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| Guruji Amritananda Natha Saraswati |
Sri Abhinavagupta, in his Tantraloka, mentions three kinds of spiritual knowledge:
Knowledge from the scriptures (Āgama).
Knowledge from the Guru (teacher).
Spontaneous knowledge arising naturally from within (Svataḥ-siddha, samsiddhika).
He beautifully states, citing the Kirana Tantra [Tantraloka 4.41]: gurutaḥ śāstrataḥ svataḥ , highlighting that spontaneous knowledge surpasses even the wisdom gained from scriptures and teachers.
Yet, we should approach this profound truth with humility. How many people fully realize their inner spiritual genius solely through spontaneous awakening? While the seed of spontaneous realization lies within every soul, genuinely embodying such self-recognition (pratyabhijna)—consistently experiencing one's unity with the Divine, free from illusion and limitations—is indeed uncommon.
This rarity does not diminish its possibility; it merely emphasizes that, for most sincere seekers, the compassionate wisdom and practical methods offered by Tradition (Guru, Shastra, Sadhu-sangha, Sampradaya) provide invaluable support on their journey.
A living Tradition is never merely a rigid set of rules or dogmas; it breathes, adapts, and remains open to fresh insights. Yet we must honestly acknowledge that even genuine traditions can carry human limitations—hierarchies, rigidity, and dogmatism may sometimes creep in, overshadowing the original spiritual essence. Modernity presents further challenges, as explored in depth elsewhere (see "The Collapsing Pillars of Tradition. "), pushing traditional pathways to evolve rapidly or risk losing relevance.
Thus, a balanced approach becomes necessary—embracing tradition respectfully, yet lightly enough to allow spontaneous wisdom to arise naturally. To entirely dismiss tradition might be akin to mastering the violin without guidance: possible, but likely missing nuances that only skillful teaching can illuminate. On the other hand, excessive dependence on tradition could limit creativity, innovation, and genuine independent insight. This is exactly what we observe with brilliant artists like Claude Monet or Picasso, who, while deeply rooted in classical painting traditions, courageously transcended their boundaries and developed entirely new artistic styles. Rigid adherence to tradition can block multiplex thinking (about this thinking I spoke in the post Seeing from the Arunachala: Embracing Multiplex Awareness )—the very capacity needed for breakthroughs, originality, and authentic spiritual realization.
Every diamond, even the purest, shines most radiantly after meeting the cutter's skillful hands. Tradition, at its finest, serves as that gentle, precise cutter—shaping, refining, but never overshadowing our inherent, spontaneous brilliance.
Ultimately, we must recognize that spontaneous realization is not distant or reserved for a spiritual elite; it is an innate potential waiting patiently within each of us, supported and enhanced—but never created—by the loving guidance of authentic Tradition.
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