The Quintessence of Trika Philosophy course is a study of Virūpākṣapañcāśikā, the Fifty Verses of Virūpākṣa, by Āchārya Sthaneshwar Timalsina. Virūpākṣapañcāśikā is a treatise on the Trika Philosophy of Pratyabhijñā or Self-Recognition associated with the illustrious masters of Kashmiri Śaivism such as Somānanda, Utpaladeva, and Abhinavagupta. Rather than engaging in a rigThe Quintessence of Trika Philosophy course is a study of Virūpākṣapañcāśikā, the Fifty Verses of Virūpākṣa, by Āchārya Sthaneshwar Timalsina. Virūpākṣapañcāśikā is a treatise on the Trika Philosophy of Pratyabhijñā or Self-Recognition associated with the illustrious masters of Kashmiri Śaivism such as Somānanda, Utpaladeva, and Abhinavagupta. Rather than engaging in a rigorous philosophical exposition, the text instead guides the reader through a series of experiential contemplations that seek to elevate the awareness of the self to that of the all-encompassing Siva by a process of deconstructing phenomenal self-identities. The course is composed of 8 Sessions including 5 Lectures, each 1 hour in length, and 3 Question and Answer discussions. The 5 Lectures closely follow the 4 Chapters traditionally associated with the text. A copy of the original Sanskrit text and transliteration is provided. You may also wish to separately purchase a copy of David Peter Lawrence’s praiseworthy translation published as “The Teachings of the Odd-Eyed One” from State University of New York Press for additional study.