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Hareesh.org

About
Blog
Blog
Blog en español
Tantrasara Blog Posts
Tantraloka Blog Posts
Spanda-Karika Blog Posts
VBT Blog Posts
Near Enemies of the Truth
Books & Downloads
Books
Audio
Writings
CALENDAR
May 1, 2025
Tantrik yoga, Sacred scripture
Tantrik Studies
Vijñaana-bhairava-tantra verses 43-48: the ...

Six of the powerful spaciousness practices of the VBT.

Vijñaana-bhairava-tantra verses 43-48: the Spaciousness practices
April 30, 2025
Tantrik yoga, Sacred scripture
Tantrik Studies
Vijñaana-bhairava-tantra verse 42 ~ advanced ...

The VBT series continues with this post on the advanced uccāra practice taught in verse 42.

Vijñaana-bhairava-tantra verse 42 ~ advanced uccaara
December 17, 2024
Image: Raghunath Manet
Tantrik Studies
Vijñaana-bhairava-tantra verses 40 & 41

Exploring the first two verses of the Spaciousness section of the scripture. The practices of these two verses specifically connect sound & spaciousness (śabda and śūnya).

Vijñaana-bhairava-tantra verses 40 & 41
December 6, 2024
Image: Nikolas Alixopulos
Tantrik Studies
Vijñaana-bhairava-tantra verses 38 & 39

This post explores, in considerable detail, two verses of the VBT focused on sacred sound: the first about tuning into the ever-existent resonance and the second about the traditional Tantrik practice of uccāra.

Vijñaana-bhairava-tantra verses 38 & 39
September 30, 2024
Image: Nikolas Alixopulos
Tantrik Studies
Vijñaana-bhairava-tantra verses 36 & 37

Our VBT series continues with Yuktis #10 and 11, which are interesting subtle practices for more experienced yogins.

Vijñaana-bhairava-tantra verses 36 & 37
Tantrik Studies
April 22, 2016
Spiritual philosophy

You are the universe

Tantrik Studies
April 22, 2016
Spiritual philosophy
You are the universe

The fourth Recognition Sutra: how the pattern of the whole universe exists within you, and why that matters.

Tagged: Spiritual philosophy

4 Comments
Tantrik Studies
April 6, 2016
Spiritual philosophy, Image: Nikolas Alixopulos

Reality is a co-creation

Tantrik Studies
April 6, 2016
Spiritual philosophy, Image: Nikolas Alixopulos
Reality is a co-creation

The third mind-blowing sūtra of this 11th-century masterpiece explains how the perceiver (you) and the perceived are co-arising, interdependent, co-creating aspects of one reality. Read on to see WHY THAT MATTERS....

Tagged: the recognition sutras

6 Comments
Tantrik Studies
March 25, 2016
Mindblowing stories, Spiritual philosophy, Tantrik history

The Recognition Sutras: the story of a miracle

Tantrik Studies
March 25, 2016
Mindblowing stories, Spiritual philosophy, Tantrik history
The Recognition Sutras: the story of a miracle

The fascinating story of how the spiritual masterpiece *The Recognitions Sutras* survived the ravages of time, and why it matters.

Tagged: Spiritual philosophy, Kashmir, History of tantra, the recognition sutras

5 Comments
Tantrik Studies
March 23, 2016
Image: Nikolas Alixopulos

The creative power of awareness

Tantrik Studies
March 23, 2016
Image: Nikolas Alixopulos
The creative power of awareness

The mindblowing second teaching of The Recognition Sutras, a spiritual masterpiece composed 1000 years ago in the valley of Kashmīr. How does Awareness create reality?

Tagged: Awareness, creativity, divine will, the recognition sutras

7 Comments
Tantrik Studies
March 16, 2016
Spiritual philosophy, Image: Nikolas Alixopulos

Awareness is everything

Tantrik Studies
March 16, 2016
Spiritual philosophy, Image: Nikolas Alixopulos
Awareness is everything

This post presents the astonishing first sūtra of The Recognition Sutras, a masterful introduction to the Tantrik path written 1,000 years ago by Abhinavagupta's successor Kṣemarāja, himself a fully realized being.

