Synopses & Reviews
Pilgrims to Openness introduces the heart of authentic Indian Tantra in a series of lyrical, readable essays that speak with warmth, intelligence and compassion to the curious beginner and more adept practitioner alike. The essays follow the path from the first fleeting recognition of one's real nature to integration of the fruits of spiritual practice with every moment of life. Many of the essays were prompted by queries from students to the author. Heartfelt questions, such as Do I need a Guru, and more philosophical topics are addressed in a simple, lucid, gutsy and often humorous style. No topic is off limits, from difficult emotions to love relationships, death, kundalini, chakras, boredom, the meaning of nonduality and how to wake up-in the morning and for all time. While Pilgrims to Openness is a series of teachings, not a how-to manual, the final pages of the book offer detailed instructions for three key practices that anyone can do. Shambhavi Sarasvati has trained for more than twenty years in the view and practices of North Indian direct realization Tantra. She has been fortunate to have studied with several great teachers in Indian and Tibetan nondual traditions. She has both a practitioner's and an academic grounding in Tantra. Her non-mystical view is that Tantra is a way to learn about and live in the fullness of Reality. This is Self-realization. Nothing more or less.
Synopsis
In nearly 70 heart- and mind-opening teachings, Pilgrims to Openness lays bare the compelling view of Kashmir Shaivism (Trika Shaivism, direct realization Tantra) and offers the reader powerful guidance for embodying greater freedom and fulfillment in human life. Shambhavi Sarasvati is a gifted teacher who has been deeply engaged in practice and study for more than thirty-five years. With compassion, wry humor, and insight, she leads the reader to understand precisely how our everyday lives can function as spiritual practice-eating, sleeping, moving, working, and relating to other people. "We don't have to concoct, contrive or conceptualize a 'spiritual' life. The life-process is the process of awakening, and it is already underway." Pilgrims to Openness invites you to enter into a transformative conversation with wisdom, world, and Self.
Shambhavi begins by presenting a fresh view of Kashmir Shaivism that is true to this ancient tradition, but speaks powerfully to the lives of contemporary people. At the heart of Kashmir Shaivism is uncontrived naturalness: the profound relaxation of body, energy, self-concept, and mind. Such relaxation leads inevitably to a life filled with spontaneity and wonder. Pilgrims to Openness is alive with personal anecdotes and encounters. Along the way, no subject is off limits, from difficult emotions, such as loneliness, to love relationships, death, kundalini, chakras, boredom, and how to wake up in the morning and for all time. The final pages offer detailed instructions for three key practices aimed at beginners and more seasoned practitioners alike.
Pilgrims to Openness is the winner of a 2010 national IPPY award in the category of best new books about religion from independent publishers.