The Yogic scriptures describe the human being as being composed of four bodies. At the center is the Self. Moving from outer to inner or the gross to the subtle. They are the physical body, the subtle body, the causal body and the supra-causal body. The attributes are kriya to the physical action, Gnana or knowledge, Iccha or will and desire and the most subtle, the state of the Self. Continue reading
In Kashmir Shaivism, in the Shiva Sutras, Upaya refers to the different levels of spiritual sadhanas to approach the ultimate reality.
Upaya is a spiritual or yogic method or path by which the individual soul returns to pure consciousness. Upayas are methods of wholeness that depend on an individual’s perspective. Does he identify with the body, the mind, or the individuality? What illusion of himself does he hold? The specific Upaya is not important; it is the intentionality and the earnestness which is important. What is crucial, is the Sadhana must be performed in a passionate and sincere way. All the Upayas lead to the same goal, and finally methods of Samavesha (absorption in the Divine) in the Lord. Continue reading