The Philosophy of Sādhanā

With Special Reference to the Trika Philosophy of Kashmir

By Deba Brata SenSharma
Foreword by Paul E. Muller-Ortega

Subjects: Tantra, Religion
Series: SUNY series in Tantric Studies
Paperback : 9780791403488, 216 pages, July 1990
Hardcover : 9780791403471, 216 pages, August 1990

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Table of contents

Foreword
Preface
Abbreviations
Introduction
The Metaphysics of the Trika School
The Origin and Nature of Man
The Status of Man in Creation
The Way to Ultimate Self-Realization
The Ways of Spiritual Discipline
The Perfect Integral Self-Realization, Sivatva
Jivanmukti and Related Issues
Glossary
Select Bibliography
Index

Description

After presenting a general survey of spiritual practice in the different schools of Indian philosophy, the author focuses on the Trika School, popularly called Kashmir Shaivism. He deals clearly and exhaustively with such topics as Shaktipat (the descent of Divine Grace), Diksha (initiation), and the role of the Guru. His treatment of the various paths (upayas) appropriate for the different types of practitioners is especially useful.

The book ends with a chapter on enlightenment (jivanmukti). This chapter not only presents the meaning of self-realization-in-this-lifetime, but offers material on this topic for the first time in English.

Deba Brata SenSharma, now a Senior Research Fellow of the Asiatic Society (Calcutta), was a student of Gopinath Kaviraj. He was a Professor at Benaras Hindu University and at Kurukshetra University. He is the author of dozens of articles in learned journals and of several books.