Tagged: Awakening, realization, ultimate truth, the recognition sutras

6 Comments
Tantrik Studies
March 4, 2016
Tantrik yoga, Liberation

Why spiritual growth does not lead to enlightenment

Tantrik Studies
March 4, 2016
Tantrik yoga, Liberation
Why spiritual growth does not lead to enlightenment

This post clearly outlines the nature of the spiritual path according to traditional Yoga. It challenges common misconceptions and dispels fundamental misunderstandings, bringing clarity to the question of what we're doing and why we're doing it.

Tagged: samskaras, liberation, awakening, enlightenment

28 Comments
Tantrik Studies
February 22, 2016
Tantrik yoga

Understanding energy leaks; or, Seven Ways to keep your Mojo

Tantrik Studies
February 22, 2016
Tantrik yoga
Understanding energy leaks; or, Seven Ways to keep your Mojo

This eye-opening post addresses the seven main 'energy leaks' that cause depletion and inability to retain the energy generated in spiritual practice. 

Tagged: energy, shakti, emotions, presence, boundaries, relationships

18 Comments
Tantrik Studies
February 12, 2016

The Eight Limbs of Yoga? . . . Think Again.

Tantrik Studies
February 12, 2016
The Eight Limbs of Yoga? . . . Think Again.

Why are there eight 'limbs' of yoga? Why not six? Or fifteen? Take a closer look ~ there ARE other systemizations of yoga. This post continues our investigation into the original diversity of the yoga tradition. 

10 Comments
Tantrik Studies
February 5, 2016
Tantrik yoga

The real story on the Chakras

Tantrik Studies
February 5, 2016
Tantrik yoga
The real story on the Chakras

Six fundamental facts most yogis today don't know!  Revised version of the controversial post which finally unveils the truth (from the traditional perspective, anyway) about the subtle energy centers called chakras. 

Tagged: cakra, chakra, mantra

471 Comments
Tantrik Studies
January 31, 2016

The Essence of the Teachings on the Highest Truth

Tantrik Studies
January 31, 2016
The Essence of the Teachings on the Highest Truth

My first post on Abhinavagupta's breathtaking 'The Essence of Ultimate Reality' (Paramārtha-sāra), a concise and poetic introduction to Tantrik philosophy written 1000 years ago. 

4 Comments
Tantrik Studies
January 22, 2016

Universal Patterns of Energy (Tantraaloka 1.106-116)

Tantrik Studies
January 22, 2016
Universal Patterns of Energy (Tantraaloka 1.106-116)

Continuing my translation of 'Light on Tantra' chapter one, this section is FASCINATING, covering as it does the Tantrik view of the nature of reality as patterned flows of energy. Incredible correspondence with quantum physics!

2 Comments
Tantrik Studies
January 14, 2016

The Pure Motive

Tantrik Studies
January 14, 2016
The Pure Motive

Why do you practice? How do your subconscious assumptions about the purpose of practice influence the results you obtain? This post presents one of the most powerful teachings the path of original Tantra has to offer.

7 Comments
Tantrik Studies
January 7, 2016
Tantrik yoga

What You Really Want

Tantrik Studies
January 7, 2016
Tantrik yoga
What You Really Want

This post, the product of years of contemplation, explores the dimensions and importance of desire on the spiritual path. To understand what you really want, and how it manifests naturally when you get out of your own way, you need to understand more about who you really are.

Tagged: happiness, joy, trust, essence nature

15 Comments
Tantrik Studies
December 30, 2015

The Divine Names: Deva, Pati, Shiva (Tantraaloka 1.101-5)

Tantrik Studies
December 30, 2015
The Divine Names: Deva, Pati, Shiva (Tantraaloka 1.101-5)

Why is the word deva (meaning 'deity', or 'God') used to denote the Supreme Consciousness? Because, we learn, the Sanskrit root div means ‘play’, 'joy, ‘urge to transcend’, ‘daily conduct’, ‘radiance’, ‘praise’ and ‘movement’.

