Tantrasara of Abhinavagupta - H.N. Chakravarty trans OCR (283p) [Anomolous].pdf

Tantrasara of Abhinavagupta - H.N. Chakravarty trans OCR (283p) [Anomolous].pdf

OCRed version
Don't let the fact that it was published by Rudra Press put you off.

Paperback: 268 pages
Publisher: Rudra Press; 1ST edition (2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0915801787
ISBN-13: 978-0915801787

Indian Tantric practice has an unbroken tradition dating back thousands of years. One of its greatest exponents was Abhinavagupta, the 10th century spiritual teacher, scholar, poet and mystic whose masterwork, Tantraloka, is encyclopedic in length (thirty-three volumes) and as yet unavailable in English. Now, however, comes Tantrasara, Abhinavagupta's own brief prose guide to Tantraloka, in a masterful new English translation by the renowned Pandit H.N. Chakravarty. Completed shortly before his death, this long-awaited volume takes us directly into the world of esoteric Tantric philosophy and practice. It deals with topics such as: the nature of the ultimate reality, consciousness itself; the creative energy underlying all manifestation; and the ritual and inner practices that awaken, sustain, and bring this awareness to fruition. The Tantrasara lays a solid foundation for understanding Tantric spiritual practice with clarity and depth.

This translation of Abhinavagupta's Tantrasara provides a clear understanding of self-realization though Tantra. It's a beautiful translation, and while the material is not easy to digest, I highly recommend reading this work by Abhinavagupta since it will shed light on the different aspects of reality and self-realization. It's not necessary to master the text on the first reading since further reading will reveal more as one gains familiarity with the topics. The text contains significant portions that express the intricacies of consciousness without dwelling too much on the rituals of this tradition. I have learnt a lot from this text as well as from other texts in Tantra, Advaita Vedanta, Zen, Yoga, Tibetan Bhuddism and other traditions of spiritual philosophy. The author of this book was a true non-dualist who cared deeply about the well-being of all beings. I highly recommend this book for those who are familiar with the terminology of Kashmir Shaivism as well as for non-dualists who are looking to see the same truth presented from a different perspective to enrich their understanding and experience of reality.