In yoga philosophy, there are lots of paths resulting in the identical reality the realisation of our deepest nature as pure consciousness. Amongst these, two of an important teachings are Advaita Vedanta and Tantra, particularly as expressed in Kashmiri Shaivism.
Each traditions communicate of the One Actuality that shines via all existence, but they method it in very other ways.
- Advaita Vedanta factors inward, guiding the seeker towards stillness and detachment serving to us recognise the silent witness inside.
- Tantra, however, invitations us to embrace life fully, seeing each expertise as an expression of the Divine.
Understanding the distinction between these two timeless visions deepens our appreciation of yoga’s final goal awakening to the sunshine of consciousness, whether or not in stillness or in motion.
Vedanta & tantra: two complementary visions of consciousness
Distinction between advaita vedanta and tantra in yoga philosophy
| Side | Advaita Vedanta | Tantra (Kashmiri Shaivism) |
|---|---|---|
| Core Metaphor | The self-luminous solar that shines on all however stays unchanged | The divine couple Shiva and Shakti, symbolising consciousness and its inventive energy |
| Final Actuality | Brahman alone is actual; the world is Maya (phantasm) | The world is a actual manifestation (Shakti) of divine consciousness (Shiva) |
| Path | By way of Negation (Neti Neti) — disidentify from physique and thoughts to grasp the formless Self | By way of Affirmation – embrace all experiences as expressions of divine power |
| View of Consciousness | Passive; turns into self-aware solely via relation with objects | Inherently self–conscious and self-luminous (Svaprakāśa) — conscious by its personal nature |
| View of the World | A veil that conceals the Reality | A dynamic play (Līlā) revealing the Divine in movement |
| Objective | Realise the Self as Brahman via stillness and detachment | Realise the unity of Shiva and Shakti via direct expertise and consciousness |
Each Vedanta and Tantra level to the identical summit – the realisation of absolute consciousness.
But, their approaches differ in tone and texture: Vedanta dissolves the world into silence, whereas Tantra celebrates it because the residing pulse of the Divine.
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The imaginative and prescient of advaita vedanta: discovering the self as pure consciousness
After seeing how Vedanta and Tantra supply two visions of consciousness, allow us to discover Advaita Vedanta philosophy extra carefully.
Advaita Vedanta, certainly one of India’s most refined programs of thought, teaches that there’s just one actuality — Brahman, the infinite consciousness that exists past all change and distinction. The whole lot we understand — the physique, thoughts, feelings, and even the outer world arises and dissolves inside this one everlasting presence.
Based on Vedanta, our true Self (Ātman) isn’t separate from Brahman. The sacred assertion “Tat Tvam Asi” You’re That – expresses this realisation. The trail of Advaita isn’t about turning into one thing new however about recognising what we have now all the time been: the pure consciousness that underlies each expertise.
To elucidate this, Vedanta makes use of the picture of a self-luminous solar. Simply because the solar shines on the whole lot without having one other supply of sunshine, the Self is the sunshine of consciousness that reveals all issues — ideas, sensations, and even the sense of “I.” It illuminates the whole lot but isn’t itself seen.
After we flip inward via meditation and self-inquiry, we discover that this consciousness by no means modifications. The physique ages, the thoughts shifts, and feelings rise and fall – however the gentle of consciousness stays nonetheless and clear.
That is the center of the Vedantic imaginative and prescient of consciousness: awakening from identification with the altering world and realising the unchanging, self-luminous consciousness as our true nature — the identical gentle that shines in all beings.
Additionally Learn: Advaita Vedanta: The Philosophy of Non-Duality
The trail of discrimination (neti neti)
Constructing on the imaginative and prescient of Advaita Vedanta, the sensible path to Self-realisation is called Jnana Yoga, the yoga of information and direct perception. This Advaita Vedanta observe isn’t about gathering concepts or beliefs however about seeing clearly what’s actual and what’s passing. The seeker cultivates Viveka the facility of discrimination between the everlasting and the impermanent.
This inquiry takes form via the straightforward but deep contemplation, “Neti Neti,” which means “Not this, not this.” In Neti Neti meditation, consciousness turns inward, gently letting go of the whole lot that may be noticed – the physique, senses, feelings, and even ideas realising, “This isn’t the Self.”
The whole lot we normally name “I” is topic to alter – the physique grows and ages, ideas come and go, feelings rise and fall. But behind all motion, there stays an unchanging witness silent, luminous, and nonetheless. That is the true Self, the pure consciousness that by no means fades.
Vedanta calls the false sense of individuality chidābhāsa, the mirrored self. Simply because the reflection of the solar seems in water however has no gentle of its personal, the ego-self shines solely by the sunshine of the true consciousness above – Brahman.
By way of regular reflection and inside inquiry, the seeker steadily withdraws consideration from the false “I” and abides in pure consciousness. This realisation isn’t mental however experiential – a direct recognition of peace, completeness, and freedom.
In that stillness, there isn’t any longer a search or a seeker solely the timeless presence of the Self, shining by its personal gentle. That is the center of the Jnana Yoga path, the place discrimination results in dissolution, and data turns into liberation.
