The Splendor of Recognition: An Exploration of the Pratyabhijna-hrdayam, a Text on the Ancient Science of the Soul [Paperback]

Swami Shantananda (Author), Peggy Bendet (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2003

Unique in its combination of scriptural erudition and experiential wisdom, this book makes accessible the true philosophy of Tantra and Kashmir Shaivism for dedicated students of yoga and Eastern philosophy.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Swami Shantananda guides the reader through an exploration of the Pratyabhijna-hrdayam, an eleventh-century Shaivite scripture that crystallizes in twenty brief statements the teachings on the process of "recognition": the illusion-dispelling awareness that the cosmos in all its variety (including the reader himself!) is a manifestation of God's own being. Swamiji writes, "For me, the most exciting aspect of Shaivism is precisely this: the power of our own awareness to create an extraordinary reality in every moment of our life."

Through lively analysis and vivid examples from his own spiritual journey, Swamiji gives readers the means of engaging with these exalted teachings directly. In the words of Professor Paul E. Muller-Ortega, "Swami Shantananda's commentary on the Pratyabhijna-hrdayam signals a new moment in the evolution of the Western encounter with the esoteric traditions of medieval Shaivism, a moment in which many decades of dedicated practice combine with many years of careful and traditional study of a scripture to give rise to a quite beautiful result: a book that makes accessible to many what otherwise would remain inaccessible to most."

This book is unique in engaging both the analytical and the experiential, making an essential and abstruse text of Kashmir Shaivism--perhaps the most refined system of Indian philosophical thought--available to advanced seekers and students of yoga and meditation so that they can contemplate its wisdom and apply it in their daily lives.

About the Author

Swami Shantananda studied art history at the University of London and has been studying Kashmir Shaivism for thirty years. He teaches Siddha Yoga meditation courses and leads retreats around the world under the guidance of meditation master Gurumayi Chidvilasananda.

Product Details

• Paperback: 446 pages
• Publisher: Siddha Yoga Publications (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1930939000
• ISBN-13: 978-1930939004
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #894,917 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A masterpiece: Powerful insight into Kashmir Shaivist Philosophy, August 21, 2005

By 

John Amram - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Splendor of Recognition: An Exploration of the Pratyabhijna-hrdayam, a Text on the Ancient Science of the Soul (Paperback)

This book is a gem. Kashmir Shaivism is the most profound of ancient Indian scriptural philosophies, and the few commentaries available on these divine texts have almost exclusively been written by highly specialised scholars. This has historically made it quite difficult for the ordinary person to grasp the stupendous wisdom and knowledge contained in these texts.

Kashmir Shaivist texts are about one thing: The Science of God Realisation based on the premise that everything within and without is a manifestation of God. The ultimate recognition of this fact is what some describe as enlightenment.

The reason why The Splendor of Recognition by Swami Shantananda is such a masterpiece, is due to the fact that it is also written from the perspective of a true practioner. And so it is wonderfully accessible to the serious student of self realisation, with beautiful, sometimes funny but always profound personal experiences highlighting a particular teaching. Shantananda encourages the reader to practice some of the contemplations, which in my case at least, have managed to open profound new vistas of expanded awareness.

Anyone seriously interested in the nature of God/Self will find this book a true revelation, and possibly the master key that opens one to the actual experience of innate divinity.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, November 19, 2004

By 

Carol Hickler (Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Splendor of Recognition: An Exploration of the Pratyabhijna-hrdayam, a Text on the Ancient Science of the Soul (Paperback)

I found this to be a well written book that breathed life into my understanding of this very refined philosophy. Swami Shantananda has succeeded in presenting the Pratyabhijna-Hrdayam in a way that is both scholarly yet applicable to our own lives and the way we see the world. Drawing from his own experience, he offers rich examples that illustrate the principles of this text and leaves me inspired to learn more about Kashmir Shaivism.

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Most coherent starting book on pratyabhijna heard of, December 1, 2005

By 

swami prakasananda - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Splendor of Recognition: An Exploration of the Pratyabhijna-hrdayam, a Text on the Ancient Science of the Soul (Paperback)

Like some reviews have said, this book is perfect for bridging the gap between the level of knowledge of the common yogi, even the common non-yogi, and the complex and hard to understand esoteric teachings of kashmir shaivism (for example, quantum physics terminology could be considered esoteric.)

Pratyabhijna is part of kashmir shaivism, and siddha yoga includes kashmir shaivism and vedanta, and it seems to be a fairly unique mixture of the two. Swami Shantananda is fairly in to Siddha yoga to say the least, and has been studying kashmir shaivism for 30 years. A fair number of people seem to agree that pratyabhijna and other philosophies are rather hard to understand without an understanding of the core of kashmir shaivism thought, which is generally considered to be the Shiva Sutras. Swami Shantananda does a fairly good job of explaining most things, mostly from a practical point of view.

I feel that a few key things that he leaves out is that, essentially, your effort is not the means but is meant, what technique you use does not necessarily matter as long as you practice it one-pointedly, that is without initiating any thoughts or daydreaming but absolutely pauselessly. And anger, force, violence, kill god consciousness--destroys your progress. And focusing on one thing in particular, especially when you haven't developed awareness, negates knowledge of everything that is not that one thing. Supreme consciousness is the reality of everything (caitanyamatma); this is the first sutra of the shiva sutras.

Swami Shantananda covers the basic techniques of pratyabhijna and focuses quite a bit, it would seem, on Siddha yoga techniques, and he talks quite a bit about mantras and in the manner he does, gives the impression of reciting mantras aloud. In the case of the shiva sutras, at least in shaktopaya, your mind is essentially the mantra, that your mind contains all the saktis that the mantras contain and that, at least when you have developed enough purity and awareness, your mind truly is a mantra and only then can you use them for the purpose of any given mantra.

This book suffices for pratyabhijna, but I think the shiva sutras by swami lakshmanjoo would be necessary to fully elaborate on the key points listed above, as well as a few other major points, so that you the reader and/or possibly yogi, will have a better understanding of how the geography of awareness is defined, so that you may never go astray.

My less than full star review is mostly due to having not gained much new, as having already thoroughly studied the shiva sutras and the hrdayam, and was looking for the next step essentially (which is probably something very esoteric and ancient) but has opened my eyes to the existance of a yoga group nearby that practices kashmir shaivite philosophy, Siddha yoga. hope at least some of this has helped.