Swami Lakshmanjoo ~ VBT 112 meditations

[laughter]

Sept 11, 2022 20:19:56 GMT -5 unseekingseeker said:

Vijnana Bhairava Tantra Practice-62/112

On a moonless dark night it is raining
We gaze into the black void and begin meditating
The rain pitter-patter a rhythm consistent
Holds our attention as does the inner sound current

We then meld with the void

eyes open on a sunny day
the wind and the leaves
conspire to wave at you

even in the knowledge
of pressure and temperature gradients
this beautiful mystery
still enchants

[unseekingseeker]

Vijnana Bhairava Tantra Practice-63/112

A believe it or not meditation!
Trance like auto-suggestion?
Let us see ...
Mirrorlessly ...

We are in a dimly lit room
Frivolous thoughts we gently broom
Sitting in silence, aspect innocent
Of the faint room light cognisant

We then initiate an intent marked with purity
To close our eyelids and mediate in continuity
Upon the void of vibrant darkness within
Imagination rested, yearning for God recognition ...

Our eyes are yet open for intent is not yet action
We immerse ourself in the gap to bestow traction
That that in our wholeness prayerful
We close our eyes in a trance meditational

Our restful attention is peaked, poised & alert
Lower mind rested the darkness is our consort
We remain thus imbibing nuances of the void
Our heart ignited and as always overjoyed

No one remains within to choose exiting this meditation
For having melded with the void at Shiva’s own suggestion
He Himself alone may choose the moment of closure
The inky void His heart radiating love beyond measure

When finally our eyes open we remain yet in darkness
For what else remains having merged our consciousness
Yet if we become aware of the dimly lit room light
The tantra practice asks that next time we get it right

Are we yet a bliss mist
With no identity that resists

[unseekingseeker]

Vijnana Bhairava Tantra Practice-64/112

Whether by accident or design
We employ body sensation to align
With the divine

Striking any body part to generate pain
Dissolving therein would not be in vain
The void poignant pure & free from stain

Let the zenith of pain be where lies our attention
The peak being the void of our meditation
Wherefrom Shiva manifests bestowing benediction

[unseekingseeker]

Vijnana Bhairava Tantra Practice-65/112

This is the meditation of induced astonishment
Fulcrum of consciousness nestled in contentment

Save for the wily fox
There is no paradox

To get to what we want
Here is Bhairava’s prompt

Take the manta AUM (ॐ)
At the moment of intent the silent hum
The first alphabet ‘A’
That would propel bliss to hold sway
Remains unvoiced in the pause pregnant
That that left unsaid a silent sentiment

Holding attention thus in a continuum of astonishment
Fulcrum of consciousness remains nestled in contentment

Of inner silence

[laughter]

Sept 14, 2022 22:47:56 GMT -5 unseekingseeker said:

Vijnana Bhairava Tantra Practice-65/112

This is the meditation of induced astonishment
Fulcrum of consciousness nestled in contentment

Save for the wily fox
There is no paradox

To get to what we want
Here is Bhairava’s prompt

Take the manta AUM (ॐ)
At the moment of intent the silent hum
The first alphabet ‘A’
That would propel bliss to hold sway
Remains unvoiced in the pause pregnant
That that left unsaid a silent sentiment

Holding attention thus in a continuum of astonishment
Fulcrum of consciousness remains nestled in contentment

Of inner silence

"induced astonishment" how well put!

Curious, was the fox reference yours or Bhairava's? I have an interesting story along those lines ...

[unseekingseeker]

@ laughter ~ Hahaha! Actually, these verses are merely my interpretations of what Swami Lakshmanjoo elaborated in this book, elucidating the 112 meditation techniques of the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra.

The fox bit alludes to our habit of thinking, identifying with mind. In meditation, we need to be in thought rested stillness.

What’s your story? Do tell!

[unseekingseeker]

Vijnana Bhairava Tantra Practice-66/112

Getting to the ending
Without any beginning
Is this practice of meditating

For instance we are in Shiva’s heart
Wherefrom we never did depart
It is the fructification of being
Without the process of becoming

If yet trapped in lower mind requiring movement
A navigation in time to measure accomplishment
We may rest in stillness with this recognition
That the here and now is conclusion of our meditation

There being nothing that we need to attain
We rest in silence, desires to rest lain
Ensconced in a bliss mist free of stain

[laughter]

Sept 15, 2022 21:57:12 GMT -5 unseekingseeker said:

@ laughter ~ Hahaha! Actually, these verses are merely my interpretations of what Swami Lakshmanjoo elaborated in this book, elucidating the 112 meditation techniques of the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra.

The fox bit alludes to our habit of thinking, identifying with mind. In meditation, we need to be in thought rested stillness.

What’s your story? Do tell!

Dovetails with the recent interest on here in the supernatural and reefs' recent reference to culture, in this case the culture of this forum. Also relevant to one of the deepest running themes on the forum: the dichotomy of the Absolute and the relative, and folks "understanding" of such.

