Shaktipat
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Shaktipat or Śaktipāta is a Sanskrit word in the Hindu spiritual tradition that refers to the act of a guru or spiritual teacher conferring a form of spiritual "power" or awakening on a disciple/student. Śakti translates as spiritual energy and "pāta" as descent(to fall down).[1][2] Shaktipat can be intermediated by the spiritually enlightened master either by transmission of sacred word or mantra, a look, a thought or by touch. The touch is usually given to the ajna chakra or third eye of the disciple. Shaktipat can be transmitted in person or at a distance, through an object such as a flower or fruit, or via telephone or letter.[3]
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[edit] Śaktipāt as an act of free will of God
Śaktipāt is an act of Divine Grace (anugraha), completely undetermined. It cannot be forced to come by any action but it always comes of the free will of Śiva. However, the attitude of the recipient must be open towards such influx of illuminating Śakti, otherwise it will not be imposed by force as every human being is endowed with free will, including the freedom to reject God.[4]
[edit] Śaktipāt as a contact of consciousness
The guru passes his knowledge to his disciples by virtue of the fact that his purified consciousness enters into the selves of his disciples and communicates its particular characteristic. In this process the disciple is made part of the spiritual family (kula) - a family which is not based on blood relations but on people of the same knowledge.[5]
[edit] Levels of intensity of Śaktipāt
In Kashmir Shaivism, depending on its intensity, Śaktipāt can be classified as:
- tīvra-tīvra-śaktipāta - the so called "Super Supreme Grace" - produces immediate identity with Śiva and liberation; due to the extreme intensity of this grace the physical body dies; such a being goes on to become a siddha master and bestows grace from his abode (Siddhaloka), directly into the heart of deserving aspirants[6]
- tīvra-madhya-śaktipāta - "Supreme Medium Grace" - such a being becomes spiritually illuminated and liberated on his own, relying directly on Śiva, not needing initiation or instruction from other exterior guru. This is facilitated by an intense awakening of his spiritual intuition (pratibhā) which immediately eliminates ignorance[7]
- tīvra-manda-śaktipāta - "Inferior Supreme Grace" - the person who received this grace strongly desires to find an appropriate guru, but he does not need instruction, but a simple touch, a look, simply being in the presence of his master is enough to trigger in him too the state of illumination[8]
- madhya-tīvra-śaktipāta - "Medium Supreme Grace" - a disciple who receives this grace desires to have the instruction and initiation of a perfect guru; in time he becomes enlightened however he is not totally absorbed into this state during his lifetime and receives a permanent state of fusion with Śiva after the end of his life[9]
- madhya-madhya-śaktipāta - "Medium Middle Grace" - such a disciple will receive initiation from his guru and have an intense desire to attain liberation, but at the same time he still has desire for various enjoyments and pleasure; after the end of his life, he continues to a paradise where he fulfills all his desires and after that he receives again initiation from his master and realizes permanent union with Śiva[10]
- madhya-manda-śaktipāta - "Medium Inferior Grace" - is similar to "Medium Middle Grace" except that in this case the aspirant desires worldly pleasures more than union with Śiva; he needs to be reincarnated again as a spiritual seeker to attain liberation[11]
- manda - "Inferior Grace" - for those who receive this level of grace, the aspiration to be united with Śiva is present only in times of distress and suffering; the grace of Śiva needs to work in them for many lifetimes before spiritual liberation occurs[12]
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to attain liberation? |
of the recipient? |
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Super Supreme Grace |
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the grace of Śiva |
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Supreme Medium Grace |
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the grace of Śiva |
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Inferior Supreme Grace |
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a physical guru |
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Medium Supreme Grace |
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and instruction of a guru |
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Medium Middle Grace |
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and instruction of a guru |
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Medium Inferior Grace |
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and instruction of a guru |
worldly desires |
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Inferior Grace |
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and instruction of a guru and lots of time |
(*) Abhinavagupta distinguishes here two sublevels:
- those who's intuition (pratibhā) is firm
- those who's intuition is hesitant, who need more practice in order to stabilize; they would take a guru, study the scriptures or practice yoga[13]
[edit] Modern accounts
- Author Barbara Brennan in the book Hands of Light describes shaktipat as the actual projection of the guru's "aura" on the disciple, whereby the disciple acquires the same mental state of the guru, hence the importance of the high spiritual level of the guru. The physiological phenomena of a rising kundalini then naturally manifests.
- Comparative Literature professor Paul Zweig wrote of his experience in receiving Shaktipat from Swami Muktananda, published in the anthology Kundalini, Evolution, and Enlightenment by John White, editor, (ISBN 1-55778-303-9).
- Author and spiritual teacher, Stuart Perrin, in his book A Deeper Surrender (ISBN 1-571742-17-4) describes receiving shaktipat from his guru, Rudi (Swami Rudrananda).
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Abhinavagupta, The Kula Ritual, as Elaborated in Chapter 29 of the Tantrāloka, John R. Dupuche, page 155
- ^ Treading the path of non-dualism: Pupil and disciple, [1]
- ^ *Swami Satyananda Saraswati, Kundalini Tantra, Yoga Publications Trust (1984), p. 46.
- ^ Abhinavagupta, The Kula Ritual, as Elaborated in Chapter 29 of the Tantrāloka, John R. Dupuche, page 154
- ^ Abhinavagupta: The Kula Ritual, as Elaborated in Chapter 29 of the Tantrāloka, John R. Dupuche, Page 131
- ^ Kashmir Shaivism, The Secret Supreme, Swami Lakshman Jee, Page 66
- ^ Kashmir Shaivism, The Secret Supreme, Swami Lakshman Jee, Page 66
- ^ Kashmir Shaivism, The Secret Supreme, Swami Lakshman Jee, Page 66
- ^ Kashmir Shaivism, The Secret Supreme, Swami Lakshman Jee, Page 67
- ^ Kashmir Shaivism, The Secret Supreme, Swami Lakshman Jee, Page 68
- ^ Kashmir Shaivism, The Secret Supreme, Swami Lakshman Jee, Page 68
- ^ Kashmir Shaivism, The Secret Supreme, Swami Lakshman Jee, Page 69
- ^ Abhinavagupta, The Kula Ritual, as Elaborated in Chapter 29 of the Tantrāloka, John R. Dupuche, page 155
