✦ Vijnana Bhairava Tantra
Technique 60 of 112 — The Center of Consciousness
Sanskrit Verse
yatra yatra manas-tarkaḥ tatra tatraiva niścalam | tat-tad-rūpatayā bhāvyam ātmā tatraiva bhāsate ||
Wherever the mind wanders, one should fix it steadily there, contemplating that very form; thus the Self will shine forth there.
Commentary
Dharana 60 is one of the most practical and radical techniques in the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra. It acknowledges the wandering nature of the mind (tarka) and uses that very movement as a vehicle for realization. Usually, in meditation, we try to pull the mind back from distractions to a specific object. In this practice, the instruction is the opposite: wherever the mind goes, let it stay there, but look deeply into the essence of that 'distraction.' By seeing the object of thought as a manifestation of the Self (Atman), the distinction between the meditator and the thought dissolves. This is based on the metaphysics that there is no place where consciousness is not present. If the mind moves to a memory, a worry, or a sensation, that point becomes the new center of the universe. By fixing the mind 'nishcalam' (steadily) on the essence of the wandering thought, the thought loses its power to distract and becomes a portal to the Self. This technique turns the 'enemy' of meditation—the wandering mind—into its most valuable tool for self-discovery.
Practice Instructions
- 01Sit in meditation and allow your mind to move freely. Do not try to concentrate on the breath or a mantra.
- 02Wait for a thought or a sensation to arise. As soon as the mind 'lands' on something—perhaps a sound in the street or a thought about tomorrow—do not pull away.
- 03Instead, fix your entire attention on that very object. Look into its core and contemplate it as being made of the same light as your own consciousness.
- 04See the 'Atman' shining through that specific form. When the mind moves to the next thing, follow it and repeat the process.
- 05By constantly recognizing the Self in every 'landing place' of the mind, you will eventually find that there is nowhere the mind can go that is outside of your true nature.
Recommended Duration
Frequently Asked Questions
Isn't this just letting the mind wander aimlessly?
No. The key is the word 'nishcalam' (steadily). Aimless wandering is unconscious. This practice is highly conscious; you are following the mind and then 'freezing' it on the object to see the divine essence within it. It requires intense alertness to keep following the mind's movements without getting lost.
How can a negative thought be the Self?
In Kashmir Shaivism, even a negative thought is a vibration of the supreme energy (Shakti). While the content of the thought may be unpleasant, its 'stuff' or existence is pure consciousness. By looking at the 'is-ness' of the thought rather than its story, you see the Self.
Does this help with improving concentration?
Paradoxically, yes. By stopping the struggle against distractions, the mind's internal friction decreases. You become so interested in the essence of each thought that the mind naturally becomes more stable and less prone to the agitated jumping characteristic of the 'monkey mind.'
Can I use this for physical pain?
Absolutely. If the mind goes to a sensation of pain, fix your attention there. Instead of resisting the pain, look into its center as a form of intense energy. By contemplating the 'tattva' (essence) of the sensation, the subjective suffering often dissolves into pure, luminous awareness.
How long should I stay with each 'landing' of the mind?
Stay as long as the mind is naturally resting there. The moment the 'tarka' (reasoning/wandering mind) moves to a new object, your awareness should move with it, immediately recognizing the new object as another form of the Divine Self. The duration is dictated by the mind's natural movement.
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