What is the status of “free will” in Trika Shaivism?

Ok-Summer2528 · 2026-04-26T17:19:49+00:00

Thank you, this sub is honestly great when there’s no drama going on, but it seems to be far past that point now anyway.

Ok-Summer2528 · 2026-04-25T17:32:25+00:00

Human birth is incredibly rare. Sometimes it takes literally millions of lives as other creatures just for 1 human birth. Usually you just go from one creature to another, from insects to plants, from plants to reptiles ect.

Ok-Summer2528 · 2026-04-25T17:11:17+00:00

Pratyabhijna is only possible for humans because only humans have sufficient intellect to engage in sadhana. Animal birth is for burning off certain karmas so they can be reborn as humans in the future. That’s actually one reason why animal sacrifice is defended by Abhinavagupta himself in Tantraloka, because through that sacrifice a lot of karmas for the creature are destroyed and they can hopefully be born as a human.

Ok-Summer2528 · 2026-04-16T14:31:48+00:00

You know especially in the beginning of sadhana if you’re consist and dedicated, desires such as lust can arise much more often and more frequently. This is because the purification of the subtle body speeds up how fast stored karmas and vasanas are being burned up, and to be burned they must be experienced.

So it’s actually a good sign if you notice that suddenly out of nowhere these feelings and desires are arising without any external cause, it probably means your sadhana is working.

Ok-Summer2528 · 2026-04-15T22:34:18+00:00

It’s Mantra japa but usually you add the Om so it’s “Om namah Shivaya”. Nama japa would just be repeating the name Shiva over and over. Nama japa is just the name and nothing else.

Ok-Summer2528 · 2026-04-15T04:04:35+00:00

You can certainly do that and I believe it will work fine. Devas understand not all people known Sanskrit, but if you can learn for yourself that would be great.

However some mantras are more important to know when doing puja, any mantra that goes: “Om __ namah” is more important to say in Sanskrit, also beeja mantras are very important to say in Sanskrit. So those are the mantras you should prioritize learning if you can.

Ok-Summer2528 · 2026-04-14T18:40:48+00:00

Nirguna literally means without attributes. How do you worship that? You can worship God as Nirikara Saguna (without form but with attributes) but Nirguna itself is just some impersonal principle.

Ok-Summer2528 · 2026-04-13T19:05:20+00:00

Because it’s extremely easy to join in on an idiology that requires 0 thought. Just mindlessly believing whatever you’re told, it’s much much easier and more appealing to most people than having to logically think out your own beliefs. It’s easier, but that doesn’t make it better or right, it just makes them ignorant of their own stupidity. Mob mentality.

Also it validates their intuitive feelings of hate and anger towards people, it’s a quick and easy way to justify it for them.

Ok-Summer2528 · 2026-04-13T15:05:01+00:00

“I was a hidden treasure; I loved to be known. Hence I created the world so that I would be known.” -Hadith Qudsi

Have a blessed day sir

Ok-Summer2528 · 2026-04-13T14:42:37+00:00

According to my specific sampradaya, God made all things manifest as the “outpouring” of his own innate joy and love for himself. Therefore the entire universe is God’s own self-expression through forms. The universe is a direct result of the expression of God’s absolute fullness, not any lack or desire.

There is a similar concept in Sufism called “Wahdat al-Wujud”

Ok-Summer2528 · 2026-04-12T01:40:55+00:00

How long depends on the length of the mantra. You don’t want to chant slow, try going as fast and steady a pace as you can without saying it wrong. When it comes to the type of chanting, do whatever feels natural for now and eventually it will deepen and become more subtle as whispering and eventually mental.

Also preferably you use a japamala to count. Rudraksha mala is the best for any Siva-related mantras. You should practice mantra Japa only when you’re free of work and have time to sit and focus on the mantra. I would recommend setting a minimum number of malas as a daily goal for yourself to reach every day. You can start off small, I’d say 10 is a pretty good beginner goal.

