Discover a wealth of readable, reliable guides to understanding Trika Shaivism, Dzogchen, and other direct realization traditions.

TRIKA AND DZOGCHEN ORIGINS

Trika Shaivism is one of the ancient Tantrik traditions of India. You will also see it referred to as Kashmir Shaivism and Shaivite Tantra.

The tradition as we know it today was formed from the confluence of number of direct realization traditions. Some of these are the Pratyabhijña, Kaula, Trika, and Krama streams of Tantra that flourished in Kashmir and the Swat Valley from the early Christian Era until the 12th century.

Dzogchen is a direct realization tradition from Tibet. In its formation, Dzogchen drew from the Nyingma and Bön traditions of Tibet, from Chinese Chan Buddhism, from India-born siddhas such as Garab Dorje and Padmasambhava, and from the sources of Trika Shaivism.

THE PURPOSE OF SPIRITUAL PRACTICE ACCORDING TO TRIKA AND DZOGCHEN

Trika Shaivism and Dzogchen hold a similar, although not identical, View of the process of self-realization. They share the understanding that the purpose of spiritual practice is to directly discover the unconditioned, natural state of existence and to remain resting in that.

Trika Shaivism places somewhat more obvious emphasis on the heart and devotion, while Dzogchen places somewhat more emphasis on mind and nature of mind. Both traditions are based in a profound understanding of the five elements and the necessity of opening the gates of the senses in order to re-integrate with the natural state.

Neither Trika Shaivism nor Dzogchen are belief- or faith-based systems. Practitioners are given tools and guidance so that they may discover their real nature with certainty for themselves.

Shambhavi’s Books

• The Reality Sutras: Seeking the Heart of Trika Shaivism
  A comprehensive handbook of 37 teachings about the nature of the self and reality from the perspective of Trika Shaivism. Trika Shaivism shares with Dzogchen, Daoism, and Chan Buddhism an emphasis on direct, embodied experience and on uncontrived naturalness as the fruit of spiritual practice.

• Nine Poisons, Nine Medicines, Nine Fruits
  A traditional spiritual teaching text about the obstacles, remedies, and rewards we can expect to encounter as we seek relaxation and wisdom through practices such as yoga, mantra, and meditation. The nine poisons are habits of body, emotions, and mind that distract or delay us from discovering who we really are. The nine medicines are the circumstances that help us to recover from limiting patterns. The nine fruits are wisdom virtues, such as compassion, that naturally appear on their own once obscuring conditioning is dissolved.

• Pilgrims to Openness: Direct Realization Tantra in Everyday Life
  Foundational and practical introduction to the tradition of Trika Shaivism presented through the lens of everyday experiences of eating, sleeping, relating, moving , working,  playing, emoting and doing spiritual practice.

• The Play of Awakening: Adventures in Direct Realization Tantra
  How can you stay motivated in your spiritual practice from day-to-day? What is the most fruitful way to work with your teachers? What detours and obstacles might slow you down? How do spiritual communities function as a core practice? What roles do grace and devotion, longing and loneliness play as you walk your path? How can you both live and die well? Practical advice for spiritual practitioners.

• Returning: exhortations, advice and encouragement from the heart of direct realization practice
  Twenty-four concentrated bursts of provocation, encouragement and inspiration for spiritual seekers.

• No Retreat: poems on the way to waking up
  Shambhavi’s poems documenting fifteen years of solo spiritual retreats and periods of the eruption of intense spiritual feeling.

OTHER Books About Trika Shaivism

• Swami Lakshmanjoo: Self Realization in Kashmir Shaivism
  Teachings given by an accomplished modern siddha.

• Shaiva Devotional Songs of Kashmir
  A translation of Utpaladeva’s gorgeous Shivastotravali by Constantina Rhodes Bailly

• Abhinavagupta’s Commentary on the Bhagavad-Gita
  The only English-language translation of the Kashmiri version of the Gita.

• The Shiva Sutras
  Received text (Shruti) from Vasgupta. Central text of the tradition and a nondual blast.

• Naked Song
  Down-to-earth revelations in poetry by a 14th century Kashmiri wandering yogini.

• Swami Lakshman Joo : Vijnana Bhairava: The Practice of Centering Awareness
  Look for this at abe.com if Amazon is out. Be sure to get this version.

DZOGCHEN and other direct realization TEACHINGS

• Heart Drops of Dharmakaya
  Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen. Profound and beautiful. For the more advanced practitioner.

• Dzogchen: The Self-Perfected State
  Namkhai Norbu’s masterpiece.
• See the True Nature, then Let Go and Relax in That (pdf)
  An interview with Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche.