The literal translation of the word ‘shiva’ is ’causeless auspiciousness’. Shakti is the supreme female principle, Cosmic Mother. Shiva and Shakti are symbolically represented as a downward pointing and an upward pointing triangle. Shiva is the static upward pointing triangle representing Cosmic Consciousness. The dynamic downward pointing triangle stands for energy. The Shakti or Devi color in the Vedic tradition has always been red seen in the mostly red alankars or dresses Devi wears in Hindu and Vedic temples. Shiva’s color is white. Often we can see white flowers offered to him in Shiva temples. Shiva and Shakti merged look like a six-pointed star or the Star of David, a common symbol used in yantra art. Shiva Shakti are the male and female energies within anybody and everybody.

Significance of Vijnana Bhairava Tantra

Lord Shiva aka Sundareshwara, Maha Deva, Paramashiva, is an enlightened master from India. The Shiva Sutras include the Vignana Bhairava Tantra, Guru Gita, Tiru Mandiram, and other teachings of Shiva in the form of techniques.

Tantra literally means Technique. Tantra is an ancient tradition for enlightenment consisting of spiritual techniques including mantra, yantra, meditation and ritual worship.

The Vignana Bhairava Tantra is the essence of the whole science of meditation. It contains 112 meditation techniques delivered by Lord Shiva to His consort Devi. These meditation techniques are powerful and universal and include techniques for all kinds of human beings with different personalities. of which five each are for our senses of hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting and touching. So there are actually only five meditation techniques in Tantra that refer to the energy of touch yet Tantra in the West is mostly synonymous with sex, a true misconception. You very well may be practicing one or the other meditation technique without knowing that it comes from the tantric tradition.

Looking or Visual Meditation Techniques for Artists

For artists I would like to explore some or all of the five techniques related to seeing, the looking or visual meditation techniques to go deeper into your core to connect with creativity and higher states of consciousness. Osho wrote ‘The Book of Secrets’ in which you may read up on this.

The Book of Secrets: Keys to Love and Meditation

A phenominal book by Osho. An in-depth explanation of 112 meditation techniques as ancient as Lord Shiva himself. Let me quote an amazon.com review in which Osho was quoted: “These techniques will not mention any religious ritual. No temple is needed, you are quite enough of a temple yourself. You are the lab; the whole experiment is to go on within you. This is not religion, this is science. No belief is needed. Only a daringness to experiment is enough; courage to experiment is enough. These 112 methods are for the whole of humanity – for all the ages that have passed, and for all the ages that have yet to come. I will go on describing each method from as many angles as possible. If you feel any affinity with it, play with it for three days. If you feel that it fits, that something clicks in you, continue it for three months. Life is a miracle. If you have not known its mystery, that only shows that you do not know the technique for how to approach it.” – Osho.

Shiva Sutras: Shortcut to the Ultimate Experience – to Enlightenment itself!

Teachings are the answers to the question “Why?”. Techniques are answers to the question “How?”. When we ask “Why pain?”, “Why suffering?”, there are multiple explanations, but no definite solution. The question “How?” takes you to the solution.

Shiva Sutras are answers given by Shiva to the question “How?”, not “Why?”, to Devi, his consort. Shiva Sutras are direct solutions to every conceivable type of man who has come and gone and is yet to come. They are solutions that take you beyond words, into a space, to discover yourself. Shiva Sutras are for those who are tired of words but want to experience the truth. They are shortcuts to the Ultimate Experience – to Enlightenment itself!