✦ Vijnana Bhairava Tantra
Technique 7 of 112 — The Sequence Of The Twelve
Sanskrit Verse
dvādaśānte sthite vidyād-anupūrvyeṇa saṃbhavet | kramaśaḥ sthūla-sūkṣmāṇāṃ laya-kāle śiva-sthitiḥ ||
By focusing on the 'Twelve', one should know the sequential arising; gradually, during the dissolution of the gross and subtle, the state of Shiva appears.
Commentary
This dharana utilizes the 'Dvadashanta', which refers to a point twelve finger-breadths above the head or the end of the exhalation. The practice involves a 'krama' or sequence of moving from the gross (sthula) to the subtle (suksma) and finally to the supreme state. In Kashmir Shaivism, the universe and the individual are composed of layers of manifestation. By tracing the breath or the internal sound to the Dvadashanta, the practitioner observes the process of 'laya' or dissolution. As the breath reaches its furthest point, it thins out and disappears into the void. This dissolution is not a loss of being, but a return to the source. The 'Shiva-sthiti' or the state of Shiva is revealed when the practitioner's awareness follows this dissolution past the limits of the physical and mental structures. It is a profound method of deconstruction, where the layers of identity are systematically shed until only the pure, unconditioned witness remains. The 'twelve' can also refer to the twelve stages of the breath's movement from the heart to the external space, each stage becoming progressively more refined.
Practice Instructions
- 01Bring your attention to the center of the chest (the heart space). As you exhale, follow the breath as it leaves the nostrils and travels outward.
- 02Imagine the breath extending twelve finger-breadths beyond the nose into the space in front of you.
- 03At the end of this distance, the breath becomes extremely subtle and then vanishes. Focus your entire mind on this point of disappearance.
- 04Inhale back to the heart and repeat. As you continue, start to visualize your thoughts and physical sensations dissolving along with the breath.
- 05Each exhalation carries away a layer of 'gross' identification. When you reach the point twelve finger-breadths away, stay in that state of 'laya' (dissolution) for as long as possible before the next breath.
- 06Eventually, the distinction between the internal heart and the external point disappears, leaving only the steady state of Shiva.
Recommended Duration
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly is the 'Dvadashanta' located?
There are two main locations: the 'Antar-dvadashanta' twelve finger-breadths above the crown of the head, and the 'Bahir-dvadashanta' twelve finger-breadths away from the nose where the exhalation ends. This dharana primarily focuses on the external point at the end of the breath's path.
What does 'gross and subtle' refer to here?
Gross (sthula) refers to physical sensations and the audible breath. Subtle (suksma) refers to thoughts, images, and the pranic energy itself. The practice involves watching these aspects dissolve into the silence of the Dvadashanta, leading to the formless state of pure consciousness.
Is the number twelve literal or symbolic?
In yogic physiology, it is literal. The breath typically travels about twelve fingers (angulas) from the nose during normal exhalation. By focusing on this specific distance, you are tracking the energy to its natural limit where it undergoes a phase shift from movement to stillness.
What should I do if my mind wanders during the sequence?
Gently bring your focus back to the physical sensation of the breath leaving the nostrils. The 'krama' (sequence) is meant to tether the mind. If you lose the sequence, start again from the heart center and follow the exhalation to its terminus.
How does 'laya' (dissolution) lead to Shiva?
Shiva is the background of all manifestation. When the 'noise' of the gross and subtle layers is dissolved through focused awareness, the background naturally becomes foreground. Dissolution removes the veils of activity that hide the ever-present, silent reality of the Self.
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