The Radiance Sutras: 112 Gateways to the Yoga of Wonder and Delight

By Lorin Roche and Shiva Rea

The gateways to wonder and delight are flung open wide for all to enter. At once a beautiful love song and an encyclopedia of yogic techniques, the cherished text known as the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra shimmers with new effulgence in Lorin Roche's The Radiance Sutras. Lorin brings us his unique perspective on each of 112 Sanskrit teachings, along with his one-of-a-kind guidance in how to meditate with, embody, and practice them—what he describes as "answering the call of the sutras you love."

Here is an invitation to experience directly the ecstatic depths of yoga as revealed by the divine partners Shiva and Shakti, through an intimate exploration of:

• The divinity that is permeating your body at this very moment
• The alchemical power of Sanskrit
• Yoga meditation—harmonizing all the elements and levels of your being
• The depths of your connection to the energies of life

Taken as a whole, this teaching is startling in its breadth and the huge range of human experience that it encompasses. This is a book to savor one phrase at a time, over a period of days or years or a lifetime. With The Radiance Sutras, yoga and meditation students everywhere can nurture their own relationship with these living wisdom teachings.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sounds True
• Release date: Aug 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781622031665

Lorin Roche

Lorin Roche, Ph.D., has been a meditation trainer for three decades. Since 1975 he has developed and taught innovative meditation techniques that are specially tailored to North American lifestyles. He lives in Marina del Rey, California.

Book preview

delight.

PART ONE

THE RADIANCE SUTRAS

vijñāna bhairava tantra

BANTER VERSES

The Bhairava Tantra is framed as a conversation between lovers, Devi and Bhairava. Devi is the Creative Energy permeating the universe. Her nature is power, strength, and might. Bhairava is the infinite consciousness that embraces her.

In the initial verses, Devi is speaking from within her awe at existence. She assumes the body of a seeker of truth and dares Bhairava to reveal to her the secrets of yoga. Rising to the occasion, Bhairava accepts her questions as beautiful and invites her to accompany him on the path of intimacy with all life. In verses 1–23, they converse back and forth in this way.

BANTER VERSES 1–2

śrī devyuvāca |

śrutaṁ deva mayā sarvaṁ rudrayāmala sambhavam |

trika bhedam aśeṣeṇa sārāt sāra vibhāgaśaḥ || 1 ||

adyāpi na nivṛtto me saṁśayaḥ parameśvara

kiṁ rūpaṁ tattvato deva śabda rāśi kalā mayam || 2 ||

shree devee uvaacha

shrutam deva mayaa sarvam rudrayaa-mala sam-bhavam

trika-bhedam a-sheshena saaraat–saara-vi-bhaagashah

adya api na ni-vritto me sam-shayah parama–eeshvara

kim roopam tattvatah deva shabda–raashi kalaamayam

One day the Goddess sang to her lover, Bhairava:

Beloved and radiant lord of the space before birth,

Revealer of essence,

Slayer of the ignorance that binds us,

You who in play have created this universe

And permeated all forms in it

With never-ending truth,

I have been wondering . . .

I have been listening to the hymns of creation,

Enchanted by the verses,

Yet still I am curious.

What is this delight-filled universe

Into which we find ourselves born?

What is this mysterious awareness

Shimmering everywhere within it?

BANTER VERSES 3–4

kiṁ vā navātma bhedena bhairave bhairavākṛtau |

triśirobheda bhinnaṁ vā kiṁ vā śakti trayātmakam || 3 ||

nāda bindu mayaṁ vāpi kiṁ candrārdha nirodhikāḥ |

cakrārūḍham anackaṁ vā kiṁ vā śakti svarūpakam || 4 ||

kim vaa nava–aatma–bhedena bhairave bhairava–aakritau

tri-shirah–bheda–abhinnam vaa kim vaa shakti–tri-aatmakam

naada–bindu–mayam vaa api kim chandra–ardha–ni-rodhikaah

chakra–aa-roodham anachkam vaa kim vaa shakti–sva-roopakam

I have been listening to the love songs of

Form longing for formless.

