reality.But alas, at many points in this lecture, stunned by the sheer magnitude of Mā Kālī's formless nature (and perhaps also a little fried from the back-to-back pujas), I lapse into silence and resort to the third hymn of the Candi to make some preliminary passes at the topic. Then, when I recover from my little episode, we explore the first idea: the mortuary imagery to make a point about Tantrik sādhanās aimed at attaining Mā's non-dual darshan! Art by Vijayā (http://www.birthlessdeathless.com/) 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/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrMSupport the showLectures 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/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

Prior to our Hallowe'en lecture on ghosts in the Tantrik world, we recite a few hymns and poems to Mahākāla Bhairava and Mā Bhairavi (Abhinava Gupta's Bhairava Stava and the two Kālī poems by Swami Vivekananda) that feature similar macabre elements to make a point about radical acceptance, non-duality and overcoming fear. Art by Vijayā (http://www.birthlessdeathless.com/) 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/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM00:00:00 Different Types of Ghosts in the Tantrik World 00:03:34 Poetic Meters in Sanskrit Spiritual Literature 00:12:20 A Tribute to Swami Lakshman Joo  00:18:55 Bhairava Stava of Abhinava Gupta  00:30:20 Brief Commentary on the Bhairava Stava  00:31:00 Introduction to Swami Vivekananda's poems to Kali  00:32:07 "Kali, The Mother" by Swami Vivekananda 00:33:30 Commentary on "Kali, The Mother" 00:Support the showLectures 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/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

Tonight’s lecture is a Hallowe’en special! After all, Śaiva and Śakta Tantra is chock full of ghoulish mortuary iconography: Mā Kālī’s garland of skulls, Lord Śiva’s garland of snakes, their retinue of ghosts, goblins and vampires, their home in the cremation grounds (ghat), fierce fanged dākinī and yoginīs and so much more. It’s no wonder Hallowe’en is my favorite holiday! Tonight, to celebrate, let's discuss Tantrik demonology and the role of mortuary and gory iconography in texts like  Bhairava Stava of Abhinava Gupta, Candi and Swami Vivekananda’s poems to Mā Kālī. The first part of this lecture is just an introduction to the zoology of supernatural beings mentioned in Indian literature and spiritual texts like the Purānas, Rāmāyana and Mahābhārata etc. (listed below for your convenience) and the second part of the lecture is a discussion on 4 or 5 ways to "exorcise" or at least banish the influence of these spirits in your own home so that you may practice safely and uninterruptedly. Dangerous Supernatural Beingsपिशाच, Piśācaवेताल vetāla as seen in the वेतालपञ्चविंशति, Vetala Panchavimshatiराक्षस Rākṣasa (like Rāvaṇa, Hidimba and Hidimbi, Ghatotkacha, Bakasura, Alamvusha)असुर Asura (like Madhu and Kaitabha, Mahishasura, Shumbha and Nishbumbha in Candi) Somewhat Dangerous but Mostly Just Mischeivious and Often Good Supernatural Beings अप्सरा Apsarā (story of Menaka and Vishwamitra as told by Shakuntalā, story of Arjuna and Urvashi)गन्धर्व Ghandarva (like Pushpadanta who composed the Shiva Mahimna stotra)यक्ष Yaksha यक्षिणी Yakshini (Fairies)Happy Hallowe'en!Jai Mahākāla!Support the showLectures 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/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

