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Tripura Rahasya: The Mystery beyond the Trinity
Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi often quoted from the Tripura Rahasya and considered it to be one of the greatest works explaining the traditional teachings of Advaita. This book is not to be picked up,read through and put away.The verses are full of Divine nectar which will quench the thirst of any earnest seeker who repeatedly reflects on their meaning and in right earnest,attempts to implement the teaching. In this fascinating scripture,through stories and analogies,the entire spectrum of spiritual pursuit and attainment is laid out in clear terms.Every sadhaka,serious about attaining the supreme goal of life,should apply him or herself to the teachings of the Tripura Rahasya.
- GenresSpirituality
306 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2006
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97 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 31, 2017
We might have heard people saying that the Indian wisdom is ageless and superior to all that west can offer as all that they can talk about is on material plane in the name of science (external) but and our civilization is great in inner sciences and have given birth to peaceful (actually peaceful) religions or simply methods to experience the supreme being. Have you ever thought why when people throughout the world use the word – spirituality, their gaze is turned towards India? There must be a reason, isn’t? The terms like ancient wisdom, spirituality, inner sciences etc., have their meaning and existence owing to India.
I have encountered dilemmas many times when I discussed with people about the treasure or wisdom that India offers to the world when it came to authoritatively quoting the sources because all that I have been saying is knowledge acquired through other’s opinions but not based on reading the original source. I have some time ago read a book about lord Shiva written by Swami Sivananda of Divine life society, but that is it and later did a “bare” reading of Gita and Vijnana Bhairava Tantra once, but that is it. It is understood that one must read the aforementioned books many number of times simply to understand its essence, but still that first time reading did not shake me, it is surely because of my inability to get grasp, nothing else.
Accidentally some time ago I landed on “Who am I” – a small compilation of Bhagwan Ramana Maharishi’s answers to some of the existential questions asked by his disciples. It is often said that for most of the questions asked by his disciples, Bhagwan Ramana Maharishi answered them by quoting or referring to Tripura Rahasya and Vashista Yoga. It is only then I have decided to read the original source. I began with Tripura Rahasya. As I have read it page by page on a daily basis as if it is a daily prayer, I have understood that why the whole world looks up to India when it comes to “spirituality”, why the modern political, social and religious ideas of book based belief systems looks like the scribbling of kindergarten kids. I am bedazzled.
The superficial notions I have had on what is real and what is not were shattered. The concept of Karma, the necessity to investigate, requirement of associating with the wise, problems with Vaasanas, the concept of beauty, what is pure knowledge and what is ignorance, what is bondage and what is liberation, what is time and what is space, what are different levels of consciousness, different classes of sages, is this world real? Problems with ego, the knower and knowable and much more is explained in detail by Lord Dattatreya to Parasurama. Fundamentally it helps us transcend the three states – Waking, sleeping and dreaming and experience the I, or consciousness or simply God?
At the end of the session Lord Datta says that it is important that one should contemplate on this matter to improve the understanding on this subject. It is also said that if one does not acquire Vidya (knowledge, intelligence) even after reading this then Lord Shiva also cannot help him. And precisely because of that reason I would be re-reading it many more times, and probably write short commentaries chapter wise to improve my understanding. It is a must read for all Humans.
I have encountered dilemmas many times when I discussed with people about the treasure or wisdom that India offers to the world when it came to authoritatively quoting the sources because all that I have been saying is knowledge acquired through other’s opinions but not based on reading the original source. I have some time ago read a book about lord Shiva written by Swami Sivananda of Divine life society, but that is it and later did a “bare” reading of Gita and Vijnana Bhairava Tantra once, but that is it. It is understood that one must read the aforementioned books many number of times simply to understand its essence, but still that first time reading did not shake me, it is surely because of my inability to get grasp, nothing else.
