Philosophy Of Tantrik Yoga Sadhna - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided text from "Philosophy of Tantrik-Yoga Sadhana" by Vaishishtha Narain Tripathi:

The text explores Tantrik-Yoga Sadhana as a comprehensive spiritual discipline aimed at achieving immediate experience of the divine, leading to spiritual realization and perfection. It highlights the practical and experiential nature of religion, where "Sadhana" encompasses all practices and ceremonies that facilitate this spiritual experience.

Key Concepts and Principles:

Sadhana: Literally meaning "means to an end," Sadhana refers to the essential preparatory discipline for spiritual experience. It's the practical side of religion, culminating in religious experience.
Spiritual Experience: The goal is not a partial realization but a complete synthesis of the individual's existence, diving into the "Infinite Consciousness of Cit" and achieving "Highest Harmony." This involves the dissolution of the subject-object division ("aham-idam").
The Role of Will: Tantra places a significant emphasis on "will" as a dominating factor. It posits a distinction between personal and impersonal will, with Tantrik Sadhana directing insights into finer channels that express a "transcendent will." This elevates the practitioner from relative values to abstract Truth.
Beyond Ordinary Sadhana: Tantrik Sadhana is presented as an upliftment of ordinary spiritual practices, transcending limitations of space, time, and energy by connecting with a transcendent being and luminous superpersonal-consciousness. It leads to spiritual pragmatism, providing freedom from a relative outlook on life.
Stages and Sub-divisions of Sadhana: Tantra recognizes three stages:
1. Purification (Suddhi): Corresponds to Karma.
2. Illumination (Sthiti): Corresponds to Bhakti.
3. Unification (Arpana): Corresponds to Jnana. These are further divided into five sub-divisions: ablution (snana), gratification (tarpaņa), meditation (sandhyā), worship (pūjā), and complete self-abnegation (homa).
Purification (Suddhi): This process involves removing impurities (malas) from the gross, subtle, and causal bodies. These impurities are identified as:
- Anava-mala: The sense of limitation.
- Karma-mala: The accumulation of vasanas (tendencies) leading to karmic actions.
- Mayiya-mala: The source of the triple body, everything knowable and objective that differentiates subject from object. The purification is achieved through both contemplation (bhāvanā) and action (kriya).
The Path to Liberation:
- Identity with the Absolute: Tantrik Sadhana aims at the individual (jiva) becoming identical with the Absolute (Śiva) upon liberation. This contrasts with Bhakti schools that maintain a distinction even after liberation and with Maya-vada of Shankara, as Tantra asserts the reality of the individual existence emerging from the One.
- Kundalini Shakti: The "Serpent Power" is central to achieving this union. It awakens dormant spiritual energy and, when roused through Sadhana, ascends through the Sushumna nerve to the Sahasrara, leading to union with the Absolute. This process makes the absoluteness and infinitude of the individual inherent and realizable.
- Integration of Kriya and Bhavana: While Vedanta emphasizes meditation alone, Tantra integrates physical and physiological exercises (Kriya) with contemplation (Bhavana). The absoluteness is not pre-existing but attained through a process.
The Power of Mantra: Mantras are not mere words but concentrated thoughts of great power revealed to adepts. They are tools that save through reflection (mana). The text warns against taking mantras as mere letters, emphasizing faith, devotion, attention, submission, and the perception of the Divine image.
The Five 'M's (Pancha Tattva): These are explained as esoteric symbolisms:
- Madya (Wine): Lunar ambrosia, intoxicating knowledge.
- Māṁsa (Meat): Consigning all acts to the Lord, controlling speech.
- Matsya (Fish): Annihilation of "I" and "Mine," sympathy with all beings, control of vital breaths (Prana and Apana).
- Mudra: Surrender of the limited human to the unlimited Divine, relinquishing association with evil.
- Maithuna (Coition): Union of Kundalini Shakti with the supreme Siva, symbolizing the union of individual and cosmic consciousness. The text strongly refutes the common misconception of Tantra as licentious, emphasizing that the true Tantrik is an endacmonist, not a slave to passions.
The Role of the Guru: The Guru's significance is paramount for initiation and guidance throughout the spiritual journey. Real Sadhana and Yoga are learned from the Guru, not from books alone.
Diksa (Initiation): Diksa is the process by which knowledge is imparted, animal passions are destroyed, and ignorance or bondage is removed. It can be Sabija (with seed), Nirbija (without seed), or Sadyonirvändäyini.
Varnocara and Hamsa: The text describes the vibration of universal energy in the form of sound (Varna Kundalini) and Prana (Hamsa). The movement of Prana is explained through "Hakāra" (abandoning) and "Sakāra" (accepting). The Hamsa symbol represents the most elevated word and the union of individual and cosmic consciousness (Soham).
Mysticism in Tantrik Sadhana: This involves stages of acquaintance with the self, realizing the interconnectedness of all selves, and acknowledging the divine feminine power (Shakti) that animates existence. The Sadhaka worships Shakti as the Mother, leading to a state of divine bliss.
Concept of Liberation: Liberation is seen as the Jiva becoming identical with Brahman, achieved through self-culture and spiritual insight, not mere rituals. The ultimate state is the realization of "Brahmasadbhava" (Brahman alone is). Tantra advocates for freedom of worship and submission of caste distinctions to spiritual discipline.

In essence, Philosophy of Tantrik-Yoga Sadhana presents a multifaceted path to spiritual realization that emphasizes internal transformation, disciplined practice, the integration of physical and spiritual elements, and the ultimate union of the individual with the divine through the awakening of inner potential.