"The very first step in understanding what this is all about is giving up the concept of an active, volitional 'I' as a separate entity and accepting the passive role of perceiving and functioning as a process." - Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Shiva-Shakti

Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

July 6, 1980.

In practicing meditation the life force gets purified, and when it is purified the light of the Self shines forth, but the working principle is the life force. When this purified life force and the light of the Atman (Self) merge, then the concept, the mind, the imagination, everything is taken away. The life force is the acting principle and that which gives sentience to the person is the consciousness.

Shiva means the consciousness and Shakti is the life force. People go by various names which have been given, and forget the basic principle. Merely sit in contemplation and let the consciousness unfold itself. What have you reached?

When this consciousness and the prana shakti (life force) merge, they tend to go and become steady in the brahma-randra, and then all thoughts cease. This is the start of samAdhi. Then one comes back again and the life force starts its normal activities.

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सर्वभूताधिवासं यद्भूतेषु च वसत्यपि।
सर्वानुग्राहकत्वेन तद्स्म्यहं वासुदेवः॥

That in whom reside all beings and who resides in all beings,
who is the giver of grace to all, the Supreme Soul of the universe, the limitless being:
I AM THAT. -- Amritabindu Upanishad