The Wisdom of Kashmir Shaivism

<p><span style=color: rgba(13 12 12 1)>In the summer of 1987 Swamiji began compiling what he con-</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(13 12 12 1)>sidered to be the most important verses (ślokas) from the various</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(13 12 12 1)>scriptures (śāstras) that he had studied throughout his life. Although</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(13 12 12 1)>these verses are primarily from Kashmir Shaivite sources Swamiji</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(13 12 12 1)>also included verses from Vedāntic texts such as the Yoga Vāsiṣtha and</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(13 12 12 1)>the Rāmāyaṇa. Every Sunday he would reveal the meaning of one or</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(13 12 12 1)>two of these verses to his devotees in Kashmir.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(13 12 12 1)>The following year Swamiji traveled to Nepal with his nephew</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(13 12 12 1)>Inder Krishen Raina to meet with John and Denise Hughes and</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(13 12 12 1)>their two children with the express intent of sharing these important</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(13 12 12 1)>verses with them. He gave daily lectures translating and explaining</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(13 12 12 1)>the essence of these verses. We are eternally grateful to John for his</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(13 12 12 1)>vigilance in recording Swamiji's revelation of these special verses.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(13 12 12 1)>During one of Swamiji's lectures John asked him why he had com-</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(13 12 12 1)>piled these different verses. Swamiji replied I compiled these ślo-</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(13 12 12 1)>kas with the intention of sharing them with you. When asked about</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(13 12 12 1)>the references for these verses Swamiji said It is not for research. It</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(13 12 12 1)>is for your daily recitation. Maybe sometime you will experience these</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(13 12 12 1)>stages. Treat it as another independent book for your recitation. It will</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(13 12 12 1)>be helpful to you in sādhana (contemplative practice). </span></p>