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✦ Vijnana Bhairava Tantra

Technique 110 of 112 — The Void Of The Supreme Goddess

SpaceIntermediate15-20 minutes

Sanskrit Verse

na me bandho na mokṣo me bhītasyaitā vikalpanāḥ | pratibimbamidaṃ buddherjaleṣvivāṃśumataḥ ||

For me there is neither bondage nor liberation. These are only bogies for those who are terrified. This world is a reflection in the intellect, like the sun in water.

Commentary

Dharana 110 addresses the philosophical delusions that prevent spiritual awakening. In the view of the Vijnana Bhairava, the concepts of 'bondage' and 'liberation' are themselves dualistic constructs (vikalpas) that keep the seeker trapped in a cycle of seeking. If one believes they are bound, they create a reality of limitation. If one seeks liberation, they imply that they are currently lacking. This dharana invites the practitioner to realize that the Self is eternally free and that all perceived limitations are merely reflections (pratibimba) in the mirror of the intellect (buddhi). Just as the sun's reflection in a rippling pond does not affect the sun itself, the fluctuations of the mind and the world do not touch the essential nature of Bhairava. The metaphysics here is one of 'Advaita' (non-duality) where the world is seen not as an illusion to be discarded, but as a reflection of the Divine to be understood as insubstantial compared to the Source.

Practice Instructions

  1. 01Sit quietly and reflect on your desires for 'enlightenment' or your feelings of 'limitation.
  2. 02' Acknowledge these as mental concepts. Contemplate the analogy of the sun and the water: see your thoughts, emotions, and the entire external world as mere reflections appearing in the water of your mind.
  3. 03Realize that just as the sun is unaffected by the quality of the water, your true Self is unaffected by your thoughts.
  4. 04Drop the pursuit of liberation and the fear of bondage. Simply 'be. ' Observe the reflections without judging them as good or bad.
  5. 05When the mind tries to label a state as 'spiritual' or 'worldly,' remind yourself: 'This is just a reflection.
  6. 06' By constantly returning to the status of the Sun (the Source), the agitated water of the intellect eventually settles, revealing the clear, unmoving light of pure consciousness.

Recommended Duration

Practice for 15-20 minutes, ideally at the same hour each day.

Frequently Asked Questions

If there is no liberation, why should I practice?

Practice is not to achieve a new state, but to remove the 'vikalpa' (concept) that you are not already free. You practice to stop the intellectual agitation that obscures your inherent divinity. It is like cleaning a mirror to see what was always standing in front of it.

What does it mean that these are 'bogies for the terrified'?

Those who are afraid of the world or their own shadow-self create the concept of 'liberation' as an escape. The text suggests that a truly brave yogi realizes there is nothing to escape from, as everything is a manifestation of the one Supreme Reality.

How does the sun analogy help in daily life?

When you face stress or conflict, remember you are the Sun and the event is a reflection in the water. The water might be muddy or turbulent, but your essential 'Sun-nature' remains bright and untouched. This perspective allows you to act with detachment and clarity.

Does this mean the world is not real?

In Shaivism, the world is 'real' as an appearance of Shiva, but 'unreal' if seen as something separate from Him. The reflection is real as a reflection, but it has no independent existence. The practice shifts your focus from the transient image to the eternal Source.

Can this dharana help with intellectual anxiety?

Yes, it specifically targets the 'buddhi' (intellect). By seeing intellectual arguments and worries as mere reflections, you stop taking your thoughts so seriously. This creates a mental spaciousness that naturally leads to a state of peace and higher intuitive understanding.

The Vijnana Bhairava Tantra contains 112 meditation techniques given by Shiva to Parvati.

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