The imaginative and prescient of tantra: embracing the divine play of power
From the stillness of Vedanta, we now transfer into the colourful world of Tantra philosophy, the place the identical reality is seen via the lens of motion, power, and inventive expression. Whereas Vedanta factors to the silent witness inside, Kashmiri Shaivism celebrates the residing pulse of that consciousness a actuality that’s not passive however ever-awake, dynamic, and self-knowing.
In Tantric thought, consciousness doesn’t rely on something outdoors itself to remember. It’s inherently self-luminous conscious of its personal presence. This residing consciousness is symbolised as Shiva, the nonetheless consciousness, eternally united with Shakti, the facility that strikes, creates, and expresses. Collectively they type one inseparable entire — the divine dance of stillness and movement.
Tantric masters describe this delicate motion as Spanda, which means “pulse” or “throb.” It’s the rhythmic vibration inside consciousness itself – the heartbeat of existence via which the universe arises, is sustained, and dissolves. Even when creation have been to vanish, this pulse would stay, making consciousness Svaprakāśa self-luminous, shining by its personal energy.
A easy instance helps reveal this reality: you don’t want a mirror to know that you simply exist. Your consciousness of “I’m” is fast and self-evident. Likewise, Shiva, even in solitude, stays absolutely self-conscious, as a result of Shakti, the facility of consciousness itself, is all the time current inside.
Thus, in Tantra, the Absolute isn’t a distant or silent witness however an intimately self-aware, pulsating actuality alive in each heartbeat, each breath, and each second of stillness and movement. To the Tantric practitioner, all the universe is sacred a residing expression of the everlasting union of Shiva and Shakti, the place consciousness and power are one.
Tantra: The Historical Indian Path of Liberation and Consciousness
The assembly level: stillness & motion inside consciousness
After exploring the stillness of Vedanta and the aliveness of Tantra, it turns into clear that these two aren’t opposing paths however complementary visions of the identical reality. Vedanta reveals the silent depth of consciousness the changeless Self past all exercise. Tantra, however, unveils the delicate motion inside that stillness the inventive pulse from which life flows.
Think about an ocean: its depths are calm and unmoving, whereas light waves dance throughout its floor. The depths symbolize Brahman, the silent consciousness of Vedanta; the waves mirror Shakti, the colourful power of Tantra. Each are water inseparable, steady, and entire.
In yogic philosophy, this unity may be straight skilled in meditation. When the thoughts turns into quiet, we relaxation within the pure consciousness that Vedanta describes. But even inside that stillness, there’s a comfortable, residing presence the Spanda, the heartbeat of consciousness that Kashmiri Shaivism celebrates.
When this unity is recognised, the seeker’s path turns into easy. The goal is now not to flee the world or silence motion however to see the sacred in each. Each breath, thought, and heartbeat turns into an expression of divine awareness- the Lila, or cosmic play, of Shiva and Shakti.
On this understanding, consciousness and power are one; silence and sound are one; meditation and life are one. The yogic path then turns into a celebration of being itself — resting in stillness whereas shifting within the rhythm of divine power.
Residing knowledge: integrating vedantic stillness & tantric aliveness in observe
The concord of Vedanta and Tantra invitations us to reside with each consciousness and participation – to relaxation in inside stillness whereas partaking absolutely with life. On this union lies the center of yoga: the assembly of being and turning into, silence and motion, spirit and matter.
From the Vedantic view, observe is a delicate return to your true nature as pure consciousness. Every time you pause, breathe, or witness your ideas with out attachment, you might be remembering that the Self isn’t certain by expertise; you’re the quiet witness behind all of it.
From the Tantric view, each expertise turns into a doorway to the Divine. The Shakti that strikes your breath, beats your coronary heart, and flows via feelings isn’t separate from consciousness- it’s consciousness in movement. Recognising that is to see divinity in all of life.
You’ll be able to convey this understanding into your every day sadhana via easy methods:
- Meditate to not escape the world, however to relaxation within the consciousness that holds all experiences.
- Transfer and breathe with mindfulness, sensing the heartbeat of power (spanda) in each movement.
- See the sacred in strange life in a smile, a sound, or the heat of daylight; because the play of Shiva and Shakti.
In time, this understanding transforms how you reside and practise. You now not divide the non secular and the worldly each specific the identical consciousness. Stillness turns into alive; motion turns into peaceable.
When consciousness and power are seen as one, each second turns into a meditation a dance of Shiva and Shakti unfolding as your individual being. Life itself turns into the yoga, the place silence breathes via sound, and the infinite performs inside the finite.
Conclusion
Vedanta and Tantra aren’t two paths however two actions of the identical reality. Vedanta reveals the stillness of pure consciousness; Tantra reveals its residing pulse. Collectively, they full the circle of being.
When stillness and motion are seen as one, life turns into meditation and meditation turns into life. Each breath, each second, is the dance of Shiva and Shakti- silence shining as movement, consciousness taking part in as creation.
