✦ Vijnana Bhairava Tantra
Technique 92 of 112 — Supportless Mind in the Void
Sanskrit Verse
nirādhāraṃ manaḥ kṛtvā na vikalpayet kvacit | tadāvastambhayuktena bhairavo bhairavo bhavet ||
Making the mind supportless, one should not allow any thoughts to arise. By being established in that state, one becomes Bhairava.
Commentary
Dharana 92 presents one of the most direct paths to enlightenment in the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra: the cultivation of a 'Niradhara' or supportless mind. Typically, the mind functions by leaning on supports (alambana)—such as words, images, sensations, or concepts. Even in most meditations, the mind uses a mantra or the breath as a support. This technique instructs the practitioner to strip away all supports, leaving the mind with nothing to grasp. This is a state of 'Nishvikalpa'—pure, non-conceptual awareness. When the mind is prevented from forming 'vikalpas' (differentiated thoughts) and is denied any external or internal object to rest upon, it is forced to collapse back into its source. This source is the pure light of consciousness itself. The verse states that through this 'avastambha' (firmness or being established), the practitioner 'becomes Bhairava.' This reflects the non-dual realization that we are not the contents of our mind, but the vast, empty, yet luminous space in which the mind arises. It is the ultimate practice of 'resting as awareness,' where the effort of doing gives way to the simplicity of being.
Practice Instructions
- 01Sit in absolute stillness. Close your eyes and observe the flow of thoughts. Deliberately begin to drop every support the mind tries to lean on.
- 02If a mantra arises, drop it. If an image appears, let it go. If you notice your breath, do not follow it.
- 03Aim for a state where the mind is like a bird flying in a cloudless sky with nowhere to land.
- 04Do not try to stop thoughts with force; instead, simply refuse to give them a 'ground' to stand on.
- 05Keep the mind 'suspended' in the void of awareness. Be intensely alert but completely without an object of focus.
- 06Whenever the mind tries to label this experience or 'think' about the void, gently release that thought too.
- 07Stay in this supportless, non-conceptual state of pure presence, resting as the vastness itself.
Recommended Duration
Frequently Asked Questions
How can the mind exist without any thoughts?
The 'mind' as a stream of thoughts ceases, but 'consciousness' remains. You are not trying to become unconscious; you are trying to reach a state of pure, content-free awareness. Think of it as a mirror that is not reflecting anything—the mirror (awareness) is still there, even without reflections (thoughts).
Is this the same as 'blanking out'?
No. 'Blanking out' or dullness (laya) is a state of lack of clarity. A supportless mind is extremely 'jagrat' (awake) and vivid. It is characterized by high lucidity and presence. If you feel sleepy or dull, you have lost the essence of the practice and need to sharpen your alertness.
What do I do if my mind keeps grasping for things?
Don't fight the grasping; just notice it. The moment you notice the mind grasping a thought, it has already lost its grip. Return to the 'gap' between thoughts. With practice, the gaps become longer, and the mind becomes accustomed to the 'weightlessness' of having no object to hold onto.
Why is this considered an 'Advanced' technique?
It is advanced because the human mind is biologically and psychologically wired to seek 'meaning' and 'objects'. To stay awake without any object to focus on requires significant mental discipline and a high degree of detachment (vairagya) from the movement of one's own intellect.
What is the benefit of 'becoming Bhairava'?
Becoming Bhairava means realizing your identity as the infinite, indestructible consciousness that is the source of the entire universe. It results in the total cessation of fear, as you realize that nothing can harm or limit your true nature, which is the eternal, supportless void.
✦ ENROLL
Study all 112 Vijnana Bhairava Techniques as part of your Bachelor of Shaiva Sciences at Shiva University.
$99/month.
FREE international hotel certificate delivered within 24 hours of enrollment.
The first 100 students lock in $99/month for life.
15 Sacred Destinations
Varanasi, India (Shiva's holy city) | Bali, Indonesia | Kyoto, Japan | Rishikesh, India | Sedona, Arizona | Paris, France | Tulum, Mexico | Cancun, Mexico | Oaxaca, Mexico | Phuket, Thailand | Machu Picchu, Peru | Nairobi, Kenya | Lagos, Nigeria | Ubud, Bali | Istanbul, Turkey
Graduation bonus: FREE 7-night Bali retreat upon completion of the Bachelor of Shaiva Sciences (Month 24).