How does the view of direct realization Tantra differ from the view of transcendental traditions? A podcast from Satsang with Shambhavi
Podcast First Words
In many spiritual traditions, there’s this idea that we want to get away from this plane of existence. That what we call the human realm, human life, planet earth, samsara, or whatever you call it is somehow degraded and unpleasant. It’s full of suffering, and our only job here as spiritual practitioners is to get out of here. Success is measured in how quickly we leave.
That kind of tradition is called a transcendental tradition. A transcendental tradition makes a distinction between one aspect of Reality and another. In a transcendental tradition, heaven, Bramha Loka, nirvana, or whatever you want to call that other place that we’re supposed to be trying to get to is fundamentally somehow different from what’s happening here. This is sinful and awful, and what’s happening in Bramha Loka, Satya Loka, heaven, or nirvana is better, different, and more pure. That’s a transcendental tradition, and that’s NOT this tradition.
In this tradition we have a different idea. Through yogic practice we have the experience that every aspect of Reality is made of the same thing. Everything is made of consciousness and energy. You, me, this altar, a humvee outside, a polluted river, a sinful adulterous person—all made of the same consciousness and energy. There’s a fundamental equality among every manifestation of life, and we’re trying to realize that. We have the experience and the understanding that there’s fundamental equality because everything is purna bramha narayani—made of consciousness and energy.