Vigyana Bhairava Tantra

topic posted Sun, April 13, 2008 - 2:44 PM by  Swami
anybody read this book
From Osho
My Recommendation
Hi Swami
posted by:
Swami
Serbia & Montenegro
  • Re: Vigyana Bhairava Tantra

    Tue, April 15, 2008 - 11:45 PM
    Sorry to x-post this but I want folks to be aware of the alternative versions.

    Recommended versions of the Vijnana-Bhairava-Tantra:

    _Vijnanabhairava or Divine Consciousness: A Treasury of 112 Types of Yoga_ by Jaideva Singh. A major strength of this version is that Singh is probably more conversant with Kashmir Saivism than any of the other translators and would-be commentators with the exception of his guru Swami Lakshmanjoo. Another strength is his annotation to the text. The text is presented this way:
    1) The Sanskrit text in Nagari script
    2) Transliteration, followed by
    3) The English translation
    4) Commentary

    A version which has a lot going for it is Saraswati Satyasangananda’s _Sri Vijnana Bharava Tantra: the ascent_ . One by one, each of the verses are presented in the following way:
    1)The Sanskrit text (Devanagari script)
    2) A transliteration of the Sanskrit text using English letters
    3) A word by word break-down (translation) of the text (anvaya)
    4)The English translation of the text
    5)A commentary to the text
    “Appendix A” is the entire Sanskrit text presented without commentary.
    “Appendix B” is the entire English translation presented without commentary.

    Two other versions that can be recommended are by the famous teacher of Kasmir Saivism; Swami Lakshmanjoo:

    _Vijnana Bhairava: The Practice of Centring Awareness_ commentary by Swami Lakshman Joo
    _Vijnana Bhairava, The Manual for Self Realization_ Audio recording of Swami Lakshmanjoo


    Versions I definitely *can’t* recommend:

    _The Book of Secrets: 112 Keys to the Mystery Within_ by Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (aka Osho). This version is very seriously flawed!

    _Zen Flesh, Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings_ by Paul Reps.

    _Subtle Bodies: Meditation and Sensuous Experience: A Version of the Vijnanabhairava Tantra_ by Lorin Roche

    Online versions

    English translation by Daniel Odier: www.danielodier.com/ENGLISH/...na_e.html

    Sanskrit transliteration: w3.uniroma1.it/studiorien...00skr08.htm

    Paul Reps translation: www.spiritual-learning.com/cent....html

    Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (aka Osho) translation: www.totallyok.com/secret/
    • Re: Vigyana Bhairava Tantra

      Fri, April 18, 2008 - 6:42 AM
      oh i have the book of secrets by Osho. its amazing. i really find it more useful than most other books since it gives techniques.
      • Re: Vigyana Bhairava Tantra

        Fri, April 18, 2008 - 9:07 AM
        If you have found Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (aka Osho)'s version useful I strongy recommend you check out Saraswati Satyasangananda’s _Sri Vijnana Bharava Tantra: the ascent_

        It is a commentay on the same scripture as the Book of Secrets, but the translations are better and the explanations of the tehniques are truer to the siddha traditions the scripture came from. I have no real problem with neo-tanra but why have a hamburger when you can have steak?

        Also Satyasangananda’s version is cheaper (esp. when you buy from India).

        I absolutely aggree that Vijnanabarava-tantra is amazing, and is immediately useful to both newbies and old-timers.

        Warm wishes,
        Ryan