Accidentally some time ago I landed on “Who am I” – a small compilation of Bhagwan Ramana Maharishi’s answers to some of the existential questions asked by his disciples. It is often said that for most of the questions asked by his disciples, Bhagwan Ramana Maharishi answered them by quoting or referring to Tripura Rahasya and Vashista Yoga. It is only then I have decided to read the original source. I began with Tripura Rahasya. As I have read it page by page on a daily basis as if it is a daily prayer, I have understood that why the whole world looks up to India when it comes to “spirituality”, why the modern political, social and religious ideas of book based belief systems looks like the scribbling of kindergarten kids. I am bedazzled.
The superficial notions I have had on what is real and what is not were shattered. The concept of Karma, the necessity to investigate, requirement of associating with the wise, problems with Vaasanas, the concept of beauty, what is pure knowledge and what is ignorance, what is bondage and what is liberation, what is time and what is space, what are different levels of consciousness, different classes of sages, is this world real? Problems with ego, the knower and knowable and much more is explained in detail by Lord Dattatreya to Parasurama. Fundamentally it helps us transcend the three states – Waking, sleeping and dreaming and experience the I, or consciousness or simply God?
At the end of the session Lord Datta says that it is important that one should contemplate on this matter to improve the understanding on this subject. It is also said that if one does not acquire Vidya (knowledge, intelligence) even after reading this then Lord Shiva also cannot help him. And precisely because of that reason I would be re-reading it many more times, and probably write short commentaries chapter wise to improve my understanding. It is a must read for all Humans.
January 4, 2023
▪️In my entire life so far, this book, I would say, is the best and most enlightening book.
▪️This book is a guide/Users Manual to " *SELF-REALIZATION* "
▪️Every seeker of Absolute Truth and Aspirant of Atma Vidya (True Knowledge) who wants to end his/her spell of delusion and come out from her slumber of ignorance, must keep this book at her home and read it again and again and practise the methods suggested in this book.
▪️This book is considered one of the crest jewels of Adwaita Philosophy.
▪️Most part of this book is in the form of dialogue between *Śrī Dattatreya* and His disciple Śrī Parshurama, where Parshurama seeks knowledge about Transcendental essence and Dattatreya expounds upon the Real 'SELF', answers all his queries through various stories and his profound dialectics and presents to him the ultimate TRUTH in the most incisive, naked and precise form.
▪️The central theme is "Transcendental Consciousness" / Supreme Consciousness in which this entire Cosmos illumine like an object just like objects are reflected in a mirror. So, inside us the essence of that Transcendental Consciousness shines as "SELF" which is the subject in which all objects of outer world appear like object in mirror.
▪️Our senses are outwardly bound that's why we remain in oblivion or ignorance of our "SELF"/Supreme Consciousness.
🔰 "TRIPURA" basically here means transcending the 3 states of consciousness viz. Waking state, Dream State and Deep Sleep state there is a 4th state of consciousness, which is called Transcendental Consciousness (Turiya) which we can attain when our Intellect becomes purified, and sense of ego annihilates, and in that state the Object (this world and all modifications) becomes one with the Subject (SELF), so no duality remains. This UNMODIFIED INTELLIGENCE is called *TRIPURA* the Supreme Goddess.
Remain in this state of Consciousness and identifying all phenomena, objects as SELF only is the ultimate stage of all spiritual accomplishment. This is the highest state of knowledge (Jnana) and such a Jnani gets emancipation.
▪️Unlike other metaphysical treatises, where the Supreme Consciousness is given a masculine identity by identifying Him with Sadashiva or Narayana, here the Supreme Consciousness is in the form of feminine, called *Goddess TRIPURA* .
She is the ONLY SUPREME CONSCIOUSNESS and all Cosmos and Gods like Sadashiva, Ishwara, Rudras, Visnus and Brahmas in all Universes are emerged out of Her and She illumines all of them, She is the source of power to all of them just like Intellect, Mind and body derive their power from SELF or Soul inside us.
