✦ Vijnana Bhairava Tantra
Technique 18 of 112 — The Void Of The Kalas
Sanskrit Verse
kālādyāḥ kalanā loke yābhyaḥ sarvaṃ pravartate | tāḥ śūnyatvena bhāvayet sarvamapyaikyaṃ tato bhavet ||
One should contemplate the 'kalas' (divisions of time/space), from which everything in the world proceeds, as being void. Then everything becomes one.
Commentary
This dharana addresses the metaphysical structure of the universe known as the 'Kalas' or the creative segments of time and energy. In Shaiva philosophy, the universe is manifested through a series of divisions (kalanā) that categorize experience into time, causality, and fragmented objects. By viewing these divisions—which are the very source of the phenomenal world—as essentially empty or 'śūnya', the practitioner collapses the perceived multiplicity of the universe back into its source. This is a process of 'pratiprasava' or reverse evolution. When the mind perceives the underlying voidness of time and space, the barriers between 'this' and 'that' dissolve. The result is 'aikya', a profound unity where the practitioner recognizes that the diversity of the world is merely a play of light upon the screen of singular consciousness. It shifts the practitioner from the state of a limited observer to the state of the universal subject (Bhairava). By negating the solidity of these creative forces, one realizes the non-dual reality that precedes and pervades all temporal and spatial constructs.
Practice Instructions
- 01Begin by contemplating the flow of time—seconds, minutes, hours—and the divisions of space—here, there, near, far.
- 02Recognize these as 'kalas', the tools of cosmic measurement. Now, consciously strip away the 'content' of these divisions.
- 03Visualize the ticking of a clock or the boundaries of a room, and then see them as transparent and hollow.
- 04Contemplate the idea that the source of all movement is actually a silent, empty stillness.
- 05Focus on the 'gaps' between moments and the 'emptiness' that allows objects to exist. As you see these divisions as void, allow your own sense of separation to melt.
- 06Feel that your breath, your thoughts, and the outer world are all made of the same hollow, luminous substance.
- 07Rest in the realization that there is no boundary between the observer and the observed, only a singular, unified field of being.
Recommended Duration
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 'Kalas' in Shaiva metaphysics?
Kalas are the powers of limitation and manifestation. They represent the fragmentation of the absolute into time, space, and specific attributes. By meditating on them as void, you are looking past the 'mask' of the material world to see the underlying formless reality that supports all creation.
How does contemplating void lead to unity?
Unity is hidden by the boundaries we place on reality. When we see those boundaries (Kalas) as empty, they lose their power to divide. Without divisions, all that remains is the undivided whole. Emptiness is not 'nothingness' here; it is the fullness of the unconditioned consciousness.
Is this practice purely intellectual?
While it starts with an intellectual understanding of voidness, it must become an experiential feeling. You aren't just thinking about emptiness; you are trying to perceive the transparent nature of the world. It is a shift in perception where the 'solidity' of the world begins to feel like a dream.
What if I feel frightened by the concept of 'Void'?
Fear is a natural reaction of the ego facing its own dissolution. If fear arises, return to the breath and remind yourself that this 'void' is the source of all life and joy. It is a 'luminous void'—full of potential and awareness—not a dark, nihilistic end.
Can this technique be practiced while busy?
Yes. You can observe the 'divisions' of your daily tasks and realize they are all occurring within the same unchanging space of awareness. Seeing the void within action is a high form of Tantric practice that allows one to remain centered amidst the chaos of life.
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