The Philosophy of Sādhanā: With Special Reference to the Trika Philosophy of Kashmir

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State University of New York Press, Jul 12, 1990 - Religion - 216 pages
After presenting a general survey of spiritual practice in the different schools of Indian philosophy, the author focuses on the Trika School, popularly called Kashmir Shaivism. He deals clearly and exhaustively with such topics as Shaktipat (the descent of Divine Grace), Diksha (initiation), and the role of the Guru. His treatment of the various paths (upayas) appropriate for the different types of practitioners is especially useful.

The book ends with a chapter on enlightenment (jivanmukti). This chapter not only presents the meaning of self-realization-in-this-lifetime, but offers material on this topic for the first time in English.
 

Contents

Introduction
1
The Metaphysics of the Trika School
15
The Origin and Nature of
41
The Status of Man in Creation
55
The Way to Ultimate SelfRealization
65
The Ways of Spiritual Discipline
105
The Perfect Integral SelfRealization Śivatva
157
Glossary
175
Select Bibliography
187
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About the author (1990)

Deba Brata SenSharma, now a Senior Research Fellow of the Asiatic Society (Calcutta), was a student of Gopinath Kaviraj. He was a Professor at Benaras Hindu University and at Kurukshetra University. He is the author of dozens of articles in learned journals and of several books.

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