COURSE MAP

This course closely examines some of the core issues identified in the Mālinīvijayottara Tantra; however, it is not a summary of the concepts addressed in the Mālinī. Rather, the course elaborates on the central issues so that students interested in expanding their knowledge of Trika System can read other texts by using translation. While the lectures are designed in the following order, the issues to be addressed expands into the entire literature in the Trika system. It is recommended that students familiarize with the system by reading Tantrasāra of Abhinavagupta.

LECTURE PLAN

After the first introductory lecture, the first three lectures will be dedicated to analyzing ānanda, a word broadly translated as bliss, joy, or pleasure. The fourth lecture will address the limiting factors, under the title of defilement or mala. And then, we move on the fifth lecture to address samāveśa. Yet again, the term samāveśa is translated as “possession” by many scholars, but this can be better understood as an entry into higher order consciousness. One of the key concepts of the Trika philosophy is the “means” or upāya. While the sixth lecture addresses the means of action (āṇava upāya), the seventh and eighth lectures are dedicated to unravelling concepts linked with the means of the refinement of thoughts through successive means, or śākta upāya. The ninth lecture then addresses the approach of pure will, śāmbhava upāya. We then focus on the states of consciousness based on the analysis found in the Mālinī. Under the title of śākta vijñāna, to which two lectures are devoted (10th and 11th), addressing the meticulous process of analyzing the states of consciousness, relevant to both tantric phenomenology and visualization practices. The final two lectures are dedicated to those who want to experience the devotional aspect of Trika Śaivism, by offering a detailed analysis of the 50 Rudras on the basis of the compositions of Abhinavagupta that are scattered throughout the texts of Īśvarapratyabhijñā-Vivṛtti-Vimarśinī andTantrāloka.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of offering this course is twofold: to bring a wider public awareness on some of the core issues related to tantric philosophy and to assist in spiritually engaging individuals to further their knowledge on some of the most archaic practices and philosophies. Your active participation and support mean a lot to keep the Foundation alive. Instructor: Ācārya Sthaneshwar Timalsina Live class moderator: Mukunda Raghavan Teachings assistants: Aditya Koul, Danillo Costa Lima, Darshan Bhatt, Desmond Meraz