Years ago a member named Portto posted a picture of a fox in the snow, and this poem responded.

Months later, in my first reading of Zen Flesh, Zen Bones, I came across "Hykujo's Fox" the 2nd entry of the Gateless Gate:

Once when Hyakujo delivered some Zen
lectures an old man attended them, unseen by
the monks. At the end of each talk when the
the monks left so did he. But one day he remained
after they had gone, and Hyakujo asked him:
"Who are you?"

The old man replied: "I am not a human being,
but I was a human being when the Kashapa Buddha
preached in this world. I was a Zen master and
lived on this mountain. At that time one of my
students asked me whether or not the enlightened
man is subject to the law of causation. I answered
him: 'The enlightened is not subject to the law of
causation.' For this answer evidencing a clinging
to absoluteness I became a fox for five hundred
rebirths, and I am still a fox. Will you save me
from this condition with your Zen words and let
me get out of a fox's body? Now may I ask you: Is
the enlightened man subject to the law of
causation?"

Hyakujo said: "The enlightened man is one with
the law of causation."

At the words of Hyakujo the old man was enlightened.
"I am emancipated," he said, paying homage with a
deep bow. "I am no more a fox, but have to leave my
body in my dwelling place behind this mountain.
Please perform my funeral as a monk." Then he
disappeared.

The next day Hyakujo gave an order through
the chief monk to prepare to attend the funeral of
a monk. "No one was sick in the infirmary," wondered
the monks. "What does our teacher mean?"

After dinner Hyakujo led the monks out and
around the mountain. In a cave, with his staff he
poked out the corpse of an old fox and then per-
formed the ceremony of cremation.

That evening Hyakujo gave a talk to the monks
and told them this story about the law of causation.

Obaku, upon hearing the story, asked Hyakujo:
"I understand that a long time ago because a certain
person gave a wrong Zen answer he became a fox
for five hundred rebirths. Now I want to ask: If
some modern master is asked many questions and
he always gives the right answer, what will become
of him?"

Hyakujo said: "You come here near me and I will
tell you."

Obaku went near Hyakujo and slapped the teacher's
face with his hand, for he knew this was the answer
his teacher intended to give him.

Hyakujo clapped his hands and laughed at this
discernment. "I thought a Persian had a red beard,"
he said, "and now I know a Persian who has a red
beard."

Mumon's comment: "The enlightened man is not
subject." How can this answer make the monk a
fox?

"The enlightened man is one with the law of causation."
How can this answer make the fox emancipated?

[unseekingseeker]

Hey, laughter, thanks for sharing the link to the book ~ I’ll browse through it for sure 😊

[unseekingseeker]

Vijnana Bhairava Tantra Practice-67/112

We watch our body vaporise
Although it still exists
We watch it disappear in surprise
A delight we dare not resist

So we still are but in formlessness
Body invisible
Having melted into Absolute Oneness
A part of space indivisible

We thus remain
Pure & unstained

[unseekingseeker]

Vijnana Bhairava Tantra Practice-68/112

Simple trick
A pinprick
Poignant pain
We dissolve therein
Recognising
Feeling
Accepting
Transcending
No curse
In our verse
Single focus
Pain the locus
As experience
Of our sentience
An opportunity
For divine connectivity

[unseekingseeker]

Vijnana Bhairava Tantra Practice-69/112

Our imagination
An affirmation
Ferality inside
We set aside
As also instruments
Recognised as decadent
Mind-body agitation
Miring us in stagnation
The ego
We forgo

What remains ...
Purity unstained
We therein abide
Reside
In stillness & silence
In continuance
This orientation
Our meditation
Unending
Limitations transcending

[unseekingseeker]

Vijnana Bhairava Tantra Practice-70/112

Before this practice, first a learning
Of the veils of maya, causing feeling limiting

Maya itself creating illusion of individuality
A separation from the source, blocking connectivity

The first limitation of time, the second of space
Imprisoning us therein at a stuporous pace

Limitations of both doing & knowing
Limitation of our true limitless Self recognising

Now with this preamble
We nimbly amble
Simply by rejecting all limitations
As temporary or rather illusionary illusions
Our renunciation must be total & complete
Even as we are in fullness with bliss replete

We become empty within divine magnetised
In timeless time God is automatically realised

[unseekingseeker]

Vijnana Bhairava Tantra Practice-71/112

Being attentive & observant
We become sentient
To desires the moment they arise
Nipping them in the bud before they rise
Meaning thereby we catch them in mid air
Such is our dexterity and unmatched flair
The desire flows, neither repressed or sublimated
Yet contained harmlessly as not yet precipitated

That state being thoughtless
In the void of no-thingness

Is where Shiva manifests!

[unseekingseeker]

Vijnana Bhairava Tantra Practice-72/112

There is no desire and we see no object
We too disappear as the subject

That that remains
Is presence unstained

Wherein we abide
With God inside

Our being