The Splendor of Recognition (An Exploration of the Pratyabhijna-hrdayam, a Text on the Ancient Science of the Soul- WITH CD)

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About the Book Swami Shäntänanda has here composed a remarkable exploration of the spiritual life, a narrative of the fundamental activity in the cosmos, God's expansion and contraction, within the external world and within each one of us. The text on which he writes is among the most important in Kashmir Saivism, but it is also among the most difficult, written in a highly compressed, technical language. Swami Shäntänanda writes from the place where meditation, intellectual under- standing, and daily action intersect: the place of the heart. In doing so, he makes the keen insight of Siddhas, in whose experience the Pratyabhijñā-hrdayam originated, accessible in fresh and engaging ways. What I like most about his exploration is the way he captures powerful insights in brief, arresting turns of phrase. Such mantra-like formulations as "the purpose of scriptural study is to expand our ability to live consciously" or "creation is not a historic event; the universe is created anew in every instant" linger in memory and so help the reader live the unified life to which all sadhakas aspire.

In this volume, Swami Shäntänanda has passed through the crucible of his own experience what he has learned from scholars, both past and present, and from the transforming nurturance he has received at the hands of Swami Muktānanda and Gurumayi Chidvilasananda. The result is an enticing invitation to the reader to plunge into the depths of Pratyabhijñā-hrdayam and to come to recognize al first hand the splendor that lies within that text-and within him- or herself. I rec- ommend this exploration to all who would know that splendor in their own lives.

About the Author In The Splendor of Recognition, Swami Shäntänanda comments on a Kashmir Saivite text, the Pratyabhijña-hrdayam, written by the sage Ksemaraja in the eleventh century. In twenty concise statements, this text teaches how God has taken the form of all creation and all created beings, and how we, as spiritual seekers, can return to our natural state, knowing ourselves as God.

The authority of Swami Shantananda's commentaries is rooted in the wisdom of his years of sadhana, the dedicated daily practice of the Siddha Yoga teachings. The philosophy of Siddha Yoga is directly connected to and imbued with the currents of teachings that also run through the nondual philosophy of Kashmir Saivism. Throughout this book, Swami Shäntänanda offers personal observations and contemplation techniques, and describes some of his profound transformations under the guidance of the Siddha Yoga Gurus, Gurumayi Chidvilasananda and Swami Muktänanda. All of these personal examples help the reader assimilate and put into action the subtle teachings of a nondualistic spiritual path.

Born in Puerto Rico, Swami Shantānanda obtained a master's degree in European art history from the Courtauld Institute of the University of London. After his studies he encountered Swami Muktänanda in India, and in 1977 he took the vows of monkhood in the Sarasvati Order, Swami Shäntänanda has ded- icated his entire life to serving and teaching for the Siddha Yoga mission. He has offered countless courses, workshops, and meditation retreats around the world: he has been the manager of a Siddha Yoga asram and has served as a trustee of the SYDA Foundation, the international organization that protects, preserves, and facilitates the dissemination of Siddha Yoga philosophy and culture. He is also a member of the Academic Council of the Muktabodha Indological Research Institute, which is dedicated to the preservation of India's oral and written scrip- tural traditions.

Introduction THE Pratyabhijña-hrdayam IS A TEXT THAT SUPPORTS the journey of the soul. This scripture, which is the focus of our study, helps us to understand the gifts we've been given on the spiritual path. Even more significantly, it helps us explore that path to its very end.

**Contents and Sample Pages**