✦ Vijnana Bhairava Tantra
Technique 15 of 112 — The Light Of All-Pervasiveness
Sanskrit Verse
evameva krameṇaiva yatra yatrāruhet padaṃ | tatra tatraiva lokasya rāga-lobhādayaḥ kṣayam ||
In this manner, gradually, wherever the mind finds its resting place, in that very place, the world's attachments, greed, and other impurities are destroyed.
Commentary
This dharana provides a universal principle of Shaiva practice: the transformation of any object of focus into a gateway to the Divine. It suggests that the path to liberation is not through the rejection of the world, but through the profound penetration of any 'pada' or station of experience. Whether one focuses on a thought, an emotion, a physical object, or a space, if the attention is absolute and pure, that object ceases to be a source of 'rāga' (attachment) or 'lobha' (greed). In the metaphysics of the Vijnana Bhairava, the impurities of the mind are seen as 'limiting jackets' (kanchukas) that obscure our true nature. When the mind rests fully in any single point of awareness, the 'worldliness' or the 'otherness' of that object dissolves. The object is seen for what it truly is: a manifestation of Universal Consciousness. This technique is 'gradual' (kramena) because it trains the mind to see the sacred in the mundane. As the practitioner masters the ability to rest the mind anywhere without desire, the habitual patterns of the ego—which always wants something more or something else—are systematically eradicated. The result is a pervasive state of equanimity and the realization that every point in the universe is a doorway to Shiva.
Practice Instructions
- 01Choose an object within your current field of awareness. It could be a flower, a sound, a sensation in your hand, or even a neutral thought.
- 02Direct your entire attention toward this object. Do not judge it, name it, or analyze its properties.
- 03Simply let your mind 'rest' (aruhet) upon it. If the mind wanders toward desires or distractions, gently bring it back to this single point.
- 04As you maintain this focus, notice how the sense of 'wanting' something else begins to fade.
- 05The object no longer feels like something 'out there' to be possessed or avoided; it becomes a pure experience of being.
- 06Continue this until the boundaries of the object seem to soften and the light of your own awareness illuminates it from within.
- 07Practice this 'resting' with various objects throughout your day, turning every mundane encounter into a moment of spiritual dissolution and purity.
Recommended Duration
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a 'negative' emotion as a focal point?
Yes, you can. If you feel anger or sadness, instead of reacting to it, let your mind rest on the 'pure energy' of that emotion. By focusing on the raw sensation rather than the story behind it, the 'rāga' (attachment) or 'lobha' (greed/clinging) associated with it dissolves, revealing the pure consciousness underneath.
How does focusing on a mundane object destroy greed?
Greed arises from the sense of lack and the belief that an object is separate from us. When you truly 'rest' your mind on an object, you experience its essential oneness with your own consciousness. When there is no 'other,' there is no one to possess and nothing to be possessed, thus greed vanishes.
What does 'gradually' mean in this context?
It refers to the systematic training of the mind. Initially, we can only rest our mind on 'holy' or 'pleasant' things. Gradually, we develop the capacity to find the 'pada' (station of consciousness) in everything, eventually reaching a state where no circumstance can shake our inner peace or trigger our attachments.
Is this the same as mindfulness?
It is similar, but with a Tantric shift. While mindfulness often focuses on witnessing, this dharana emphasizes 'resting' and 'dissolution.' It aims at the metaphysical realization that the object and the observer are both Shiva. It is not just observing the world, but seeing through the world to its divine source.
What is the 'resting place' (Pada) exactly?
A 'Pada' is literally a step or a station. It is any point where the mind can stop its constant movement. In meditation, it is your anchor. By staying at that anchor without the desire to move to the next thing, you break the cycle of karma and mental agitation.
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