In Shakta tradition, this Goddess is also called *Tripurasundarī* or *Lalitā Tripurasundarī* or *Rājarājeśvarī* or *Shodashi* . That's why Śrīvidyā is called the highest form of Sadhana.
▪️I have thoroughly relished this awesome ambrosia. One time read is not enough. We have to read it again and again.
Bhagwan Śrī Ramana Maharshi recommended all true seekers to read this book.
Again, I would say, this is one of the best books (in all genres) I have read so far.
▪️This book is a guide/Users Manual to " *SELF-REALIZATION* "
▪️Every seeker of Absolute Truth and Aspirant of Atma Vidya (True Knowledge) who wants to end his/her spell of delusion and come out from her slumber of ignorance, must keep this book at her home and read it again and again and practise the methods suggested in this book.
▪️This book is considered one of the crest jewels of Adwaita Philosophy.
▪️Most part of this book is in the form of dialogue between *Śrī Dattatreya* and His disciple Śrī Parshurama, where Parshurama seeks knowledge about Transcendental essence and Dattatreya expounds upon the Real 'SELF', answers all his queries through various stories and his profound dialectics and presents to him the ultimate TRUTH in the most incisive, naked and precise form.
▪️The central theme is "Transcendental Consciousness" / Supreme Consciousness in which this entire Cosmos illumine like an object just like objects are reflected in a mirror. So, inside us the essence of that Transcendental Consciousness shines as "SELF" which is the subject in which all objects of outer world appear like object in mirror.
▪️Our senses are outwardly bound that's why we remain in oblivion or ignorance of our "SELF"/Supreme Consciousness.
🔰 "TRIPURA" basically here means transcending the 3 states of consciousness viz. Waking state, Dream State and Deep Sleep state there is a 4th state of consciousness, which is called Transcendental Consciousness (Turiya) which we can attain when our Intellect becomes purified, and sense of ego annihilates, and in that state the Object (this world and all modifications) becomes one with the Subject (SELF), so no duality remains. This UNMODIFIED INTELLIGENCE is called *TRIPURA* the Supreme Goddess.
Remain in this state of Consciousness and identifying all phenomena, objects as SELF only is the ultimate stage of all spiritual accomplishment. This is the highest state of knowledge (Jnana) and such a Jnani gets emancipation.
▪️Unlike other metaphysical treatises, where the Supreme Consciousness is given a masculine identity by identifying Him with Sadashiva or Narayana, here the Supreme Consciousness is in the form of feminine, called *Goddess TRIPURA* .
She is the ONLY SUPREME CONSCIOUSNESS and all Cosmos and Gods like Sadashiva, Ishwara, Rudras, Visnus and Brahmas in all Universes are emerged out of Her and She illumines all of them, She is the source of power to all of them just like Intellect, Mind and body derive their power from SELF or Soul inside us.
In Shakta tradition, this Goddess is also called *Tripurasundarī* or *Lalitā Tripurasundarī* or *Rājarājeśvarī* or *Shodashi* . That's why Śrīvidyā is called the highest form of Sadhana.
▪️I have thoroughly relished this awesome ambrosia. One time read is not enough. We have to read it again and again.
Bhagwan Śrī Ramana Maharshi recommended all true seekers to read this book.
Again, I would say, this is one of the best books (in all genres) I have read so far.
April 25, 2012
An enlightening book about the nature of reality and the path of self-discovery. I have read it five times and each time this book reveals deeper meanings. I highly recommend it for anyone who has questions about the self, the universe, our purpose in life and the nature of consciousness.
November 20, 2022
सिद्धगुरु शिवानन्दलाई धन्यवाद । गुरु दत्तात्रेयलाई धन्यवाद ।
May 29, 2018
A book one should read only if one is a genuine spiritual seeker and it's specially not for the argumentative ones who want to show off their knowledge by reading books. There are certain things which are best be felt. When logic subsides, the consciousness begins. Read it and be illuminated.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews