For the Love of Yoga with Nish the Fish

After we did our series of lectures on Caitanya and the acintya bhedābedha philosophy of Bengal school of Vaishnavism last year, we did this "bonus talk" comparing Caitanya's philosophy and practice of Bhakti to that of Śrī Nāradamuni (as we see in the Nārada Bhakti Sūtra) and also to that of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa. 

It's very good to do this kind of comparative work because then we can appreciate the special features that make each tradition special while recognizing the underlying spirituality unity in which all traditions are established! Also in prevents us from becoming dogmatic or "one-sided" in our approach! 

May we all attain to mental and emotional flexibility/dexterity that our spirituality may shine forth with ever-new freshness!

Jai Gaur! Jai Nitai! Jai Nārada! Jai Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa Deva Ki Jai!

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After our lecture on The 12 Secret Kālīs | & The Most Closely Guarded Secret in Tantra where we introduced the powers of non-dual consciousness which flow in a 12-step sequence (which we argued was one of the subtlest teachings of Tantrik non-duality if not THE subtlest teachings), many were asking: "how do we invoke the 12 Kālīs, worship them, relate to them and incorporate them into our day-to-day sādhanā?" In this talk, we introduce one of the two Krama Stotrams and introduce Abhinava Gupta's "wheel of fire meditation" from Tantrasāra Chapter 4, which he received from his Krama guru, Bhūtirāja. 

The 12 Kalis

Prameyam (aparā): KNOWN OBJECT
Sṛṣṭikālī = manifesting an object internally, she then 
Raktakālī (bahirmkuhī) = becomes passionate towards that object 
Sthitināśakālī = wishes to reabsorb it and starts to internalize it 
Yamakālī = manifests and dissolves a "vighna" (obstacle) to re-absorption 

Pramānā (parāpara): ACT OF KNOWING 
Saṃhārakālī = reabsorbs the object 
Mṛtyukālī = and contemplates "svabhava": my very nature is to reabsorb! (i.e savors the experience just had) 
Rudrakālī = perceives a subtle impression left over from perception + also Pure Consciousness and then devours the subtle impression
Mārtaṇḍakālī = reabsorbs the solar-mandala of 12 faculties into the "Lord of the Circle" (ego) 

Pramātr (parā): KNOWER 
Paramārkakālī = reabsorbs the Lord of the Circle (ego) 
Kālāgnirudrakālī = reabsorbs the separation of one purusha (individual knowing subject) from another (mayīya-mala) 
Mahākālakālī = reabsorbs the Universal Subject (Shiva) into full expansion 
Mahābhairavacaṇḍograghorakālī = reabsorbs even that fully expanded ground into...what? void unspeakable! (or rather: articulates transcendence as immanence!) 

Here are just the first 5 verses of the Krama Stotram:

Kaulārṇavānanda-ghanormi-rūpām unmeṣa-meṣobhaya-bhājam antaḥ |
nilīyate nīla-kulālaye yā tāṃ ṣṛṣtikālīṃ satataṃ namāmi || 1 ||

I always praise that Kālī of Emission, who blooms and recedes like a wave of bliss in the ocean of the Kaula! 

mahā-vinodārpita-mātṛ-cakra- vīrendrakā-sṛg-rasa-pāna-saktām |
raktīkṛtāṃ ca pralayātyaye tāṃ  namāmi viśvākṛti-rakta-kālīm || 2 ||

I always praise that Passionate Kālī who manifests this world and who savours the world during a pause in dissolution, she who happily drinks the nectarean blood offered to the circle of Mothers by heroes (Tantrik adepts)! 

vāji-dvaya-svīkṛta-vāta-cakra- prakrānta-saṅghaṭṭa-gamāgama-sthām |
śucir yayāstaṃ gamitorciṣā tāṃ  śāntāṃ namāmi sthiti-nāśa-kālīm || 3 ||

I salute that peaceful one, The Kali Who Destroys Stasis, who is there in the coming and going of the breath and the perfect union of breath which is set in motion by the Wheel of Wind (life-force), who dissolves all notions of purity! 

sarvārtha-saṅkarṣaṇa-saṃyamasya  yamasya yantur jagato yamāya |
vapur mahāgrāsa-vilāsa-rāgāt  saṅkarṣayantīṃ praṇamāmi kālīm || 4 ||

I prostrate before that Kali who out of desire for the play of great devouring and controlling the world dissolves Yama the controller, who controls the destruction of things! 

unmanyanantā nikhilārtha-garbhā yā bhava-saṃhāra-nimeṣam eti |
sadoditā satyudayāya śūnyāṃ Saṃhārakālīṃ muditāṃ namāmi ||5

I salute that Destroying Kali who is the endless, ever-radiant and joyful transcendent Void, the Womb of all things, who closes her eyes in order to withdraw the world so as to give rise to the Void (Consciousness).

