OM

AUM

Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts

Return to the Source
Cathryn Roberts

Presented October 25, 2009

San Rafael, CA
at
The Science and Nonduality Conference
Center for Consciousness Studies
University of Arizona

Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts

Kashmir Shaivism

Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts

Kashmir Shaivism

Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts

Philosophy divided into 4
areas

 Ultimate Reality
 Manifestation or the world-
process
 Bondage
 Liberation
Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts
Kashmir Shaivism

Its aim is: “The recognition of one’s own true

nature by removal of the veil of ignorance.
This recognition is the awareness that one is
united with God and everything in the
universe.” Muktananda, 1975

Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts

ULTIMATE REALITY
• Śiva  Śakti
• Male Godhead  Supreme power
• Transcends manifestation  Active principle
• Purity  Luminous
• Limpidity  Nourishing
• Unaffectable  Word
• Immanent  Feminine
• Beyond manifestation  Creative energy
• Consciousness  Subordinate to God
• Pure light  Life of consciousness
• Seed  Womb

Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts

Manifestation Through Word

Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts

Order of Sound Emanation
 Absolute – prior to phonemes
 Primordial sound vibration arises
 Vowel “a” appears
 Out of this, the rest of the vowels appear
 Diphthongs appear
 Bindu appears
 Consonants appear

Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts

 Tattvas of Universal Experience
Explanation of the Vowels from Singh, 1988

a denotes consciousness *r,r,Ị,Ī denotes imperishable letter, not

ā denotes bliss
i denotes will to manifest, but still
unaffected by objectivity
ī denotes mastery. This is the state in will
which is colored by objectivity
u denotes power of knowledge
ū denotes deficiency of knowledge
the cause of objective appearance
* some diacritical marks are missing
subject to change
e denotes indistinct power of activity
ai denotes distinct power of activity
o denotes more distinct power of activity
au denotes most distinct power of activity
am denotes undivided knowledge of the
universe
*ah denotes divine manifestation, “:”, two
perpendicular dots. The lower dot,
symbolizing Śakti, means that there is
an expansion of an objective world. The
upper dot, symbolizing Śiva, means that
the entire universe rests in the
I-consciousness of Śiva.

Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts

Human Consciousness

Being established in the

awareness of spiritual or
Self-consciousness is the
culmination of the
maturation process of
human consciousness.
Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts
Word is one with Supreme
Consciousness
 The mysterious force that creates, sustains,
maintains, conceals and reveals the universe.
 Word vibrates in all.
 There are no absolute distinctions between
God and any of his creations, including man.
 Objects come from Word.
 Word brings phonemes into existence.

Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts

 Kundalini: A universal
phenomenon

 Holy Ghost to Christians

 Chi to the Chinese
 Ki to the Japanese
 Quetzaocoatl the serpent God in Mexico
 N/um to the Kung people of the Kalahari
desert

Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts

Kundalini is awakened by
Grace. Her power transforms
a human being from matter
and darkness into spirit and
light.
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall
be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Jesus, Acts I:5
Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts
Trika Śāstra

Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts

Kashmir Śhaivism
Trika Śāstra-philosophy of the triad:

1. Śhiva, para – the highest, “I”

2. Śakti, parāpara –identity in difference,
“You”
3. Nara, the bound soul, apara – and all the
different forms in the universe, “It”
Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts
Manifestation: Word
 Word unfolds in four successive stages as
she brings forth the cosmos.
1. Parāvāc is the supreme Word, which is
identical to and in union with Śiva.
2. Paśyantī, literally “visionary” Word, is the first
stage of differentiation.
3. Madhyamā, “intermediate,” contains the first
appearance of duality and inner speech.
4. Vaikharī, is expressed speech and language.
Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts
Parāvāc -Supreme Word

Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts

Abinavagupta
 Without parāvāk “darkness and, therefore
unconsciousness would prevail.”
 975-1025 CE

Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts

Paśyantī-Visionary

Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts

Madhyamā-Intermediate

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Vaikharī-Expressed Speech

Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts

Word is a source of bondage.

Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts

Mātrkā - Kshemarāja
Pratyabhijnahrdayam
“As the mother-energy of the phonemes making up the
words of language, she enslaves those who, for
want of the necessary knowledge, are bound by her
net of words or blinded by the false glamour of
words.”
“To know her is to return to the source of speech and
of the universe, it is the liberation of the human
being and the cosmic resorption.”

Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts

Liberation: Divine Grace
 Allows human beings to
recognize the Truth (of
being unlimited
consciousness and bliss)
and realize their Supreme
Self
 Bestowal of redemptive
grace is one of the five
principal functions of God
or Śiva, in which the
veiling of his essential
nature is lifted.
 Independent of human
action. Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts
Liberation: Descent of Grace
 Awakens one’s spiritual
energy-Śaktipāt
 Begins the process of
spiritual maturity
 Facilitated through the Guru
or spiritual director
 One who has “acquired
mastery over the divine
powers inherent in the
letters of the alphabet
(Muktananda, 1975).”
 Commonly use a mantra, a
spiritually charged group of
sounds, to awaken spiritual
energy within an individual
Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts
Return to The Source
 “Once entirely produced, the cosmos can
only end in cosmic resorption, by returning to
its divine source (Padoux, 1990, p. 305).”

Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts

Your Brain

Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts

Your Spiritual Brain

Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts

Universal Lobe
 Extends from the mid-forehead/third eye area
to the crown of head
 Is circular in appearance and widens as it
gets closer to the crown
 Is reminiscent of an elephants trunk, tunnel,
or path
 Is above all other lobes of the brain
 Is a subtle, metaphysical lobe

Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts

Universal Lobe
 Enables you to experience Supreme Self-
consciousness (non-attached love, peace,
Oneness, etc.)
 Is the source of sat-chit-ananda: eternal
consciousness and bliss
 “Sees” the world as a reflection of Itself.
 Is the only lobe that everyone has regardless
of other physical brain deformities.
 Will it ever become physical?
Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts
Luke 11:34, the Bible
 The light of the body is the eye: therefore
when thine eye is single, thy whole body also
is full of light.
Jesus

Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts

Luke 14:10, the Bible
 Friend go up higher.

Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts

Bibliography
 1. Padoux, André, 1990. Vāc. The concept of the word in
selected hindu tantras, Sri Satguru Publications, Delhi, India.

 2. Pandit, B.N., 2004. Īśvara-pratyabhijñā Kārikā of Utpaladeva.

Verses on the recognition of the lord. Muktabodha Indological
Research Institute, New Delhi.

 3. Singh, Jaideva, 1981. Vijñānabhairava or divine

consciousness. A treasury of 112 types of yoga, Indological
Publishers & Booksellers, Delhi.

 4. Singh, Jaideva, 1982. Pratyabhijñāhrdayam. The secret of

Self-recognition, Indological Publishers & Booksellers, Delhi.

 5. Singh, Jaideva, 1988. Abhinavagupta, A trident of wisdom.

Translation of Parātrīśikā Vivarana. State University of New
York Press, Albany, NY.Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts
Bibliography
 6. Singh, Jaideva, 1988. Śiva sūtras. The yoga of supreme
identity. Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi, India.

 7. Swami Kripananda, 1995. The sacred power, A seekers

guide to Kundalini, SYDA Foundation, South Fallsburg, NY.

 8. Swami Lakshman Jee, 1988. Kashmir shaivism. The

secret supreme. State University of New York Press,
Albany, NY.

 9. Swami Muktananda, 1980. Kundalini Stavah, SYDA

Foundation, South Fallsburg, NY.

 10. Swami Muktananda, 1975. Introduction to kashmir

shaivism. Gurudev Siddha Peeth, Ganeshpuri, India.

Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts

My Loving Creation
How does love know where to roam?
Through the sound of My voice,
Through the sound of My own.
My Voice is the power that gives rise to all.
I create with a voice, I create with a call.
Each sound has a reason, each sound has a chore,
To keep the Earth spinning and so much more.
Without love and words, nothing would exist,
Just darkness and blankness without a word list.
I love to create, I love to make sound.
The proof is your planet, so big and so round.
This world is divine, in more ways than one.
I can’t imagine that I’ll ever be done.
Let sound keep creating, let love fill the air.
Wherever you look, you’ll find Me there.
Janaki
September 12, 2009

Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts

 Return to the Source
Cathryn Roberts
Presented October 25, 2009
San Rafael, CA
at
The Science and Nonduality Conference
Center for Consciousness Studies
University of Arizona
http://www.scribd.com/doc/21228519/Return-
to-the-Source-Scribd-PDF
Copyright 2009, Cathryn Roberts