1 Comment
Tantrik Studies
December 27, 2015

The Divine Name: Bhairava (Tantraaloka 1.95-100)

Tantrik Studies
December 27, 2015
The Divine Name: Bhairava (Tantraaloka 1.95-100)

Continuing a series of posts translating the first chapter of the Tantraaloka, this passage explains why Bhiarava is the name for the Divine in nondual Tantra.

4 Comments
Tantrik Studies
December 24, 2015

Abhinava Gupta's writings

Tantrik Studies
December 24, 2015
Abhinava Gupta's writings

The second post celebrating the 1000th anniversary of the conclusion of Abhinava Gupta's career, this one features a new translation of his 15 Verses on Awakening!

4 Comments
Tantrik Studies
December 23, 2015

Who was Abhinava Gupta?

Tantrik Studies
December 23, 2015
Who was Abhinava Gupta?

Celebrating 1000 years exactly since Abhinavagupta's last dated work, this post explores what made him one of the greatest Tantrik masters. 

10 Comments
Tantrik Studies
December 16, 2015

The Five Koshas and the Five-Layered Self: a Comparison

Tantrik Studies
December 16, 2015
The Five Koshas and the Five-Layered Self: a Comparison

Continued from the previous blog post, this one is a discussion of the similarities and differences between the Vedāntic model of the koshas and the Tantrik 'five-layered self'.

14 Comments
Tantrik Studies
November 14, 2015

How your view of the self determines the extent of your liberation

Tantrik Studies
November 14, 2015
How your view of the self determines the extent of your liberation

According to Tantrik philosophy, the primary cause of suffering is not knowing who -- or what -- you really are. Not only that, but your limited view of your own being determines the extent to which your spiritual practice can liberate you from suffering. How?  Read and find out.

5 Comments
Tantrik Studies
November 7, 2015

Three Ways to Freedom

Tantrik Studies
November 7, 2015
Three Ways to Freedom

What are the three primary methods to liberate awareness from its self-imposed bondage? Why do we need all three? Why does spiritual work tend to falter without this key teaching on upāya - skillful means?