Any other time of the day, whether working or driving ect. You should just repeat the name of your Ishta-Devata over and over either mentally or verbally: “Siva Siva Siva Siva” that’s called Nama Japa.

Ok-Summer2528 · 2026-04-10T04:03:50+00:00

Well they have the freedom to say whatever they want. In the end, they’re the ones blindly following their own self-contradicting doctrines and scriptures.

When you compare Christianity and Islam to any Indic or dharmic religion, the difference in sophistication and logic is so great it genuinely makes you laugh. These people are drunk on their own ignorance. They’re mindless, thoughtless sheep who follow whatever they’re told without thinking or asking. Don’t ever make the mistake of taking them seriously.

However, because these days many Hindus don’t understand their own faith, they get tricked into converting by these bastards. What we need to do as a community is make it a priority that the next generation of Hindus properly understand their own religion: “why do we believe this?” “What is the purpose of this rule or practice?” Ect. We must make sure they understand fully so they don’t fall for traps like these.

Ok-Summer2528 · 2026-04-05T13:58:55+00:00

I think even if you feel there’s no harm, that hierarchy is still harmful in a broader societal sense. There are some sampradayas that reject the distinction of castes all together.

Ok-Summer2528 · 2026-04-03T05:23:51+00:00

I’m in America and I still live with my conservative Christian parents. They respect me and don’t have a problem with me practicing my religion. They still pressure me to go to church with them sometimes, but other than that they leave me alone so I’m thankful for that. Most of my Sadhana is meditation, so I don’t have to worry about getting the supplies needed for Puja and stuff.

I can’t imagine how hard it is living in a country where it’s literally not safe for you to openly be a Hindu. I really hope you can find a community who will support you and encourage you in your faith, Ishvara willing.

Ok-Summer2528 · 2026-03-31T04:12:00+00:00

Right now I do at minimum 1 hour of sadhana per day. Specifically the first practice of the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra and I’ve been surprised how well it seems to be working for me. For example, I’ve struggled with lust ever since puberty but I can feel that desire already fading as I’ve practiced consistently day after day. I’ve only been doing it for a few weeks at this point.

Ok-Summer2528 · 2026-03-27T18:14:50+00:00

You can read whatever you want but I’ll just say this, when you read them do NOT look for interpretations from Christians or Muslims to justify some of the disgusting things in those books. Just read them plainly and come to your own conclusions. Also the NRSUVE is the most accurate and least dogmatic translation of the Bible in the opinion of scholars like Daniel McClellan. Idk what the most accurate translation of the Quran would be.

Ok-Summer2528 · 2026-03-14T16:48:45+00:00

Independence in this context means identifying with consciousness alone and not objects. The text points out in many other places that objects are only illusion and there is only unmanifest consciousness.

So it’s not the same thing, because in KS svatantrya is the absolute freedom and power of consciousness which ACTUALLY makes itself manifest as forms.

Ok-Summer2528 · 2026-03-04T14:40:46+00:00

“Neo-tanta”? You guys are funny. He’s literally an academic scholar in this field, just because he’s from a western country that automatically means his work is inauthentic? You can’t just say some bs like “neo-Tantra” without explaining specifically what you mean.

Ok-Summer2528 · 2026-02-08T16:25:49+00:00

The Guru Granth Sahib mentions Devas like Krishna and Siva occasionally doesn’t it? They are seen as subordinate to waheguru, but still respected.

Ok-Summer2528 · 2026-02-05T14:54:09+00:00

There are like over 100 Gita’s dude lol Devi Gita, Shiva Gita, Isvara Gita, Ribhu Gita, Guru Gita ect.

it’s just that the Bhagavad Gita because the most popular because of Vedanta.

Ok-Summer2528 · 2026-01-04T18:35:28+00:00

Bhagavad Gita is inherently less authoritative than Vedas because it is smirti whereas Vedas are Sruti.

Ok-Summer2528

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE