Aghora

1. Aghora: Beyond Ignorance to Illumination

Ghora is darkness, the darkness of ignorance. Aghora means light, the absence of darkness.

Aghora's essence. Aghora, often misunderstood, is not about darkness but the transcendence of it. It's a spiritual discipline that seeks to move beyond ignorance, symbolized by darkness, into the light of knowledge and understanding. This path involves confronting the aspects of existence that most people avoid or fear.

Transformation through confrontation. Aghora practitioners embrace what is typically considered taboo or impure, such as death, decay, and societal outcasts. By facing these elements directly, they aim to transform their perceptions and break free from the limitations of conventional thinking. This process is not about indulgence but about a radical purification.

Internal purity. The true Aghori is not defined by external signs or rituals but by an internal state of purity and detachment. This internal purity allows them to engage with the darker aspects of existence without being tainted by them, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of reality.

2. Tantra: The Science of Personality and Perception

Tantra is the science of personality... a method for exploring the mind and developing the range of one’s perceptions.

Holistic approach. Tantra, like Ayurveda for the body and Yoga for the spirit, is a mental science aimed at exploring the mind and expanding perception. It views the cosmos as possessing the ultimate personality, the Adishakti, and seeks to understand the individual's place within this grand scheme.

Beyond limited personality. Tantra posits that everyone is ill to some degree, trapped within the confines of a limited personality. The goal is to transcend these limitations and achieve immortality, not necessarily in a physical sense, but through an unlimited and permanent personality. This involves replacing the ego's limited self-identification with a broader, cosmic awareness.

Siddhis and their purpose. While immortality is the ultimate aim, Tantric practice can also lead to the acquisition of Siddhis, or extraordinary powers. These powers, if used wisely, can accelerate spiritual evolution. However, if commercialized or misused, they can bind one more firmly to the cycle of cause and effect.

3. The Ego: A Force for Identity and Immunity

The stronger the self-identification the greater the immunity to attack from another personality which might usurp some area of the ego’s domination.

Ego as identity. In Tantra, the ego is not viewed solely in a Freudian sense but as the force of individual identity within an organism. It is the power of self-identification that provides immunity, both physically and mentally, against external and internal threats.

Disease as personality invasion. Disease, whether caused by external pathogens or internal malfunctions, is seen as an onslaught on one's personality. The ego's ability to remember and identify with every cell in the body is crucial for maintaining health and preventing the usurpation of physiological functions by intruding forces.

Tantric aim. Unlike Yoga, which seeks to efface the ego entirely, Tantra aims to replace the limited personality with an unlimited, permanent one. This involves strengthening the ego's power of self-identification and expanding its dominion to encompass a broader range of attributes and qualities.

4. Mantra, Yantra, and Tantra: The Tools for Siddhi

In the journey toward Siddhi, Mantra is the energy which moves your vehicle (the Yantra) according to the road map (Tantra).

The trinity of practice. Mantra, Yantra, and Tantra are essential components for achieving Siddhi, or spiritual power. Mantra provides the energy, Yantra serves as the vehicle or instrument, and Tantra acts as the roadmap or process.

Mantra's power. Mantras are collections of sounds whose vibrations generate energy. They can be descriptive, meaningless, or Bijas (seed-sounds). The repetition of Bijas creates a standing wave that energizes the Yantra or the aspirant's brain, producing a specific effect aligned with the invoked personality.

Yantra's role. The Yantra is the crucible in which the herb, mineral, animal, or human is prepared through the Mantra's energy. It contains and reflects the energy, accumulating it until it projects itself in the form of the deity appurtaining to the Bija repeated. Yantras can be diagrams, images, or even the human body itself.

5. The Divine Mother: Source of All and Object of Devotion

Always sit in the lap of the Divine Mother. Let Her do everything for you, rely on Her totally, and She will never forsake you.

Motherhood of God. The Supreme Deity in Tantra is the Mother Goddess, the Adishakti, who is the source of all worlds and beings. She is the ultimate refuge and provider, and devotion to Her is essential for spiritual progress.

Bhakti's importance. Bhakti, or devotional love, is crucial because the Goddess is really you—a minuscule part of Her. Loving yourself, accepting all phenomena, and relying on Her magnanimity are key to making progress on the Tantric path.

Personal relationship. Aspirants must interact with the Goddess on a personal basis, treating Her as a sister, friend, advisor, wife, or mother. Vimalananda emphasizes treating Her as a mother, as a mother will never desert you.

6. Maya: Delusion and the Path to Transcendence

There is no Mukti (freedom from delusion) without Bhukti (enjoyment).

The nature of Maya. Maya is the delusive aspect of the Divine Mother, Her capacity to bind beings to limited forms and prevent them from escaping the cycle of birth and death. It is the force that creates duality and keeps individuals entangled in the manifested world.

