Pratyabhijna

* Pratyabhijna *

"The world of samsara is a product of the limitations of maya. These limitations cause the individual to remain bound, with a restricted viewpoint regarding his identity and capacities; this restriction causes him to forget his true nature. Pratyabhijna teaches therefore that in order to overcome this false viewpoint, one must recognize that samsara is not a separate reality, but is a manifestation of Siva. When the individual acquires the recognition that Siva not only enjoys svatantrya, or freedom, but exists also in everything that is limited and bound, he immediately recognizes that he, in turn, is identified with that which is unlimited and absolutely free.

Recognition implies that on every level, in every aspect of perception and of existence, the individual must recognize his unity with Siva. If the universe is said to undergo a particular process, this process is necessarily recognized as one that may be experienced by the individual. If Siva is said to constitute the whole universe, so, then does the individual. In the explanation of how this operates, the texts emphasize the innate unity of the elements in the universe, and it will be seen that the same terms are applied to the processes of both the ultimate self and the invidiual one."

Introduction to Utpaladeva's Sivastotravali