To understand Shiva the ancient Rishis recommended 4 steps: Anavopaya - disciplining the ego Anava - meditation Saktopaya - activating the energy centres by centering one's attention in silence Sambavopaya - freeing oneself from thought

To understand Shiva the ancient Rishis recommended 4 steps:
Anavopaya - disciplining the ego
Anava - meditation
Saktopaya - activating the energy centres by centering one's attention in silence
Sambavopaya - freeing oneself from thought

'Tapo yoga gamya', is a verse from Veda Saara Shiva Stotram by Adishankaracharya, which means Lord Shiva can be known through tapa , penance and yoga. A different verse from Veda Saara Shiva Stotram by Adishankaracharya, "Shruti Gyan Gamyah'' suggests that Shiva can be understood through the knowledge of the shrutis that you hear deep in meditation. Only through meditation; through the depth of the wisdom of the shrutis can you understand what Shiva is. By chanting Om, you can know Shiva. Om is not something that you repeat. It is something that you hear. Through Omkaara you can know Shiva if you go deep into Omkara, the primordial sound of the Universe.
Without yoga, Shiva can’t be experienced. Yoga doesn’t mean only physical postures but yoga is that experience of Shiva which happens in meditation. It is when that ‘wow’ happens from within. We have three states of consciousness – waking, dreaming and sleeping, and there is a fourth state of consciousness where we are neither awake, nor dreaming, nor sleeping. It is a state where the mind is awake but the body is resting, and you know you are present, but do not know where you are - this is Shiva. That glimpse of the fourth state is what is called Shiva Tattva. When you sit and meditate, you get in touch with the Shiva Tattva deep inside you. This state gives you the deepest rest possible that you can experience.! Hari Om Tat Sat ~ Shivoham Shivoham! 🌀🙏🏻🌀