1 Comment
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  • May 2015
    • May 22, 2015 The Recognition Sūtras
  • June 2015
    • Jun 13, 2015 definition of the word TANTRA
    • Jun 14, 2015 A 10-cakra system from an 800-year-old text
    • Jun 20, 2015 The 10-cakra system from "Jewel-mine of Music" - Part 2 of 2
    • Jun 24, 2015 The purpose of the spiritual life (it ain't what ya think). Part One.
  • July 2015
    • Jul 4, 2015 The purpose of the spiritual life PART TWO
    • Jul 7, 2015 Definition of spiritual awakeness
    • Jul 8, 2015 Do we really have the power of choice? Part One.
    • Jul 8, 2015 Do we really have the power of choice? Part Two.
    • Jul 15, 2015 What is Shaivism?
    • Jul 20, 2015 Tantrik philosophy for the layperson: What is the cause of liberation?
    • Jul 28, 2015 The Power of the Word: double meanings in the Tantraaloka
    • Jul 31, 2015 Light on Tantra: Tantraaloka 1.1-21
  • August 2015
    • Aug 1, 2015 On Bondage and Liberation: Tantraloka 1.22-51
    • Aug 2, 2015 What is Tantra?: Setting the record straight
    • Aug 4, 2015 The Nature of Reality: Tantraloka 1.52-57
    • Aug 24, 2015 The mind: it's not what you think it is
  • September 2015
    • Sep 1, 2015 The Nature of God: Tantraaloka 1.59-69
    • Sep 3, 2015 Deity Yoga: a Tantrik Technology
    • Sep 6, 2015 The transmission of Tantra: an interview with Hareesh (Part 1 of 3)
    • Sep 10, 2015 The transmission of Tantra: an interview with Hareesh (Part 2 of 3)
    • Sep 15, 2015 The transmission of Tantra: an interview with Hareesh (part 3 of 3)
    • Sep 22, 2015 The Nature of God/dess: Tantraaloka 1.68-81
    • Sep 24, 2015 What does 'energy' mean?
    • Sep 29, 2015 God is the Self: the secret teaching of the Trishirobhairava
  • October 2015
    • Oct 6, 2015 The power of subtle impressions (samskaara theory)
  • November 2015
    • Nov 7, 2015 Three Ways to Freedom
    • Nov 14, 2015 How your view of the self determines the extent of your liberation
  • December 2015
    • Dec 16, 2015 The Five Koshas and the Five-Layered Self: a Comparison
    • Dec 23, 2015 Who was Abhinava Gupta?
    • Dec 24, 2015 Abhinava Gupta's writings
    • Dec 27, 2015 The Divine Name: Bhairava (Tantraaloka 1.95-100)
    • Dec 30, 2015 The Divine Names: Deva, Pati, Shiva (Tantraaloka 1.101-5)
  • January 2016
    • Jan 7, 2016 What You Really Want
    • Jan 14, 2016 The Pure Motive
    • Jan 22, 2016 Universal Patterns of Energy (Tantraaloka 1.106-116)
    • Jan 31, 2016 The Essence of the Teachings on the Highest Truth
  • February 2016
    • Feb 5, 2016 The real story on the Chakras
    • Feb 12, 2016 The Eight Limbs of Yoga? . . . Think Again.
    • Feb 22, 2016 Understanding energy leaks; or, Seven Ways to keep your Mojo
  • March 2016
    • Mar 4, 2016 Why spiritual growth does not lead to enlightenment
    • Mar 16, 2016 Awareness is everything
    • Mar 23, 2016 The creative power of awareness
    • Mar 25, 2016 The Recognition Sutras: the story of a miracle
  • April 2016
    • Apr 6, 2016 Reality is a co-creation
    • Apr 22, 2016 You are the universe
  • May 2016
    • May 13, 2016 The true nature of the mind
    • May 27, 2016 The dangers of duality
  • June 2016
    • Jun 13, 2016 When things fall apart
    • Jun 25, 2016 How the one becomes many
  • July 2016
    • Jul 12, 2016 God is an Actor
    • Jul 14, 2016 Yoga philosophy, race, and 'colorblindness'
    • Jul 26, 2016 How yoga can turn a jerk into an even bigger jerk
  • August 2016
