The Splendor of Recognition: An Exploration of the Pratyabhijna-Hrdayam, a Text on the Ancient Science of the Soul [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

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.

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.

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.