Maṇḍapa | Public Forum

Public·1500 members

Visualization Technique

Hi everyone,

I’m taking the Tripurarahasya course, but my question is more general.

In Advaita Vedanta, the goal is to reach pure consciousness by setting aside all mental activities like thoughts, desires, and images through the practice of neti neti ("not this, not this"), leading to a state of atman (sunyata or purnata).

But in Tantra, like in the Tripurarahasya, we use visualization, forming sacred images and symbols in the mind.

So my question is: How do we know that this visualization isn’t just another product of the mind? Does true visualization arise from the inner stillness, the void itself revealing as form, or must we consciously imagine and build those images first using our mind’s creative power? Thanks, Binayak

236 Views

Sharad Acharya

3 days ago

The visualisation is a part of the method not the end goal. Initially you visualise and is a product of your imagination but later you experience it.

I heard a story about Ramakrishna Paramhamsa that when he did digbandham, he would actually see fire leaping up around him whereas the usual practice is to imagine fire around you.

Daniel Ingram was once narrating about a magic system where the practitioner would imagine a star in front of him and would be able to see as if it were a real object. This is very difficult to achieve and would require a lot of effort and concentration. So even though one would think that this is just imagination, note that it requires a very hardened version that one would need to work on and develop.

Travis Clark

16 days ago

Matrika visualization practice

I have been reading the Shiva Sutras and have a question about a possible connection or even the possibility of the two being the same. In the Shiva Sutras, Third Awakening Sutra 4. "You must make all the circles(kalas) in your body enter into the other from gross to subtle." My question is: does this correlate directly with the Matrika practice given in the introductory class? If not, can someone explain the differences since there is no explanation for the practice? If it is something that will be taught later, especially if it will be taught after initiation, I won't expect anyone to answer other than to just let me know that it will be covered at an appropriate time. Thank you.

230 Views

Matt Trombley

27 באוק׳

Hello Travis, I’m newer to this than many others but from what I understand the kalas are levels of awareness from the pure non-dual consciousness of Shiva to the external objects and experience as Shakti unfolds outward through the 36 tattvas. This sutra is saying one needs to reverses that sequence going from the outer objects back to the supreme principle of Shiva.

The matrika visualization is not the exact same thing but it introduces you to the Sanskrit phonemes and to start creating a mental map to help with the process. This will become more clear as you learn more practices. The reversing of awareness back inward is a central theme and most practices lead toward that goal. It’s more of an overall system to achieve recognition than one specific practice.

Dale Crowley

16 days ago

Non-official Study Guide, Translation and Commentary with the help of AI

For Classes 2, 3 and 4, I have been taking notes and utilizing AI to help with the translation and commentary. I have found them very helpful, but keep in mind this is not a substitute for the teachings, only a tool for helping with the lectures. I will work on Class 1 as well, and add future classes to this same link: https://somatone.box.com/s/57rbyap8quan03fiv5zdo6jqvlozogmi

227 Views

Dale Crowley

2 days ago

Thank you! I am using a mixture of different AI tools like Claude for primary translation, ChatGpt 5 for some clarification and commentary, and Notebook LM for the mind maps. I suggest you create your own Notebook LM to generate podcasts, flashcards etc. You can query it directly as well once you upload the materials.