Beyond the Physical: Further Explorations of Shiva Sutra 3.31

Rough Notes from Class:

Shiva Sutra 3.31 part 2

“3.31. sthitilayau //This universe is the expansion of his energy in objective impressions and in the dissolution of those impressions.

Our goal in this Sutra is to discover our shiva nature in the more subtle layers of our practice and lives, specifically the layers that are beyond the physical. 

Layers of Surrender

1-In this sutra we see that our first understanding is defined by “action”, the Srishti phase. This is the physical level of understanding. From there, those actions accumulate into a knowledge that goes beyond the physical, the Sthiti stage. And then finally, the physical and even subtle dissolve into a third level of understanding that is based on the void, layah.

“Initially, this universe is revealed to you by the energy of action. And after this universe shines before you, the knowledge of the universe remains for some time as an impression in your objective consciousness. That is what is meant by the word sthiti.

Then the impression of this universe in your objective consciousness also melts away and all that is left is the void state where there is nothing. That is what is meant by the word layaḥ. And this state where there is nothing is also held in consciousness.

For such an elevated soul, these two states are only the expansion of His energies and nothing else. For him, this objective world may be created in his sensual world, or it may be stored in his impressions, or it may be taken away from his impressions; but this threefold world is nothing more than the expansion of his God consciousness everywhere.”

When learning any trade we see that first you learn the physical, then that experience accumulates into knowledge which gives you a subtler understanding, and eventually that knowledge accumulates into your very being which transcends both physical objects and knowledge itself, when you ‘become the profession’.

Example: Cook 100 recipes you’re working with the physical ingredients. After a 1,000 recipes you are cooking with the recipe and your own accumulated knowledge. After 10,000 recipes you have become a chef, with or without a kitchen. 

2. We see this same progression within our meditation practice. Do a hundred Malas and you’re working with the physical. Do a 1,000 Malas (100,000 mantras) and your practice starts to be informed by more than the just the words themselves. Do 10,000 Malas (1,000,000 mantras) and your mantra begin to do you, the mantra has become you. This is described as the three levels of mantra: Vaikhari, Madhyama and Pashyanti. 

As Muktananda teaches: “Everyone is aware of the speech of the tongue. It is called Vaikhari and corresponds to the gross body. With the subtle intellect, one can also know the second level of speech, which is in the throat. There, words have taken form but have not yet emerged. This level is called Madhyama and corresponds to the subtle body. At a deeper level, words exist in the heart. This is the third level of speech, Paśyanti, which corresponds to the causal body. Here, words are hidden, and what arises at this level is Matrika… The moment one understands the Matrika Shakti and its work, one is no longer a human being. When the Matrika Shakti expands within, in this very body one becomes Shiva.” (Nothing Exists Not Shiva, p. 7-9)

3. SO…knowing that this is the progression of understanding both and off the cushion means you can accelerate your growth. Can you connect to these deeper layers while you do your work and practice?

Free Write: How do you reach for these deeper aspects of your practice on and off the cushion.