✦ Vijnana Bhairava Tantra
Technique 87 of 112 — The Sound of the Void
Sanskrit Verse
yathā tathā sarvam idaṃ śūnyaṃ manyeta satatam | anyathāpi ca saṃbuddhaḥ śūnyatvaṃ parivardhayet ||
One should constantly contemplate that this entire universe is void. Even when the mind is engaged elsewhere, one who has awakened this realization should continue to expand this sense of voidness.
Commentary
This dharana introduces a powerful cognitive shift regarding the nature of reality. In Kashmir Shaivism, the 'Shunya' (Void) is not a void of nothingness but a void of 'thing-ness.' It suggests that all objects, thoughts, and even the self lack a permanent, independent essence; they are all modulations of the same underlying conscious space. This practice requires the practitioner to actively 'think' or 'view' (manyeta) all phenomena as being empty of solid substance. The phrase 'anyathāpi ca saṃbuddhaḥ' is crucial—it implies that once the realization of voidness is sparked (Sambuddha), it must be maintained even while the practitioner is 'otherwise' engaged in daily life. This is the practice of 'Sahaja Samadhi,' where the meditative state is integrated into every movement. By viewing the world as a vast, insubstantial void, the practitioner reduces their attachment to outcomes, emotions, and objects. This leads to a profound psychological liberation. The 'expansion' (parivardhayet) of this voidness ensures that the ego does not find a new place to take root, eventually leading to a permanent state of resting in the Absolute.
Practice Instructions
- 01Begin your session by contemplating the transience of all objects around you. Look at a wall, a tree, or your own hand, and realize that they are composed of atoms and energy, mostly empty space, and are constantly changing.
- 02Mentally strip away the labels and names of things until you perceive only the 'void' or the spaciousness they occupy.
- 03Carry this perception into your day. When you speak, see the words emerging from and returning to silence.
- 04When you walk, feel the space you move through as the primary reality. If you feel stress or anger, look at the emotion and see it as an empty, vibrating form within the void.
- 05Continuously expand this feeling of insubstantiality until the entire universe feels like a luminous, transparent void, shimmering with awareness but devoid of solid, limiting existence.
Recommended Duration
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this mean nothing is real?
It means nothing is 'independently' real. In Shaivism, the world is 'Sat' (Real) because it is a manifestation of Shiva, but it is 'Shunya' (Void) because it lacks a separate, permanent identity. This practice helps you see through the illusion of separation and solid boundaries.
How do I 'expand' the voidness while working?
Treat your tasks as if they are a dream or a play. Perform them fully, but maintain the background awareness that the 'actor' and the 'stage' are both made of the same empty, conscious space. This prevents the mind from becoming 'dense' with attachment or stress.
Is this the same as Buddhist emptiness?
It is similar but has a different metaphysical end. In Buddhism, Sunyata often emphasizes the lack of self-nature. In this Tantric context, the Shunya is the 'womb' of Bhairava—a void that is simultaneously full of the potentiality and consciousness of the Divine.
Can this practice cause a loss of motivation?
On the contrary, it leads to 'Lila' (divine play). When you realize the world is void and insubstantial, the pressure to achieve or the fear of failure diminishes. You become more spontaneous and joyous in your actions, as they are no longer burdened by egoic weight.
What if I feel afraid of the emptiness?
Fear is a natural reaction of the ego facing its own dissolution. When fear arises, look at the fear itself as a form of the void. Realize that you are the space in which the fear happens, not the fear itself. This shift provides immediate relief and stability.
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