What are these energies

Undulating through our bodies,

Pulsing us into action?

And this matter out of which our forms are made—

What are these dancing particles

Of condensed radiance?

BANTER VERSES 5-6

parāparāyāḥ sakalama parāyāśca vā punaḥ |

parāyā yadi tad vatsyāt paratvaṁ tad virudhyate || 5 ||

na hi varṇa vibhedena dehabhedena vā bhavet |

paratvaṁ niṣkalatvena sakalatve na tad bhavet || 6 ||

prasādaṁ kuru me nātha niḥśeṣaṁ chinddhi saṁśayam |

para–a-paraayaah sakalam a-parayaah cha vaa punah

paraayaa yadi tat vatsyaat paratvam tat vi-rudhyate

na hi varna–vi-bhedena deha–bhedena vaa bhavet

paratvam nish-kalatvena sakalatve na tat bhavet

pra-saadam kuru me naatha

nih-shesham chhindhi sam-shayam

What is this power we call Life,

Appearing as the play of flesh and breath?

How may I know this mystery and enter it more deeply?

My attention is enthralled by a myriad of forms,

Innumerable individual entities everywhere,

Flashing into existence and fading away again.

Lead me into the wholeness beyond all these parts.

Do me a favor, my love.

Let me rest in your embrace.

Refresh me with the elixir of your wisdom.

Ravish me with your truth.

BANTER VERSES 7–9

śrī bhairava uvāca |

sādhu sādhu tvayā pṛṣṭaṁ tantra sāram idam priye || 7 ||

gūha nīyatamam bhadre tathāpi kathayāmi te |

yat kiñcit sakalaṁ rūpaṁ bhairavasya prakīrtitam || 8 ||

tad asāra tayā devi vijñeyaṁ śakra jālavat |

māyā svapnopamaṁ caiva gandharva nagara bhramam || 9 ||

shree bhairava uvaacha

saadhu saadhu tvayaa prishtam tantra–saaram idam priye

gooha-neeyatamam bhadre tatha api kathayaami te

yat kinchit sakalam roopam bhairavasya pra-keertitam

tat a-saaratayaa devi vi-jneyam shakra jaalavat

maayaa–svapna-upamam cha eva gandharva–nagara–bhramam

Bhairava replies,

Beloved, your questions

Touch the heart of wonder,

The path of intimacy with all life—

Weaving together body and soul,

Sex and spirit, individuality and universality.

This is my Cave of Secrets.

Your inquiry has led you here.

I feel your fingers on my pulse.

Come with me.

Leave behind everything you know.

The teachings about me are

A light show put on by the celestial musicians,

As beautiful and insubstantial as clouds.

BANTER VERSES 10-12

dhyānārtham bhrānta buddhīnāṁ kriyāḍambara vartinām |

kevalaṁ varṇitam puṁsāṁ vikalpa nihatātmanām || 10 ||

tattvato na navātmāsau śabda rāśir na bhairavaḥ |

na cāsau triśirā devo na ca śakti trayātmakaḥ || 11 ||

nāda bindu mayo vāpi na candrārdha nirodhikāḥ |

na cakra krama sambhinno na ca śakti svarūpakaḥ || 12 ||

dhyaana–artham bhraanta–buddheenaam

kriyaa–aadambara–vartinam

kevalam varnitam pumsaam vi-kalpa–ni-hataa–aatmanaam

tattvato na nava-aatmaasau shabda-raashih na bhairavah

na cha asau tri-shiraa-devah na cha shakti–tri-aatmakah

naada–bindu-mayah vaa api na chandra-ardha–nirodhikaah

na chakra–krama–sambhinah na cha shakti-sva-roopakah

Elaborate rituals and garish images

May be useful in meditation when your mind is whirling with thoughts

Of sex, money, and power, wandering like an elephant in heat.