    • Aug 16, 2016 Remake/remodel: four points on the reinvention of the guru-disciple relationship in the West
    • Aug 23, 2016 What 'spiritual awakening' really means
  • September 2016
    • Sep 17, 2016 Paradigms of Bhakti: the South Indian Poet-Saints
    • Sep 24, 2016 How to Be Happy
  • October 2016
    • Oct 7, 2016 Will the real Vijñaana-bhairava please stand up?
    • Oct 15, 2016 How to know that You are God
  • November 2016
    • Nov 7, 2016 Patañjali's yoga and its Tantrik reinvention
  • December 2016
    • Dec 7, 2016 The most intimate part of you
  • January 2017
    • Jan 4, 2017 Becoming Undivided
    • Jan 31, 2017 The liberating power of your sadness
  • February 2017
    • Feb 27, 2017 The truth about 'where things are heading'
  • March 2017
    • Mar 28, 2017 The only real limitation is self-limitation
  • April 2017
    • Apr 1, 2017 Finding the spacious ground within
    • Apr 12, 2017 And then there is a turn . . .
    • Apr 26, 2017 The Fire Within
    • Apr 28, 2017 Attaining Your Innate Power
  • May 2017
    • May 13, 2017 Embodied Liberation: the goal of Tantrik Yoga
    • May 30, 2017 Expanding the Center
  • June 2017
    • Jun 8, 2017 Tantrik Shaiva Philosophy in Context
  • July 2017
    • Jul 22, 2017 On the Importance of Truth in the Spiritual Life
  • August 2017
    • Aug 15, 2017 Near Enemy #5: Listen to your heart
  • September 2017
    • Sep 8, 2017 Near Enemy #12: Negative energy
  • October 2017
    • Oct 27, 2017 Near Enemy #6: Love yourself
  • November 2017
    • Nov 30, 2017 Near Enemy #10: You create your own reality
  • January 2018
    • Jan 31, 2018 Near Enemy #3: I want to be my best self
  • February 2018
    • Feb 28, 2018 Near Enemy #2: Speaking your truth
  • March 2018
    • Mar 9, 2018 The Blossoming of Innate Awareness
    • Mar 18, 2018 What distinguishes Tantra?
  • April 2018
    • Apr 17, 2018 How Tantrik Ritual Works (TA 1 cont’d)
  • May 2018
    • May 31, 2018 Near Enemy #4: Be in the present moment
  • July 2018
    • Jul 11, 2018 The Essence of Tantra: Introduction
    • Jul 29, 2018 Whatever god you worship, you’re really worshipping Awareness (TA 1 cont'd)
  • August 2018
    • Aug 5, 2018 The Modes of Realization (Tantrasaara chapter 1)
  • September 2018
    • Sep 17, 2018 The nature of awareness (Tantraloka 1 cont'd)
    • Sep 23, 2018 The Pathless Path (Tantrasaara Chapter 2)
  • October 2018
    • Oct 30, 2018 TANTRALOKA 29: The kula-yaga, or secret sexual ritual of original Tantra (part 1 of 12)
  • January 2019
    • Jan 5, 2019 The Divine Method (Tantrasaara Chapter Three, Part 1)
  • February 2019
    • Feb 6, 2019 The Empowered Method (Tantrasaara Chapter Four, Part 1)
    • Feb 15, 2019 The Embodied Method (Tantrasaara Chapter Five, Part 1)
  • March 2019
    • Mar 2, 2019 The Mystical Meaning of Sanskrit (Tantrasaara Chapter Three, Part 2)
  • April 2019
    • Apr 18, 2019 The Ways to Liberation (Tantraloka 1 cont'd)
    • Apr 21, 2019 Why Yoga Doesn't Work . . . and Why it Does (Tantrasaara Chapter Four, Part 2)
  • May 2019
    • May 15, 2019 How a Nondual Tantrika Practices (Tantrasaara Chapter Four, Part 3)
    • May 29, 2019 Elevating the Prana (Tantrasaara Chapter Five, Part 2)
  • June 2019
    • Jun 30, 2019 How Awareness Expresses (Tantrasaara Chapter Three, Part 3)
  • July 2019
    • Jul 31, 2019 The Aspects of the Goddess (Tantrasaara Chapter Four, Part 4)
  • August 2019
    • Aug 20, 2019 Cherishing your own radiant beauty (Tantrasaara Chapter Four, Part 5)
  • September 2019
    • Sep 30, 2019 The Rite of the Phonemes (Tantrasaara Chapter Five, Part 3)
  • October 2019
    • Oct 29, 2019 The Stanzas on Pulsation (Spanda-karika), First Flow
  • November 2019
    • Nov 8, 2019 The Stanzas on Pulsation (Spanda-karika), Second Flow
  • January 2020
    • Jan 30, 2020 The Stanzas on Pulsation (Spanda-karika), Third Flow
  • February 2020
    • Feb 29, 2020 Near Enemy #1: Follow your bliss
  • March 2020
    • Mar 12, 2020 Near Enemy #13: "Energy healing"
  • April 2020
    • Apr 30, 2020 The Teachings of the Lord of Wisdom (Jnaneshwar's discourse on yogic meditation)
  • May 2020
    • May 31, 2020 An Introduction to the Goddess Paraa . . . and A Little Light on Our Essence-nature
  • June 2020
    • Jun 30, 2020 The Principles of Reality and the Seed-Mantra of Goddess Parā
  • September 2020
    • Sep 30, 2020 Near Enemy #14: I am my own guru
  • November 2020
    • Nov 30, 2020 Near Enemy #15: All paths lead to the same goal
  • January 2021
    • Jan 9, 2021 The Descent of Power (Tantrasara Chapter 11)
  • April 2021
    • Apr 16, 2021 The Secret Teachings of the Yoginis
  • June 2021
    • Jun 30, 2021 How is 'God' a Near Enemy of the Truth?
  • December 2021
    • Dec 26, 2021 How to Recognize that You are God (IPK 1.1.1-5)
  • January 2022
    • Jan 31, 2022 The Real Story on Kundalini
  • February 2022
    • Feb 10, 2022 The Stages of Awakening
    • Feb 15, 2022 The Nature of Reality
  • May 2022
    • May 31, 2022 Vijnana-bhairava-tantra: introduction and first two verses
  • June 2022
    • Jun 8, 2022 Vijñana-bhairava-tantra verse 3: what is the nature of reality?
  • July 2022
    • Jul 18, 2022 Vijñana-bhairava-tantra verses 4, 5, & 6
  • August 2022
    • Aug 5, 2022 A Path of Pure Radiance: the Krama Lineage
    • Aug 16, 2022 Vijñana-bhairava-tantra verses 7-16: Bhairava's Answer
    • Aug 25, 2022 Karnataka: the Land of Yoga
  • September 2022
    • Sep 5, 2022 The Kaula-sutras
  • November 2022
    • Nov 30, 2022 Vijñana-bhairava-tantra verses 16-21: the relation of Shiva & Shakti
  • December 2022
    • Dec 2, 2022 Vijñana-bhairava-tantra verses 22-27: the foundational practice
  • January 2023
    • Jan 31, 2023 Vijñana-bhairava-tantra verse 28: the Central Channel
  • February 2023
    • Feb 5, 2023 The Twelve Kalis: Part One
    • Feb 9, 2023 The Twelve Kalis: Part Two
    • Feb 18, 2023 The Twelve Kalis: Part Three
  • July 2023
    • Jul 30, 2023 The Sutras of the Intoxicated Lord
  • August 2023
    • Aug 15, 2023 What is the original Kundalini Yoga?
  • October 2023
    • Oct 31, 2023 Vijñana-bhairava-tantra verses 29-30: the Twelve Chakras
  • November 2023
    • Nov 20, 2023 Vijñana-bhairava-tantra verse 31: the Khechari mudra
    • Nov 28, 2023 Vijñaana-bhairava-tantra: translation concordance, Part 1
  • December 2023
    • Dec 7, 2023 Vijñaana-bhairava-tantra: translation concordance, Part 2
    • Dec 7, 2023 The Shiva Sutras
  • February 2024
    • Feb 29, 2024 Vijñana-bhairava-tantra verses 32-33: merging the sensual spaces
  • April 2024
    • Apr 30, 2024 My Ten Books
  • May 2024
    • May 18, 2024 Vijñana-bhairava-tantra verses 34-35
  • September 2024
    • Sep 30, 2024 Vijñaana-bhairava-tantra verses 36 & 37
  • December 2024
    • Dec 6, 2024 Vijñaana-bhairava-tantra verses 38 & 39
    • Dec 17, 2024 Vijñaana-bhairava-tantra verses 40 & 41
  • April 2025
    • Apr 30, 2025 Vijñaana-bhairava-tantra verse 42 ~ advanced uccaara
  • May 2025
    • May 1, 2025 Vijñaana-bhairava-tantra verses 43-48: the Spaciousness practices
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