Introduction to Tantra Sastra - Aghori
Introduction to Tantra Sastra - Aghori
Introduction to Tantra Sastra - Aghori
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148<br />
INTRODUCTION TO TANTRA ŚĀSTRA<br />
enjoyment (bhoga) arises. All jīvas on their way <strong>to</strong> humanity,<br />
1 and the bulk of humanity itself, are on the<br />
forward path, and rightly seek the enjoyment which is<br />
appropriate <strong>to</strong> their stage of evolution.<br />
The thirst for life will continue <strong>to</strong> manifest itself until<br />
the point of return is reached and the outgoing energy is<br />
exhausted. Man must, until such time, remain on the<br />
path of desire. In the hands of Devī is the noose of desire.<br />
Devi hereself is both desire 2 and that light of knowledge<br />
which in the wise who have known enjoyment lays bare<br />
its futilities. But one cannot renounce until one has<br />
enjoyed, and so of the world-process itself it is said; that<br />
the unborn ones, the Puruṣas, are both subservient <strong>to</strong><br />
her (prakṛ ti), and leave Her by reason of viveka. 3<br />
Provision is made for the wordly life which is the<br />
“outgoing” of the Supreme. And so it is said that the<br />
Tāntrika has both enjoyment (bhukti) and liberation<br />
tion (mukti). 4 But enjoyment itself is not without its<br />
law. Desire is not <strong>to</strong> be let loose without bridle. 5 The<br />
mental self is, as is commonly said, the charioteer of the<br />
body, of which the senses are the horses. Contrary <strong>to</strong><br />
1 Including, according <strong>to</strong> a caustic observer, the large number of men who<br />
may be more properly described as candidates for humanity.<br />
2 See Candī. Devī is manifested in desire, etc.<br />
3 And so Śruti (Taittiriya-Āraṇyaka) says:<br />
Ajāmekām lohita śukla kṛ ṣṇām,<br />
Bahvīṃ<br />
prajām janayantim śarūpām,<br />
Ajo hyeko jūṣamāno’ nuśete<br />
Jahātyenām bhukta-bhogāmajonyah:<br />
and see Saṃ<br />
khya Tattva-Kaumudi.<br />
4 See Mahānirvāṇa <strong>Tantra</strong> chapter IV, verse 39 and Chapter I, verse 51,<br />
where the <strong>Tantra</strong>s are described as the givers of both bhukti and mukti. See<br />
notes <strong>to</strong> same as <strong>to</strong> bhoga.<br />
5 As <strong>to</strong> sveccha, see notes <strong>to</strong> Chapter III, verse 96, ibid.