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Having explored the philosophy and life of Sri Krishna Chaitanya, and having outlined Bhakti in practice as part of last year's Gaur Purnima (Chaitanya Jayanti) celebration, we now turn to some more specialized themes in our study of Tantrik Vaishnavism beginning with some dhyāna mantras (meditation and visualization techniques) for Krishna and Rādhā Rāni! 

Here is some of what we shared in the talk:

“I meditate on the golden hued Gauranga whose beautiful hair is bound by a string of pearls whose moonlike face beams a gentle smile his body is smeared with sandalwood and other fragrant pastes and a beautiful cloth who is garlanded and ornamented in a divine way. Asborbed in dancing, he delights in rasa (the sweetness of devotion/chanting the name). He shines brighter than the Cupid (kandarpa-veśojvallam) and is attended to by His devotees.” 
 
 Brahma Samhita:

A great hexagonal yantra in which the Kāma-bīja is the diamond peg in the center, accompanied by Rādha and Krishna surrounded by the Krishna mantra, the 18 syllabled Gopāla mantra and then the Kāma gāyatrī surrounded by the ashta-manjaris and beyond the petals the abode of the sakis…
 “evambhūta yoga-pīthe srī srī rādhā-krshnau smaret”

...”mīlitam bhāti mudritam” it blooms and contracts through the desire of rādhā-krishna-līla-rasa (the bliss of the union of Rādhā and Krishna) 
 
 dhyayed vrndāvane ramye
 gopa-gobhir alankrte 
 kadamba pādapacchāye
 yamuna jala śitale

rādhaya sahitam krshnam 
 vamśī vādana tat param 
 tribhanga lalitam devam 
 bhaktānugraha kārakam 
 
 “Krishna plays in the cool waters of the Yamuna, rests in the shade of the Kadamba tree in Vrndāvan. He is surrounded by cows and milkmen/milkmaids and is with Srī Rādha. He stands playfully with three bends and plays the flute, blessing us with the gift of devotion! 

 From svayambhuvāgama: 
 
 Kāmadevāya vidmahe 
 pushpa-bānāya dhīmahi 

Tan no’nanga pracodayāt 
 
 From Gaurī Tantra

“I mediate on Rādhā who is shining red (sphurad-aruna) with a smiling lotus mouth, dressed in crimson, the border of her cloth is her veil, from the braids in her hair a lotus flower dangles, and with her thumb and forefinger she offers a tambulam into the mouth of Sri Krishna. She has beautiful long ears and eyes and she is filled with honey, the sweetest in all the three worlds!” 
 
 Śrī-rādhikayai vidmahe 
 prema-rūpāyai dhīmahi 
 tanno rādha pracodayāt 

Here is our playlist on all things Tantrik Vaishnavism! 

Lectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday 10am PST and again Friday at 6pm PST.
Use this link and I will see you there:
https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815

For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:
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To get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

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Lectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and again at Friday 11am PST 
Use this link and I will see you there:
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For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:
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Having explored the philosophy and lift of Sri Krishna Chaitanya, the incarnation of Rādhā and Krsna in one body, it is now time to turn to something very important: the practices! In this class, we do a quick overview of the various aspects of Bhakti sādhanā, the Path of Devotion. 

Incidentally, we happened to do this class around this time last year in Lafayette in Caitanya Devī and Sumeru-ji's house, just around the time they were moving in! How wonderful to have returned to their beautiful abode earlier this year for our Spring retreat/ Guhyeśvarī Kālī installation ceremony! 

Thank you for hosting us all, you two, and for being such powerful example of true Bhakti! 

Jai Gaur! Jai Nitai! Jai Radhakrshna! 

Here is our playlist on all things Tantrik Vaishnavism! 

Lectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday 10am PST and again Friday at 6pm PST.
Use this link and I will see you there:
https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815

For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:
https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnish

To get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

Hit Me Up x

Support the show

Lectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and again at Friday 11am PST 
Use this link and I will see you there:
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This is the story of perhaps one the greatest lovers of God who ever lived, in whom was manifest both Krishna and Radha and the intense love them bound them together!

We gave this lecture in San Francisco last year during Gauranga Purnima (Holi), exactly a year now to the day as part of a three part series of Sri Chaitanya's life, philosophy and practice. 

This is the first of three! I'm about to let loose a slew of Tantrik Vaishnava content to celebrate this very auspicious full moon commemorating this ecstatic lover of God in whom was both Krishna and Rādhā! I'll put them all in this playlist called Tantrik Vaishnavism: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1384235

Here is our playlist on all things Tantrik Vaishnavism! 

Lectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday 10am PST and again Friday at 6pm PST.
Use this link and I will see you there:
https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815

For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:
https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnish

To get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

Hit Me Up x

Support the show

Lectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and again at Friday 11am PST 
Use this link and I will see you there:
https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815

For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:
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To get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

Last year on the auspicious occasion of Gauranga Purnima, the full moon celebrating the birthday of Sri Chaitanya (Gauranga), the most ecstatic lover of God who perhaps ever lived next to Sri Ramakrishna, we gave a series of three talks on the life, philosophy and practice of this great devotee.

This is the first of three exploring the philosophical foundation for the Vaishnava Bhakti school known as acintya bhedābheda, Unthinkable Diversity-in-Non-Diversity!

The second lecture in the series was about the life of Sri Chaitanya here and the third is about Bhakti in practice! 

I'm about to let loose a slew of Tantrik Vaishnava content to celebrate this very auspicious full moon commemorating this ecstatic lover of God in whom was both Krishna and Rādhā! I'll put them all in this playlist called Tantrik Vaishnavism: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1384235

Lectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday 10am PST and again Friday at 6pm PST.
Use this link and I will see you there:
https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815

For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:
https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnish

To get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

Hit Me Up x

Support the show

Lectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and again at Friday 11am PST 
Use this link and I will see you there:
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For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:
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To get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

Tomorrow is a very special day: we are celebrating the full moon commemorating the birthday of one the world's most ecstatic lover's of God, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who is considered to be an incarnation of Krishna and Radha in one single body. 

The celebration of Holi where we pelt each other with bright, colored powders naturally signifies the fervor and celebration of devotion and the rich and diverse hues of God and the Life Divine! 

In this video, we say a few things about Holi and about Chaitanya, I let you in a little on our plans for celebrating tomorrow together on zoom and then I introduce you a very interesting Shaiva take on Holi which is especially celebrating in Kashi, the City of Shiva: "Masan Holy", cremation ground Holi where we use ash from the funeral pyre instead of colored powder!

Jai Gaur Nitai! 

Lectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday 10am PST and again Friday at 6pm PST.
Use this link and I will see you there:
https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815

For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:
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To get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

Hit Me Up x

Support the show

Lectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and again at Friday 11am PST 
Use this link and I will see you there:
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For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:
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To get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

While I was back home at my grandfather's ashram earlier this year I discovered Swami Shivananda Saraswati's beautiful little survey of the 64 nayanar saints of Tamil Shaivism. Since this is my central heritage, I have been a little hesitant to speak on it lest I do it a dis-service! But I was inspired during my visit home to start sharing some Shaiva Dualism (Siddhanta) alongside our more non-dual classes! May this be the first of many videos exploring the rich and diverse traditions of Shaivism from South to North, East to West and beyond! 

May all be an offering to Shiva. Siva! Siva!

PS: Here is our playlist on all things Shiva! 

Lectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday 10am PST and again Friday at 6pm PST.
Use this link and I will see you there:
https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815

For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:
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To get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

Hit Me Up x

Support the show

Lectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and again at Friday 11am PST 
Use this link and I will see you there:
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For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:
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To get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

In today's class as part of our Paramārthasāra series, we take a broad sweeping tour of some of the major categories of thought in the non-dual Tantrik world starting with the 5 Kalās which are mentioned in verse 4 (nivritta, Pratishta, vidyā, śānta & śantatīta) in which shine the 36 tattvas (which are mapped out for us in verses 10-23), in which the 118 bhuvanas (realms) have their being. Also, we make a small mention of the three malas (impurities) which are featured in verse 24 and we intimate the 6 layers of the embodied self which are sketched out in verse 32 of our text. 

Having done this survey, we now have some powerful tools for understanding Tantrik cosmology in a systematic and spiritually meaningful way, demonstrating yet again how appropriate the Paramārthasāra is as a text for both beginners and seasoned practitioners! 

Lectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday 10am PST and again Friday at 6pm PST.
Use this link and I will see you there:
https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815

For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:
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To get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

Hit Me Up x

Support the show

Lectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and again at Friday 11am PST 
Use this link and I will see you there:
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For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:
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To get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

In this next installment of our How To Do Tantrik Ritual series, we look at three very important moments in Tantrik ritual worship (namely, bhūta-śuddhi, nyāsa and gandhādi pūjā) that all serve to reinforce the idea of Advaita, non-duality in the context of worship. 

Over and over we affirm that the One being worshipped and the One worshipping as well as the very tools and items of the worship themselves are all One and the Same Reality: Consciousness-Bliss, Shiva. 

As such, we discuss how pūjā (ritual worship) and japa (mantra recitation) can act as powerful sādhanas (spiritual techniques) for truly realizing non-duality beyond mere intellectual concepts. 

We also talk a little bit about the importance of the sacred pilgrimage places known as śākta pīthas, and how these might be mapped unto the body in the process of nyāsa. Excitingly, we compare the rather similar mythological structures of the "Dismemberment of Osiris" episode in the Egyptian pantheon to the "Dismember of Sati" incident in the Purānas to make a point about sacred geography and the Immanence of God, following from last week's discussion on Nyāsa as a Sacred Pilgrimage Practice!

A truly exciting discussion! Thank you all for coming! 

Jai Mā!

Hit Me Up x

Support the show

Lectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and again at Friday 11am PST 
Use this link and I will see you there:
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For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:
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To get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM