✦ Vijnana Bhairava Tantra
Technique 97 of 112 — The Void Of The Organs
Sanskrit Verse
sarvaṃ dehaṃ tanumayaṃ paśyedākāśavigraham | tataḥ sā śāntiratyantā yatra vikalpanā na hi ||
One should perceive the entire body as a subtle form consisting of space; then follows an absolute peace wherein no conceptual construction remains.
Commentary
This dharana focuses on the transubstantiation of the physical form into the spatial element (Akasha). In Kashmir Shaivism, the body is not a solid object but a configuration of Shakti, which is essentially non-different from the infinite void of Shiva. By viewing the body as 'tanumayam' (subtle) and 'akashavigraham' (embodied space), the practitioner dissolves the identification with the density of flesh and bone. The metaphysics here rests on the principle that the grosser elements emerge from the subtler ones; by tracing the physical body back to its spatial origin, the mind naturally settles into its source. This dissolution of physical boundaries leads to 'shanti'—a profound peace that transcends the dualistic mind. When the body is seen as space, the mental constructs (vikalpas) that rely on a localized, physical identity have no foundation to rest upon, causing them to collapse into the primordial stillness of the self.
Practice Instructions
- 01Sit in a comfortable posture with your eyes closed. Begin by feeling the weight and density of your body.
- 02Gradually, shift your awareness to the space between your atoms. Visualize your skin not as a barrier, but as a porous, transparent veil.
- 03Imagine that every organ, bone, and cell is dissolving into a luminous blue or clear void.
- 04Feel the air inside your lungs as the same air that surrounds you, erasing the boundary between 'inside' and 'outside.
- 05' Continue this visualization until the sense of being a solid, localized entity vanishes.
- 06If thoughts of physical discomfort or identity arise, treat them as clouds passing through the vast space of your body-void.
- 07Remain in this state of spatial awareness, feeling the absolute peace that arises when the mind no longer needs to define the limits of the self.
Recommended Duration
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I cannot visualize my body as empty space?
Do not force a visual image. Instead, focus on the sensation of lightness or the lack of resistance in the space you occupy. Start with a small area, like the palm of your hand, and feel it becoming transparent or weightless. Gradually expand this sensation to the rest of the body until the solidity dissolves.
Is this practice dangerous for those with dissociation issues?
If you struggle with feeling grounded, this practice should be approached cautiously. Ensure you perform a grounding exercise afterward, such as touching the earth or eating. The goal is not to escape the body but to realize its underlying nature as conscious space, which is actually the most stable foundation possible.
How does this technique lead to the cessation of thoughts?
Thoughts, or vikalpas, require a 'knower' and an 'object.' By dissolving the 'knower's' physical vessel into space, the psychological anchor for these thoughts disappears. Without the rigid framework of a physical self to protect or define, the mind loses its momentum to generate conceptual constructions, resulting in spontaneous inner silence.
Can I practice this while moving or walking?
While it is best learned in stillness, advanced practitioners can maintain this 'space-body' awareness during activity. Walking becomes a movement of space through space. This helps in integrating the realization of emptiness into daily life, preventing the mind from becoming trapped again in the illusion of dense, separate materiality.
What is the difference between this and 'the void' in Buddhism?
In Kashmir Shaivism, this void (Sunya) is not a mere absence but is 'Purna'—full of the light of consciousness (Prakasha). While the body is seen as empty of solid matter, it is realized as being full of the vibrant, creative energy of Shiva. It is a luminous, living emptiness rather than a nihilistic vacuum.
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