In yoga philosophy, there are various paths resulting in the identical fact the realisation of our deepest nature as pure consciousness. Amongst these, two of crucial teachings are Advaita Vedanta and Tantra, particularly as expressed in Kashmiri Shaivism.
Each traditions converse of the One Actuality that shines by all existence, but they strategy it in very alternative ways.
- Advaita Vedanta factors inward, guiding the seeker towards stillness and detachment serving to us recognise the silent witness inside.
- Tantra, however, invitations us to embrace life fully, seeing each expertise as an expression of the Divine.
Understanding the distinction between these two timeless visions deepens our appreciation of yoga’s final intention awakening to the sunshine of consciousness, whether or not in stillness or in motion.
Vedanta & tantra: two complementary visions of consciousness
Distinction between advaita vedanta and tantra in yoga philosophy
| Facet | Advaita Vedanta | Tantra (Kashmiri Shaivism) |
|---|---|---|
| Core Metaphor | The self-luminous solar that shines on all however stays unchanged | The divine couple Shiva and Shakti, symbolising consciousness and its inventive energy |
| Final Actuality | Brahman alone is actual; the world is Maya (phantasm) | The world is a actual manifestation (Shakti) of divine consciousness (Shiva) |
| Path | By way of Negation (Neti Neti) — disidentify from physique and thoughts to grasp the formless Self | By way of Affirmation – embrace all experiences as expressions of divine power |
| View of Consciousness | Passive; turns into self-aware solely by relation with objects | Inherently self–conscious and self-luminous (Svaprakāśa) — conscious by its personal nature |
| View of the World | A veil that conceals the Reality | A dynamic play (Līlā) revealing the Divine in movement |
| Aim | Realise the Self as Brahman by stillness and detachment | Realise the unity of Shiva and Shakti by direct expertise and consciousness |
Each Vedanta and Tantra level to the identical summit – the realisation of absolute consciousness.
But, their approaches differ in tone and texture: Vedanta dissolves the world into silence, whereas Tantra celebrates it because the dwelling pulse of the Divine.
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The imaginative and prescient of advaita vedanta: discovering the self as pure consciousness
After seeing how Vedanta and Tantra provide two visions of consciousness, allow us to discover Advaita Vedanta philosophy extra intently.
Advaita Vedanta, one in every of India’s most refined techniques of thought, teaches that there’s just one actuality — Brahman, the infinite consciousness that exists past all change and distinction. All the things we understand — the physique, thoughts, feelings, and even the outer world arises and dissolves inside this one everlasting presence.
In accordance with Vedanta, our true Self (Ātman) just isn’t separate from Brahman. The sacred assertion “Tat Tvam Asi” You’re That – expresses this realisation. The trail of Advaita just isn’t about changing into one thing new however about recognising what we now have all the time been: the pure consciousness that underlies each expertise.
To elucidate this, Vedanta makes use of the picture of a self-luminous solar. Simply because the solar shines on the whole lot without having one other supply of sunshine, the Self is the sunshine of consciousness that reveals all issues — ideas, sensations, and even the sense of “I.” It illuminates the whole lot but is rarely itself seen.
Once we flip inward by meditation and self-inquiry, we discover that this consciousness by no means adjustments. The physique ages, the thoughts shifts, and feelings rise and fall – however the mild of consciousness stays nonetheless and clear.
That is the guts of the Vedantic imaginative and prescient of consciousness: awakening from identification with the altering world and realising the unchanging, self-luminous consciousness as our true nature — the identical mild that shines in all beings.
Additionally Learn: Advaita Vedanta: The Philosophy of Non-Duality
The trail of discrimination (neti neti)
Constructing on the imaginative and prescient of Advaita Vedanta, the sensible path to Self-realisation is called Jnana Yoga, the yoga of data and direct perception. This Advaita Vedanta follow just isn’t about gathering concepts or beliefs however about seeing clearly what’s actual and what’s passing. The seeker cultivates Viveka the ability of discrimination between the everlasting and the impermanent.
This inquiry takes form by the easy but deep contemplation, “Neti Neti,” which means “Not this, not this.” In Neti Neti meditation, consciousness turns inward, gently letting go of the whole lot that may be noticed – the physique, senses, feelings, and even ideas realising, “This isn’t the Self.”
All the things we often name “I” is topic to alter – the physique grows and ages, ideas come and go, feelings rise and fall. But behind all motion, there stays an unchanging witness silent, luminous, and nonetheless. That is the actual Self, the pure consciousness that by no means fades.
Vedanta calls the false sense of individuality chidābhāsa, the mirrored self. Simply because the reflection of the solar seems in water however has no mild of its personal, the ego-self shines solely by the sunshine of the true consciousness above – Brahman.
Via regular reflection and interior inquiry, the seeker progressively withdraws consideration from the false “I” and abides in pure consciousness. This realisation just isn’t mental however experiential – a direct recognition of peace, completeness, and freedom.
In that stillness, there isn’t a longer a search or a seeker solely the timeless presence of the Self, shining by its personal mild. That is the guts of the Jnana Yoga path, the place discrimination results in dissolution, and information turns into liberation.