Go ahead and use these tools, yet know,

Beating drums and blaring trumpets

Cannot summon the One who is already present.

I am not a collection of incantations

Known only to experts.

I am not a ladder to be climbed,

A sequence for piercing energy centers in your body.

I am not to be found at the end of a long road.

I am right here.

BANTER VERSES 13-14

aprabuddha matīnāṁ hi etā bala vibhīṣikāḥ |

mātṛ modakavat sarvaṁ pravṛtty artham udāhṛtam || 13 ||

dik kāla kalanonmuktā deśoddeśā viśeṣinī |

vyapadeṣṭum aśakyāsāv akathyā paramārthataḥ || 14 ||

aprabuddha–mateenaam hi etaa baala–vi-bheeshikaah

maatri–modakavat sarvam pravritti–artham ud-aahritam

dik–kaala–kalanah un-muktaa deshah ud-deshaa a-vi-sheshinee

vi-apa-deshtum a-shakya asau a-kathyaa parama–arthatah

All the stories about me

Are like tales you tell naughty children—

The goblin is going to come gobble you up!

Or else soothing fables mothers spin

As they hand out sweets.

Leave these fantasies behind.

Let me tell you of the luminous path.

I am beyond measure. I cannot be calculated.

I am beyond space and time.

I am beyond ancient and beyond the future.

There are no directions to me.

BANTER VERSES 15-16

antaḥ svānubhavānandā vikalponmukta gocarā |

yāvasthā bharitākārā bhairavī bhairavātmanaḥ || 15 ||

tad vapus tattvato jñeyaṁ vimalaṁ viśva pūraṇam |

evaṁ vidhe pare tattve kaḥ pūjyaḥ kaśca tṛpyati || 16 ||

antah sva-anubhava aanandaa vi-kalpah un-muktah gocharaa

yaa ava-sthaa bharita–aakaaraa bhairavee bhairava–aatmanah

tad vapuh tattvatah jneyam vi-malam vishva–pooranam

evam vidhe pare tattve kah poojyah kah cha tripyate

I am always here.

I am the embrace

Of your most intimate experience.

Though I am beyond the intellect,

I am not beyond your daring.

I am the nourishing state of fullness

That is the essence of soul.

You belong to me, and I am yours.

My nature is spotless, completely uncontaminated.

I am not covered up, not even by a billion galaxies.

So who is there to worship and adore?

There is no one to appease.

BANTER VERSES 17-19

evaṁ vidhā bhairavasya yāvasthā parigīyate |

sā parā pararūpeṇa parā devī prakīrtitā || 17 ||

śakti śaktimator yadvad abhedaḥ sarvadā sthitaḥ |

atas tad dharma dharmitvāt parā śaktiḥ parātmanaḥ || 18 ||

na vahner dāhikā śaktir vyatiriktā vibhāvyate |

kevalaṁ jñāna sattāyām prārambho'yam praveśane || 19 ||

evam vidhaa bhairavasya yaa ava-sthaa pari-geeyate

saa para–apara–roopena paraa–devee pra-keertitaa

shakti–shaktimatoh yad vat abhedah sarvadaa sthitah

atah tat dharma–dharmitvaat paraa–shaktih paraa–aatmanah

na vanheh daahikaa–shaktih vi-ati-riktaa vi-bhaavyate

kevalam–jnaana-sattaayaam praa–rambhah ayam pra-veshane

Sacred texts sing of my reality,

But I cannot be found in them,

For I am the one listening.

I am always closer than breath.

Heat and fire are not two separate things.

These are just verbal distinctions.

The Goddess and the One who holds Her

Are one and the same.

We are inseparable.

The way to me is through Her.

BANTER VERSES 20-21

śakty avasthā praviṣṭasya nirvibhāgena bhāvanā |

tadāsau śiva rūpī syāt śaivī mukham ihocyate || 20 ||

yathālokena dīpasya kiraṇair bhāskarasya ca |

jñāyate digvibhāgādi tadvac chaktyā śivaḥ priye || 21 ||

shakti–avasthaa-pravishtasya nir–vi-bhaagena bhaavanaa

tadaa asau shiva–roopee syaat shaivee–mukham iha uchyate

yathaa aa-lokena deepasya kiranaih bhaaskarasya cha

jnaayate dic–vibhaaga aadi tad vat shaktyaa shivah priye

I am everywhere, infusing everything.

To find me,

Become absorbed in intense experience.

Go all the way.

Be drenched in the energies of life.

Enter the world beyond separation.

The light of a candle reveals a room.

The rays of the sun reveal the world.

So does the divine feminine

Illumine the way to me.

BANTER VERSES 22-23

śrī devy uvāca |

deva deva triśūlāṅka kapāla kṛta bhūṣaṇa |

dig deśa kāla śūnyā ca vyapadeśa vivarjitā || 22 ||

yāvasthā bharitā kārā bhairavasyopalabhyate |

kair upāyair mukhaṁ tasya parā devi katham bhavet |

yathā samyag ahaṁ vedmi tathā me brūhi bhairava || 23 ||

shree devee uvaacha

deva deva tri-shoola-anka kapaala–krita–bhooshana

dig–desha–kaala–shoonya cha vi-apa-desha-vi–varjitaa

yaa ava-sthaa bharitaa-kaaraa bhairavasya upa-labhyate

kaih upaayaih mukham tasya para–devee katham bhavet

yathaa samyak aham vedmi tathaa me broohi bhairava

She Who Shines Everywhere sings,

You who hold the mysteries in your hand—

Of will, knowledge, and action—

Reveal to me this path of illumined knowing.

I long to merge with you,

Be filled with your nourishing essence.

Lead me into joyous union

With the life of the universe,

That I may know it fully,

Realize it deeply,

And breathe in luminous truth.

YUKTI VERSES

In the body of the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, Bhairava articulates 112 yuktis, or yoga meditation practices, for opening to the divine mystery within everyday experience.

The practices begin in verse 24 and continue to verse 135. The wide variety of techniques allows each individual to find their doorway into wonder, astonishment, and delight.

śrī bhairava uvāca |

ūrdhve prāṇo hyadho jīvo visargātmā paroccaret |

utpatti dvitaya sthāne bharaṇād bharitā sthitiḥ || 24 ||

shree bhairava uvaacha

oordhve praano hi adhas jeevah visarga–aatmaa paraa ud-charet

ut-patti–dvitaya–sthaane bharanaad bharitaa-sthitih

The One Who Is Intimate to All Beings replies,

Beloved, your questions require the answers that come

Through direct living experience.

The way of experience begins with a breath,

Such as the breath you are breathing now.

Awakening into luminous reality

May dawn in the momentary throb

Between any two breaths.

Exhaling, breath is released and flows out.

There is a pulse as it turns to flow in.

In that turn, you are empty.

Enter that emptiness as the source of all life.

Inhaling, breath flows in, filling, nourishing.

Just as it turns to flow out,

There is a flash of pure joy—

Life is renewed.

maruto'ntar bahir vāpi viyad yugmānivartanāt |

bhairavyā bhairavasyettham bhairavi vyajyate vapuḥ || 25 ||

marutah antah bahih vaa api viyat–yugma–anivartanaat

bhairavyaa bhairavasya ittham bhairavi vi-ajyate vapuh

Radiant One,

The life essence carries on its play

Through the pulsing rhythm

Of outward and inward movement.

This is the ceaseless throb, the rhythm of life—

Terrifying in its eternity, exquisite in its constancy.

The inhalation, the return movement of breath,

Sustains life.

The outgoing breath

Purifies life.

These are the two poles

Between which respiration goes on unceasingly.

Between them is every delight you could desire.

Even when the senses are turned outward,

Your attention on the external world,

Attend also to the inner throb,

The pulsing of the creative impulse within you.

na vrajen na viśec chaktir marud rūpā vikāsite |

nirvikalpatayā madhye tayā bhairava rūpatā || 26 ||

na vrajet na vishet shaktih marut–roopa vi-kaasite

nir-vi-kalpatayaa madhe tayaa bhairava–roopataa

Enter these turning points,

Where the rhythms of life transform

Into each other.

Breath flows in, filling, filling,

In this moment, drink eternity.

Breath flows out, emptying, emptying,

Offering itself to infinity.

Cherishing these moments,

Mind dissolves into heart,

Heart dissolves into space,

Body becomes a vibrating field,

Pulsating between fullness and emptiness.

kumbhitā recitā vāpi pūritā vā yadā bhavet |

tad ante śānta nāmāsau śaktyā śāntaḥ prakāśate || 27 ||

kumbhitaa rechitaa vaa api pooritaa yaa yadaa bhavet

tadante shanta naama-asau shaktyaa shantah pra-kaashate

At the end of the exhale,

Breath surrenders to quietude.

For a moment you hang in the balance—

Suspended

In the fertile spaciousness

That is the source of breath.

At the end of the inhale,

Filled with the song of the breath,

There is a moment when you are simply

Holding the tender mystery.

In these interludes,

Experience opens into exquisite vastness

With no beginning and no end.

Embrace this infinity without reservation.

You are its vessel.

āmūlāt kiraṇābhāsāṁ sūkṣmāt sūkṣmatarātmikam |

cintayet tāṁ dviṣaṭkānte śyāmyantīm bhairavodayaḥ || 28 ||

aa-moolaat kirana-aa-bhaasaam sookshmaat sookshma-tara–aatmikam

chintayet taam dvi-shat kaante shaam–yanteem bhairava–udayah

Follow the path of the life force

As she flashes upward like lightning

Through your body.

Attend simultaneously

To the perineum, that bright place

Between the legs,

To the crown of the skull,

And to that shining star-place

Above the head.

Notice this living current

Becoming ever more subtle as she rises,

Radiant as the morning sun,

Until she streams outward from the top of the head

Into all-embracing gratitude.

Thus become intimate with the life of all beings.

udgac chantīṁ taḍit rūpām praticakraṁ kramāt kramam |

ūrdhvaṁ muṣṭitrayaṁ yāvat tāvad ante mahodayaḥ || 29 ||

ud-gachchhanteem tadit–roopam prati-chakram–kramaat–kramam

oordhvam mushti–trayam yaavat taavad ante mahaa–udayah

Trace the river of life that flows through you,

The luxuriously rising energies,

Gradually touching each of the centers

Along the spine.

Savor every shimmer of color along the way.

Enter each area tenderly,

Loving as you go,

Finally, gently,

Dissolving in the crown of the head.

Then above,

In the space above the head,

The great dawn.

krama dvādaśakaṁ samyag dvādaśākṣara bheditam |

sthūla sūkṣma parasthityā muktvā muktvāntataḥ śivaḥ || 30 ||

kramah dvaa-dashakam samyak dvaa-dasha–akshara–bheditam

sthoola–sookshma–para–sthityaa muktva–amuktvaa-antatah shivah

Let your attention glide

Through the centers of awareness along the spine

With adoring intent.

There is a song to each area of the

Reviews for The Radiance Sutras

[Andrew · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a nice 'poetry' book. It is *not* a translation of the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, which I find to be a bit misleading. Nevertheless, it's still lovely poetry, which in itself is worthy of 5 stars, however because it tries to come across as a translation, I've taken off 2 stars.

[Santosh kumar Andra · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The translation was very good, and i have read only the 112 slokas not the second half.