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THE CONSTANT ONE
What, if anything, is constant in this ever changing world? This is the question to be reflected upon with this week’s attribute. Nityā is translated as “the constant one” or “eternally abiding reality.”
PERCEPTION - DRK
Drk translates as “perception” or “ultimate visionary perception.” Perception is translated as the faculty of apprehending via the senses or the mind, understanding and cognition. It is also a synonym for intuition and that recognition or insight that arises spontaneously.
EXPERIENCE
Bhoga and moksha are, in the Tantrik view, the two main aspects of life. Bhoga refers to the experience of embodiment in the phenomenal, sensual world and moksha is the transcendent aspect where we come into union with the One.
THE WORD - VĀNĪ
The Word, or the Supreme Word, vānī, is a concept found not only in non-dual Tantra but also in the Christian tradition. In both views, there are complimentary understandings and some overlap.
THE FIERCE ONE
In some ways, this activity is seemingly straightforward and yet it holds depths perhaps not apparent at first glance. Here, we are asked to contemplate, caṇḍī, translated as “the fierce one” or “the passionate Goddess.”
SHE WHO DEVOURS TIME
Kālī Sankarshinī is the attribute of the One translated as “She who devours time” or “impeller.” Impeller as a noun is the rotating component of the centrifugal pump that moves outward from the centre.
THE BLACK ONE
The one Goddess who has pervaded Western imagination is Kālī, defined here as the Black One or the Supreme Goddess of Time. The Kālī we have come to know here in the West is a version of the goddess connected to the Bengal region of India.
THE GODDESS OF THE THREE - TRĪŚKĀ
In this attribute of the One, we are asked to contemplate trīśikā, the Goddess of the Three or the Divine Mistress of the Three Energies of Consciousness. Here we encounter the number three, a number connected to spirituality across tradition.
PERVASIVE POWER - VIBHŪTI
The next attribute or activity of Consciousness is vibhūti, which is translated here as “pervasive power” or “extraordinary magical power of Consciousness.” Magic and pervasion are interesting words to reflect upon in this context.
PULSATION - SPANDA
The activity of Consciousness is spanda, defined as pulsation or more specifically as vibration of Consciousness. This is the inherent rhythm in the world; the movement shifting from one state to another and back again.
HEART - HRDAYA
The heart, hṛdaya. This is such an evocative word and it is also easily misinterpreted or limited. Here, we are exploring this concept as attribute 4 in the list of qualities describing the One. In contemplating this, we also invite the remembering of our essence as Her.
📷 V. Lamotte
THE WAVE
Attribute three in the collection of Goddess descriptors is ūrmi, which means wave or more specifically wave of consciousness. It is interesting that the ocean is an often- used metaphor for the immensity of the One who is the source of all and now we have wave used as a specific quality of Her. And what are waves?
YOGIC WISDOM FOR UNCERTAIN TIMES
These are uncertain times, no doubt about it. Uncertainty brings up questions, anxiety, fear and a generalized unease. It also brings up great opportunity for change, transformation and a new worldview.