The imaginative and prescient of tantra: embracing the divine play of power
From the stillness of Vedanta, we now transfer into the colourful world of Tantra philosophy, the place the identical fact is seen by the lens of motion, power, and artistic expression. Whereas Vedanta factors to the silent witness inside, Kashmiri Shaivism celebrates the dwelling pulse of that consciousness a actuality that isn’t passive however ever-awake, dynamic, and self-knowing.
In Tantric thought, consciousness doesn’t depend upon something outdoors itself to remember. It’s inherently self-luminous conscious of its personal presence. This dwelling consciousness is symbolised as Shiva, the nonetheless consciousness, eternally united with Shakti, the ability that strikes, creates, and expresses. Collectively they kind one inseparable complete — the divine dance of stillness and movement.
Tantric masters describe this delicate motion as Spanda, which means “pulse” or “throb.” It’s the rhythmic vibration inside consciousness itself – the heartbeat of existence by which the universe arises, is sustained, and dissolves. Even when creation had been to vanish, this pulse would stay, making consciousness Svaprakāśa self-luminous, shining by its personal energy.
A easy instance helps reveal this fact: you don’t want a mirror to know that you simply exist. Your consciousness of “I’m” is speedy and self-evident. Likewise, Shiva, even in solitude, stays totally self-conscious, as a result of Shakti, the ability of consciousness itself, is all the time current inside.
Thus, in Tantra, the Absolute just isn’t a distant or silent witness however an intimately self-aware, pulsating actuality alive in each heartbeat, each breath, and each second of stillness and movement. To the Tantric practitioner, the complete universe is sacred a dwelling expression of the everlasting union of Shiva and Shakti, the place consciousness and power are one.
Tantra: The Historical Indian Path of Liberation and Consciousness
The assembly level: stillness & motion inside consciousness
After exploring the stillness of Vedanta and the aliveness of Tantra, it turns into clear that these two are usually not opposing paths however complementary visions of the identical fact. Vedanta reveals the silent depth of consciousness the changeless Self past all exercise. Tantra, however, unveils the delicate motion inside that stillness the inventive pulse from which life flows.
Think about an ocean: its depths are calm and unmoving, whereas light waves dance throughout its floor. The depths signify Brahman, the silent consciousness of Vedanta; the waves replicate Shakti, the colourful power of Tantra. Each are water inseparable, steady, and complete.
In yogic philosophy, this unity will be straight skilled in meditation. When the thoughts turns into quiet, we relaxation within the pure consciousness that Vedanta describes. But even inside that stillness, there’s a gentle, dwelling presence the Spanda, the heart beat of consciousness that Kashmiri Shaivism celebrates.
When this unity is recognised, the seeker’s path turns into easy. The intention is now not to flee the world or silence motion however to see the sacred in each. Each breath, thought, and heartbeat turns into an expression of divine awareness- the Lila, or cosmic play, of Shiva and Shakti.
On this understanding, consciousness and power are one; silence and sound are one; meditation and life are one. The yogic path then turns into a celebration of being itself — resting in stillness whereas transferring within the rhythm of divine power.
Residing knowledge: integrating vedantic stillness & tantric aliveness in follow
The concord of Vedanta and Tantra invitations us to reside with each consciousness and participation – to relaxation in interior stillness whereas participating totally with life. On this union lies the guts of yoga: the assembly of being and changing into, silence and motion, spirit and matter.
From the Vedantic view, follow is a mild return to your true nature as pure consciousness. Every time you pause, breathe, or witness your ideas with out attachment, you might be remembering that the Self is rarely certain by expertise; you’re the quiet witness behind all of it.
From the Tantric view, each expertise turns into a doorway to the Divine. The Shakti that strikes your breath, beats your coronary heart, and flows by feelings just isn’t separate from consciousness- it’s consciousness in movement. Recognising that is to see divinity in all of life.
You possibly can convey this understanding into your each day sadhana by easy methods:
- Meditate to not escape the world, however to relaxation within the consciousness that holds all experiences.
- Transfer and breathe with mindfulness, sensing the heart beat of power (spanda) in each movement.
- See the sacred in atypical life in a smile, a sound, or the heat of daylight; because the play of Shiva and Shakti.
In time, this understanding transforms how you reside and practise. You now not divide the non secular and the worldly each categorical the identical consciousness. Stillness turns into alive; motion turns into peaceable.
When consciousness and power are seen as one, each second turns into a meditation a dance of Shiva and Shakti unfolding as your personal being. Life itself turns into the yoga, the place silence breathes by sound, and the infinite performs inside the finite.
Conclusion
Vedanta and Tantra are usually not two paths however two actions of the identical fact. Vedanta reveals the stillness of pure consciousness; Tantra reveals its dwelling pulse. Collectively, they full the circle of being.
When stillness and motion are seen as one, life turns into meditation and meditation turns into life. Each breath, each second, is the dance of Shiva and Shakti- silence shining as movement, consciousness enjoying as creation.