Enjoyment as acceptance. "Enjoyment" in this context refers to the acceptance of all phenomena, both "good" and "bad." The aspirant relies on the magnanimity of Nature, personified as the deity, to protect and provide, rather than seeking to extirpate emotions entirely.

Tantric practicality. Tantra is presented as a more practical path for today's world, as it acknowledges the demands of the mundane world and seeks to integrate them into the spiritual journey, rather than aiming directly at Mukti, or freedom from delusion.

7. Shiva: The Destroyer and the Path to Immortality

First become Shiva and then you will be able to worship Shiva properly.

Shiva's role. Lord Shiva is the conditioner, the male aspect of the Universal Soul, who controls the dynamic energy of Shakti. He is the destroyer of limitations and the embodiment of death, and worship of Him is essential for achieving immortality.

Purity through identification. To worship Shiva properly, one must first become Shiva, identifying entirely with the deity and eliminating all vestiges of the devotee's original personality. This self-identification allows for the consumption of sacraments and the performance of rituals with true understanding.

The Left-Hand Path. The Vama Marga, or Left-Hand Path, is a violent counterpart to the Dakshina Marga, or Right-Hand Path, offering quick results but with great chances for catastrophe. It involves practices that may seem hedonistic or "sinful" but are meant to transform darkness into light.

8. Rnanubandhana: The Bondage of Karmic Debt

You will assist me to return to my Beloved.

Karmic debt. Rnanubandhana refers to the bondage of karmic debt, the connections that tie individuals to the cycle of birth and death. Compassion for all beings and perpetual awareness of rnanubandhana are essential principles in Aghora.

Repaying debts. The goal is to repay karmic debts and break free from the cycle of action and reaction. This can be achieved by deliberately relinquishing all possessions and attachments, allowing others to take what they are entitled to, and avoiding the creation of new karmas.

Compassion and forgiveness. Learning to forgive oneself and others, including diseases, is crucial for barring the return of negative influences. By forgiving the disease its depradations, one effectively bars its return.

9. The Guru: Guide, Mother, and Destroyer of Limitations

To be a guru you have to say, “I know and I can teach you.” But if I say that, well, I’m finished.

Beyond the stereotype. A true guru is not a self-proclaimed expert but a humble student who is always ready to learn. They act as a spiritual parent, guiding and nurturing their disciples with unconditional love and compassion.

Kurma Guru. The Kurma Guru, or Tortoise Teacher, seems to pay no attention to his disciples' progress but in reality monitors them closely and sometimes pulls their strings from afar. This method involves testing and preparing students thoroughly before providing real tools for spiritual cultivation.

The guru-disciple bond. The bond between guru and disciple is stronger than any other, even stronger than that between a physical parent and child. The guru never forsakes the disciple, even when the disciple is wicked or wayward, and waits patiently for their return.

10. The Smashan: A Playground and Temple of Reality

For a Vira the entire world is a graveyard, filled with the dead.

The ultimate reality. The smashan, or charnel ground, is not a place of fear but a playground and temple for the Tantric. It is a constant reminder of the inevitability of death and the impermanence of all things.

Confronting death. By spending time in the smashan, Aghoris confront death directly and overcome their fear of it. They personify and deify death, seeking to destroy all their limitations and "kill" themselves through internal or external processes.

The world as a graveyard. A true Tantric regards every human being as already dead since the fact of birth makes death inevitable. The entire world is their playground and their temple, and they approach life with a sense of detachment and awareness of its impermanence.

11. Intoxication: A Tool for Transcendence, a Path to Ruin

An Aghori is beyond the bound of the earthly shackles; nay, something above the elements which shape the universe, and you.

Intoxication's purpose. Intoxicants, when used correctly, can be tools for transcendence, helping to break free from earthly shackles and enter a state of Supreme Love. However, they can also lead to ruin if not controlled.

The Aghori's approach. Aghoris use intoxicants to get intoxicated in Supreme Love, experiencing All-in-One/One-in-All. During this stage, they merge with their own deity, going from darkness to divine enlightenment.

The danger of misuse. The frivolity with which some treat discipline and the self-delusion they attempt to pass off as enlightenment is merely a cheating of their own consciousness which leads only to the pit.

12. The Versatility of Vimalananda: A Life Lived Beyond Limits

Here in India we believe in watching the artist at work, not in looking at the work of the artist.

A multifaceted life. Vimalananda's life was a testament to versatility and a rejection of limitations. He was a scholar, musician, astrologer, physician, wrestler, cook, and artist, excelling in diverse fields and defying easy categorization.

Artistry as being. Vimalananda believed that artistry is not what the artist produces but is the artist himself, producing. He emphasized the importance of creating new artists to maintain the progression of artistry, rather than focusing solely on creating compositions.

A multidimensional being. Vimalananda was a multitude of different people, all in one body. He could be hard and soft by turns, alternately refined and coarse according to his environs. He was charming and profound, and sometimes it may seem that he was in awe of himself.

Last updated: March 17, 2025