Sublime

This mantra is sometimes referred to as the swan mantra because haṁsa means “swan” in Sanskrit, and if you try to superimpose SĀ-HAṀ on the breath, you’ll notice that after a few rounds it starts to sound like HAṀ-SA.

Advaita means ‘non-duality’. Used to describe Shankara’s perspective on vedanta, it indicates the inseparability of the salt and the water in the story about Shvetaketu. To Shankara, in the 9th century ce, ultimate reality and the self were identical, and his task was to explain why people failed to realize this.

While I touched genuine peace and openheartedness, my inner critic continued to assess my level of purity. I mistrusted myself for the ways I would pretend to be positive when underneath I felt lonely or afraid. While I loved the yoga and meditation practices, I was embarrassed by my need to impress others with the strength of my practice. I wanted

Many Śrīvidyā adepts don’t strictly identify themselves as Vedik or Tāntrik, being comfortable with seamlessly incorporating the various philosophies in their personal sādhanā. In fact, the LSN describes Devī as the embodiment of both the Vedas (see N539) and the Tantras (see N724).