We'll explore how it might be possible for a person to be instantly free here and now, as suddenly and as effortlessly and easily as one "falls from a tree after losing one's footing". Naturally, this will take us into a discussion on anupaya, the notorious "no path path" of instant liberation and jīvanmukti, the somewhat paradoxical doctrine of being free of the world/body while remaining in it! Some schools of spirituality, dualistic theistic traditions  foremost amongst them, wholeheartedly reject this idea, preferring instead a post mortem salvation, and a "there" and "then" God as a opposed to a "here" and "now" one while other schools, like Advaita Vedanta and Kaula Trika (Non-Dual Shaivism) see jīvanmukti not only as a theoretical necessity given their reasoning, but as a practical guarantee! In so many words: at the end of today's lecture you could very well, by śiva's grace, leave enlightened, completely and irrevocably because as you will see from the citations below, bondage and liberation are nothing but the Lord's play - i.e your play!  We will explore, Mā willing, exactly the mechanism by which this kind of instant liberation comes about to induce it (or at the very least prepare for the possibility of it) in our own immediae experience. Citations (from Paramārthasāra of Abinava Gupta):paramaṃ yat svātantryaṃ durghaṭasaṃpādanaṃ maheśasya devī māyāśaktiḥ svātmāvaraṇaṃ śivasyaitat  ( 15 )The supreme Lord's great freedom, which is capable of accomplishing the most difficult task, is called the Goddess Maya-sakti. It serves Paramasiva as a veil to hide Himself.svajñānavibhavabhāsana - yogenodveṣṭayennijātmānam | iti bandhamokṣacitrāṃ krīḍāṃ pratanoti paramaśivaḥ  (33)Lord Paramaśiva liberates himself from bondage by loosening its grip through the glory of knowledge of the Self. Thus bondage and liberation are his divine play.tadvat kañcukapaṭalī -pṛthakkṛtā saṃvidatra saṃskārāt |tiṣṭhantyapi muktātmātatsparśavivarjitā bhavati (86)In the same way, Consciousness once its been separated from its complex of sheaths (kañcukas) is forever alien to their touch, even though as a liberated self, it remains there due to impressions (samskāras). tīrthe śvapacagṛhe vānaṣṭasmṛtirapi parityajandeham |jñānasamakālamuktaḥkaivalyaṃ yāti hataśokaḥ  (83)Whether he departs from his physical body in a holy place or in an outcaste's hovel, and even if he loses his memory, he obtains liberation immediately upon receiving knowledge thus overcoming sorrow.**ādarśe malarahite yadvad vadanaṃ vibhāti tadvad ayam |śiva - śaktipātavimale dhītattve bhāti bhārūpaḥ  ( 9 )As a face shines forth in a spotlessly clean mirror, in the same way the supreme Lord who is of the nature of illumination shines forth in the buddhi (intellect) tattva that has been purified following the descent of divine grace by the Lord.We'll also continue to explore our list below with an emphasis on grades one and two which guarantee instant, spontaneous, and permanently abiding realization. note also iśopanishad 6 & 7:yas tu sarvāni bhūtani atmany'eva'nupasyati sarva bhūteshu catmanam tato na vijugupsateHe who sees everything in himself and his Self in everything, never hates anythingyasmin sarvāni bhutāni atma'iSupport the showLectures 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/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

There are few theories regarding God's grace in Indian philosophy:1. It is earned through good works (karma)2. It is earned through devotion (bhakti)3. It is earned through renunciation (tyāga)4. It comes as a result of two equally strong samskaras bubbling up at the same time and checking one and another, thus artificially stalling all future karmas from fructifying (karmasāmya) Using some arguments from Abinava Gupta's commentary on the Mālinīvijaya Tantra, we'll show why all of these are absolutely wrong.  We'll demonstrate how:(a) grace comes from the independent, playful will of Divine Mother.  (b) since all this is verily śiva, God is really ever gracing Herself.We will also, Mā willing, respond to a few objections regarding grace:1. If there is such a thing as grace, then, surely God is partial to some and not to others? Why would she keep some in bondage and liberate only a few?2. If God is playfully enacting her will a bondage and liberation, then, why bother? Why go through the trouble of bondage at all?3. If God's grace is the only operant factor in a person's liberation and if God's grace cannot be earned through spiritual practice, why bother to engage in practice at all?Naturally, we'll review the 9 grades of śaktipāta (grace) in Abinava Gupta's classification. This will help us gauge what level of spirituality we are currently at so that we can better enjoy our time as aspirants!Also, we get to talk a little about enjoyment and renunciation in spiritual life and why renunciation is an absolutely natural, easeful and effortless process, like we started talking about last week! (anādara virakti).And finally, if there's time, I want to share some quotes from Utpala Deva's Shivastoravali to show how Devotion is the highest attainment in Kashmir Shaivism (i.e. bhakti is the total ripening of jnana, which is itself synonymous with liberation itself) thereby linking it so Sri Ramakrishna's views on the same!  The 9 Levels of Śaktipāt:1. Tīvra tīvra = Intensely intense = videha mukti2. Madhya tīvra = Moderately intense = jīvanmukti3. Manda tīvra = Weakly Intense = jīvanmutki4. Tīvra madhya = intensely moderate = krama mukti5. Madya madya = Moderately moderate = krama mukti6. Manda madhya = Weakly moderate = krama mukti7. Tīvra manda = Weak but Intense8. Madya manda = Moderately weak9. Manda manda = Weakly weakQuotes from Abinava Gupta's Paramarthasaraādarśe malarahite yadvad vadanaṃ vibhāti tadvad ayam |śiva - śaktipātavimale dhītattve bhāti bhārūpaḥ  ( 9 )  As a face shines forth in a spotlessly clean mirror, in the same way the supreme Lord who is of the nature of illumination shines forth in the buddhi (intellect) tattva that has been purified following the descent of divine grace by the Lord.   paramaṃ yat svātantryaṃ durghaṭasaṃpādanaṃ maheśasya devī māyāśaktiḥ svātmāvaraṇaṃ śivasyaitat  ( 15 )  The supreme Lord's great freedom, which is capable of accomplishing the most difficult task, is called the Goddess Maya-sakti. It serves Paramasiva as a veil to hide Himself.kambukamiva taṇḍulakaṇa - viniviṣṭaṃ bhinnamapyabhidā |bhajate tattu viśuddhiṃ śivamārgaunmukhyayogena  (18)The husk existing on a grain of rice, though existing separately, appears inseparaSupport the showLectures 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/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

We have an exciting series of lectures ahead of us: How To Practice Kashmir ShaivismWe've been discussing the theory of Kaula Trika non-duality for some time now, which is, in and of itself, a type of practice. However, it's time now to discuss practice proper!In this lecture, I'm going to 1. make a case for why so-called "worldliness" is itself a very noble kind of spiritual practice, echoing Chapter I of the Bhagavad Gita (vishadayoga).2. Discuss a graded approach to spiritual life (progressive renunciation, i,e anādara-virakta) that allows for a life-affirming, enjoyment-positive approach, contrasted against Patañjali and Gorakshanāth's systems of more ascetic yoga in the light of Sri Ramakrishna. And finally, 3. quote from Tantraloka and some other sources within the tradition to see what masters like Abinava Gupta themselves had to say about practice!If we have a little time in the end, I want to discuss with you a very interesting (albeit somewhat dangerous) practice: enjoyment itself as yoga! 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/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrMSupport the showLectures 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/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

Dive into the intriguing doctrine of reflection where one unchanging absolute playfully unfolds into the vibrant world. Explore the clash between realism and idealism and how this shapes our understanding of existence and suffering. The concept of enlightenment as accessible in the present moment is discussed, alongside the interaction of knowledge and being in relation to Brahman. Discover the unique insights of Kashmir Shaivism and the profound significance of the mantra OM Namah Shivāyah in enriching spiritual practices.

We gave this lecture on the full moon celebrating the Guru, guru-pūrnimā the day when we honor our teachers and our lineage.You are all of you my guru, my teacher.And it is at your feet that I offer all of these words, like so many meagre flowers.You have all taught me and are continuing to teach me and will go on teaching me so much!I am eternally indebted to each and every one of you.A hundred thousand pranams at your feet! What could I possibly say to you now or offer you that can express my gratitude and devotion?  To celebrate the occasion, I intended to give a lecture on the major schools of Indian philosophy in overview: cārvāka (materialist hedonism), dvaita Vedanta (dualistic theism), vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism), kevalādvaita (pure non-dualism), paramadvaya (Shaiva non-duality), acintya bhedabheda (Caitanya's devotional Vaishnavism) etc. I wanted to tell some stories of the great gurus of India: Ramanuja, Nimbarka, Madhava, Vallabha, Shankara, Abinava Gupta etc. But alas, we only really managed to discuss Rāmānuja's very sophisticated form of Theism: Qualified Monism, the in-between ground straddling Duality and non-Duality.Most of the lecture though turned out to be, as per our inspiration that evening determined, a sustained critique on materialism and a defense of theism (that is, the existence of God).As such, I thought I'd call the lecture "The God Solution" which is of course a subtle dig at the title "The God Delusion"!  00:00:00 The Indian Spiritual Heritage: A Thaali Meal00:07:00 Material Reductionism: "God is Unreal, Matter and Energy is Real"00:11:30 Why Did Indian Spiritual Masters Respond to Material Reductionism?00:16:40 Critique of Material Reductionism #1: 2 Axiological Issues00:23:40 Critique of Material Reductionism #2: 3 Epistemological Issues  0:30:06 An Aside on Consciousness: What Is First Person Subjectivity?00:36:55 An Aside on Mystical Experience, i.e Verifying Spiritual Claims  00:38:20 Critique of Material Reductionism #3: Metaphysical Issues00:42:20 The God Solution00:49:50 Epistemological and Metaphysical Issues With Dualistic Theistic Religion (And Some Responses)01:06:10 An Aside on Skeptical Theism (And Why It's Problematic)  Support the showLectures 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/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

