{"id":2465,"date":"2021-02-12T01:14:59","date_gmt":"2021-02-12T06:14:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/international.syda.org\/?page_id=2465"},"modified":"2021-04-19T10:17:51","modified_gmt":"2021-04-19T14:17:51","slug":"scriptural-traditions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/international.syda.org\/?page_id=2465","title":{"rendered":"Scriptural Traditions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u201cTo move in the right direction and make the appropriate effort, you rely on the Scriptures, on the teachings of the great Masters.&nbsp;These teachings energize your path, energize your efforts.&nbsp;Their words are like torches that help you discover the inner path, the inner path that leads to your God.&nbsp;&#8220;<\/p><cite>Excerpt from the book&nbsp;<em>We Have Met Before<\/em>&nbsp;by Gurumayi Chidvilasananda<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The tradition of Siddha Yoga draws much of its teaching from the Indian yogic texts of Vedanta, Kashmir Shaivism,&nbsp;&nbsp;<em>Bhagavad Gita<\/em>&nbsp;&nbsp;and holy poets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These works describe the highest state that human consciousness can reach and the methods of achieving it.&nbsp;Many of these yogic scriptures are accounts written by those who made their way to the inner realms and discovered the gem of Self-realization.&nbsp;Their words provide a context for the experiences that unfold in us after receiving <a href=\"http:\/\/international.syda.org\/shaktipat\/\"><em>shaktipat<\/em><\/a>.&nbsp;They provide us with a map of the trip, telling us where we came from and reminding us of our true destination.&nbsp;The study of the texts of yoga allows us to understand and appreciate in depth the value of our inner experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Based primarily on Eastern philosophies, the tradition of Siddha Yoga includes the universal teaching of brotherhood and respect for others, expressed by one of its major teachings:&nbsp;<em>See God in everyone<\/em>&nbsp;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The texts of Vedanta<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vedanta is one of the six traditional schools of Indian philosophy.&nbsp;Siddha Yoga meditation emphasizes Advaita, a non-dualistic school of Vedanta, which emphasizes that a single supreme principle is the foundation of the universe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The <em>Upanishads<\/em><\/strong><br>A collection of inspired teachings, visions and mystical experiences from the ancient sages of India, the <em>Upanishads<\/em> constitute the last part of the <em>Vedas<\/em>. Through an immense variety of forms and styles, these texts (there are more than a hundred) provide the same fundamental teaching: the individual soul and God are one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The <em>Vedas<\/em><\/strong><br>Among the oldest, most revered, and most sacred scriptures in the world, the four <em>Vedas<\/em> &#8211; the <em>Rig Veda<\/em>, the <em>Atharva Veda<\/em>, the <em>Sama Veda,<\/em> and the <em>Yajur Veda<\/em> &#8211; are considered the divine revelation of wisdom. eternal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Vivekachudamani<\/em> or The Crest-Jewel of Discrimination<\/strong><br>This philosophical commentary on Advaita Vedanta, written in the eighth century by sage Shankaracharya, exposes the teaching that only Brahman, the Absolute, is real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>Yoga Vasishtha<\/strong><\/em><br>Very popular Sanskrit text on Advaita Vedanta, probably written in the 12th century and attributed to the sage Valmiki. Vasishtha answers the metaphysical questions of Lord Rama on life, death and human suffering. He teaches that the world is as we see it and that illusion ceases as soon as the mind finds peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The texts of Kashmir Shaivism<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the major sources of the tradition of Siddha Yoga, Kashmir Shaivism, is part of the Shaivite philosophical tradition which explains how Shiva, the formless Supreme Principle, manifests as a universe.&nbsp;This tradition recognizes the role of the&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/international.syda.org\/gurumayi-chidvilasananda\/\">Guru<\/a> and that of <em><a href=\"http:\/\/international.syda.org\/shaktipat\/\">shaktipat<\/a><\/em> in spiritual development.&nbsp;It also describes the ways or practices that allow us to relate to our inner divinity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The <em>Shiva Sutras<\/em><\/strong><br>The <em>Shiva Sutras<\/em>&nbsp;are the scriptures of reference of Kashmir Shaivism.&nbsp;This Sanskrit text revealed by Lord Shiva to sage Vasugupta in the 9th century, comprises seventy-seven&nbsp;<em>sutras<\/em>&nbsp;or aphorisms which describe the nature of Consciousness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>Pratyabhijnahridayam<\/strong><\/em><br>Literally translated as&nbsp;<em>&nbsp;The Heart of the Doctrine of Recognition<\/em>&nbsp;, it is an 11th century treatise written by Kshemaraja.&nbsp;It essentially establishes that the individual has forgotten his true nature by identifying with the body.&nbsp;Realization is the process of recognizing or remembering one&#8217;s true nature, the inner Self, imbued with supreme bliss and love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Spanda Karika<\/em><\/strong><br>This is one of the fundamental texts of Kashmir Shaivism;&nbsp;this collection of fifty-three verses composed in the 9th century, describes how the yogi, who remains vigilant and awake, can perceive the divine vibration &#8211; or<em>&nbsp;spanda<\/em>&nbsp;&#8211; at any moment of his daily life, and thus recover the vision of the consciousness of the &#8216;unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Vijnana Bhairava<\/em><\/strong><br>An exposition of the path of yoga, originally composed in Sanskrit before the 9th century, which presents one hundred and twelve<em>&nbsp;dharanas<\/em>&nbsp;&nbsp;or techniques of concentration, each of which provides the immediate experience of union with God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>Kularnava Tantra<\/strong><\/em><br>This ancient treatise sheds light on the mysteries of the Guru, the disciple, the mantra and the devotion, which are the cornerstone of our spiritual evolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other important texts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gurumayi Chidvilasananda often refers in his speeches and writings to the texts cited below.&nbsp;They contain much of the teaching of Siddha Yoga.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The&nbsp;<em>Bhagavad Gita<\/em><\/strong><br>Essential text of the Scriptures of India which counts among the treasures of the universal spiritual literature;&nbsp;this is a section of the&nbsp;<em>Mahabharata<\/em>&nbsp;epic&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;in which Lord Krishna instructs his disciple Arjuna on the nature of the universe, God and the Supreme Self.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Jnaneshwari<\/em><\/strong><br>This is a masterful verse commentary from the&nbsp;<em>&nbsp;Bhagavad Gita<\/em>&nbsp;, written by Jnaneshwar Maharaj at the age of sixteen.&nbsp;This is the first original study written in Marathi, the language spoken in Maharashtra, India.&nbsp;It is both a great poetic work and a source of spiritual transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The<em> Yoga Sutras&nbsp;<\/em>&nbsp;of Patanjali<\/strong><br>The sage Patanjali wrote this classic suite of yoga aphorisms in Sanskrit.&nbsp;He explains the different methods to be followed to reach the state of yoga or&nbsp;&nbsp;<em>samadhi<\/em>, in which the fluctuations of the mind cease, allowing the yogi to establish himself in the Self, the state of supreme bliss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The holy poets<\/strong><br>The great principles of Indian philosophy have spread among the people thanks to the songs and words of the holy poets.&nbsp;All over India, and particularly in the west and south of the country, these saints composed songs revealing the secrets of the mystical path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The&nbsp;<em>Bhakti Sutras<\/em><\/strong><br>The sage Narada composed this classic treatise on devotion.&nbsp;Bhakti Yoga is the path that leads to union with the divine, based on the perpetual offering of love and constant remembrance of the Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Indian epics<\/strong><br><strong>The&nbsp;&nbsp;<em>Mahabharata <\/em><\/strong>is a great epic poem in Sanskrit, composed by the sage Vyasa.&nbsp;This immense tale is a treasure trove of secular and spiritual knowledge of India.&nbsp;The&nbsp;&nbsp;<em>Bhagavad Gita<\/em> is located in the last section of the <em>Mahabharata<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The <em>Ramayana<\/em><\/strong>, one of the great epic poems, is attributed to sage Valmiki.&nbsp;The<em> Ramayana<\/em>&nbsp;chronicles the life and exploits of Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Vishnu.&nbsp;This story of great spiritual depth has been transmitted in many ways since ancient times.&nbsp;Children participating in Siddha Yoga retreats performed it in performances called &#8220;The Golden Tales&#8221;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cTo move in the right direction and make the appropriate effort, you rely on the Scriptures, on the teachings of the great Masters.&nbsp;These teachings energize your path, energize your efforts.&nbsp;Their words are like torches that help you discover the inner path, the inner path that leads to your God.&nbsp;&#8220; Excerpt from the book&nbsp;We Have Met &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/international.syda.org\/?page_id=2465\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Scriptural Traditions&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2465","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v17.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Scriptural Traditions - Siddha Yoga&reg; &lt;country&gt; in Ann Arbor<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/international.syda.org\/?page_id=2465\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Scriptural Traditions - Siddha Yoga&reg; 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