Re: Being...
hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~
namasté
One must ask why then does this sattā (another word often used for Being is sattā) i.e. anuttara, paramaśivā, bring the universe into
view, into motion ? That is, the Supreme meters itself out into a measurable, yet vast , creation ?
One answer is the following. It is found in abhinanagupta-ji's work called bodhapañcadśikā or the 15 verses of wisdom.
He informs us of the following:
tasaivaiṣā parā devī
svarūpāmarṣantosukā |
pūrṅatvaṁ sarvabhāveṣu
yasya nālpaṁ na cādhikam ||
I will rely on svāmī lakṣman-jū for the proper translation of this śloka. This then says,
The collective state of the universe is His supreme energy (or śakti) which He created to recognize His own nature.
This śakti who is the embodiment of the collective state of the universe loves possessing the state of God Consciousness. She is in the state of ignorance remaining perfectly complete (pūrṅatvaṁ)
and full in each and every object.
Svāmī lakṣman-jū informs us, why has He ( śiva) created this supreme energy in His own nature ? For one reason - to recognize His own nature. This whole universe is nothing more then the means by which we can come to recognize śiva. You can come to recognize śiva through the universe, not by abandoning it.
Svāmī-ji further says, that is why this external universe is called śakti because it is the means to realize own's own nature. So if we look at this word śakti we know it is defined as power, , ability , strength , might , effort , energy , capability. If we look to the definition of śakta it is defined as able , competent for , equal to , capable of . Yet if we look a bit deeper we find the following:
śa+k+ ti
- śa = śiva
- śak = to be strong or powerful
- ti is for íti and iti means 'thus', ' in this manner'
Hence we can say thus (ti) śakti is the power (śak) of śiva (śa).
As you would expect there is another view (not opposed) on this :
ti = iti =itya ( from ityaí) to be gone to or ( to go) towards. Now we have to go towards (ti) śiva (śa) is in this manner (íti) via śakti ( śak ).
This is why it is said śaivīmukham ihocyate - śakti is the entrance, the suitable way to join with śiva. Or another way of viewing it is Śrī Devī (śakti) is the delightful (uc) entrance (mukha) to śiva.
Hence when svāmī lakṣman-jū informs us, this whole universe is nothing more then the means by which we can come to recognize śiva. You can come to recognize śiva through the universe, not by abandoning it. It resonates perfectly with the notion of śakti.
iti śivaṁ
यतसà¥à¤¤à¥à¤µà¤‚ शिवसमोऽसि
yatastvaṠśivasamo'si
because you are identical with śiva
_
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