Prior to the British occupation of India, there was no such word as "Hinduism". There was really only a very diverse range of spiritual attitudes all coexisting alongside one another in a spirit of not only tolerance, but celebration. Notice the tremendous resilience India has demonstrated through her 5000 year old (by conservative Western estimates) civilization. The fundamental truths she articulated in the Upanishads at the very dawn of human civilization continue to be chanted by millions of Hindus all over the world. Many of these Hindus are illiterate and yet you will find them throouhgly educated and cultured, immersed as they are in India's epics the Rāmāyana, the Mahābhārata and the Purānas. These spiritual ideas remain ever strong and ever vital and ever able to inspire even after all those shocks and blows and instabilities that India has faced in the last ~5000 or so years. Not only has she brushed off these things as minor inconveniences in the steady march of her civilization, but she regards no one as an enemy; she has deep love for every nation and its ideals and above all, she is willing to share freely and unstintingly of her cultural wealth with anyone and everyone who sincerely comes seeking it. All of this was perhaps best demonstrated by the late 18th century phenomena of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a priest of Kālī in the Dakshineshwar temple who demonstrated in light of his own spiritual experiences that all religions were true. He had such a spiritual appetite that in the course of his life, he practiced all the sādhanas of Hinduism at the time (Shakta Tantra, Vaishnavism, Vedanta etc.) as well as Islam and Christianity. As a result of this, he felt that God, being infinite can be reached and enjoyed in infinite numbers of ways and as such, cannot be confined to any one religion.On September 11th, 1893, at the Parliament of World Religions in Chicago, Swami Vivekananda, the foremost disciple of the aforementioned Sri Ramakrishna, spoke before an American audience on the ideals of India. Above all, he stressed the primacy of the spiritual question, the innate divinity of the soul and the harmony of all religions as so many valid attempts to grasp the One Ineffable Truth. I think that all the developments in the American and European New Age which its emphasis on syncretism and its renewed faith in spiritual verities can be traced back to that one speech in 1893 where Swami Vivekananada declared in a voice full of power:"my sisters and brother of America!" ".....I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions of all nations of the earth. I am proud to tell you that we have gathered into our bosom the purest remnants of the Israelites, who came to Southern India and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to belong to a religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the grand Zoroastrian nation"May all of these words be a "a vindication, a declaration to the world of the wonderful doctrine peached in the Gita": ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम् |मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्या: पार्थSupport the showLectures 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/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

Is there anything quite so joyful as thinking in terms of eternity and infinity? Perhaps that’s why coming together every Monday night for our 7pm PST Satsangh remains ever fresh and ever blissful even after all of these years together. There is just such a sweetness to holding these profound and refined conceptions of the Absolute. By holding and contemplating vast concepts, you taste the vastness of our own being to which those concepts can only point! Tonight’s lecture will explore “The 5 faces of Lord Śiva”, that is, the subtlest and most refined concept of “God” (Pure. Non Dual Awareness) articulated by the Kaula Trika Tantra tradition. I want to ask; What does God want? If this is God’s play (līla) then what is the nature of the game? How can we take spiritual life seriously without taking ourselves too seriously? We’ll continue our study of the 36 tattvas by considering the very highest to make the claim that God's face is Your face, God's dance is Your dance!Lectures happen live on zoom every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday at 6pm PST.  There's Q&A right after the lecture. 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/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrMSupport the showLectures 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/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM