The Relevance of Shaktiism Today

Most of us, myself included, have been shaped by a theology dominated by the male perspective, where the supreme Godhead is typically depicted as male. This cultural norm is reflected in our language, as we often refer to God as 'he'.Shaktiism, however, offers a unique and powerful alternative.

Shaktiism, the source of Ananda Bhairava, is a form of Tantra that celebrates the ultimate reality as feminine, a powerful source of inspiration for women, offering them a unique path to empowerment.

Ananda Bhairava Tantra offers men and women a way to connect to the direct experience of what it means to know, see, seek, and be in a relationship with ultimate reality as feminine instead of masculine.

This approach does not obliterate the need to relate to ultimate reality through male references and that archetype of masculinity.

Shaktiism, Sri Vidya, and Ananda Bhairava provide a platform for all, regardless of gender, to balance the excessive masculine references in our spirituality, fostering a sense of inclusivity and acceptance.

What Is The Ultimate Shakti

The Shakti represents the feminine found in humans, animals, birds, the forces of nature, and the cosmos. However, Shakti is also something beyond all of this, something profoundly mysterious.

The Ultimate Shakti, a profound mystery beyond the visible world yet essential to all life, is the aspect of Shakti we seek to understand. It is this mystery that piques our curiosity and drives our exploration.

This Ultimate Shakti is not something we can speak about, as there are no human language references. For this reason, we turn to Sanskrit mantras, the twilight language, the language of Yoga, and enlightened consciousness. 

The Role Of Mantras In Shaktism

Mantras are central to Shaktiism. However, mantras are never used solely by themselves in Tantra: they are coupled with mudras, visualizations, breathing, and rituals. It is these combinations that characterize Tantra, particularly the path of Sri Vidya.

While any feminine mantra pertains to the shakti, some mantras exclusively point to the Ultimate Shakti. However, you need some knowledge of the philosophy and theology behind it and practices that help you tap into the experience of Ultimate Shakti through the mantra.

In other words, the mantra by itself may or may not deliver the intended experience of the Ultimate Shakti, in contrast to variations of the Shakti. Any and every mantra will offer some form of experience. Since all experiences have energy aspects, how does one identify the distinction of Ultimate Shakti?

Specific Sanskrit mantras related to the Ultimate Shakti can elevate our minds and hearts beyond our egoic conditioning. The patterns found in ancient mantras connect us to birdsong and the rhythms of nature in ways that are inexplicable to the mind.

Our Yogic Mystery School specializes in Sri Vidya, which is the way of auspicious wisdom. Hindus revere this path as it upholds the authority of the Vedas while integrating Yoga and other powerful practices. 

In this tradition, the Ultimate Shakti is Sri Lalita Tripurasundari, whose beauty fills all realms. Shakti is feminine, and on this path, She is the Supreme Being. How important it is for the world to realize, recognize, and acknowledge that the feminine, too, is an aspect of the Absolute Divinity.

Through the philosophy, theology, and cosmology of this unique path, we approach the Absolute Godhead as feminine and with great reverence so that we may know her power and beauty and receive her knowledge and love. However, it is not easy to cut through the layers of illusion that confine us to ego consciousness and its projections of the Shakti.

Understanding the Ultimate Shakti is not a journey one can undertake alone. It requires a combination of human effort and divine grace, which flows from the unseen source that is also the womb of all creation. The practices of mudras (hand gestures) used in combination with mantras (mystical sounds) have the power to transform our understanding of the Ultimate Shakti, leading to profound personal growth and understanding.

When the seeker is genuinely ready, all of these elements can come together to reveal this holy mystery. The soul needs to be ripe enough, for this is no ordinary experience but a profound journey of personal growth and understanding. 

Where does one begin on this path?

Embarking on the Tantric Path begins with understanding where your personal journey intersects with it. Whether you are new to this tradition or have a deep understanding of it, your starting point is unique to you.

It's important to note that someone who is unfamiliar with the formal tradition might have accumulated many spiritual abilities over their lifetime, even without the formal terminology. And some, with relatively mediocre knowledge, might assume they know more than they actually do.

Similarly, those who have done a lot of study might not have actually grown much: their knowledge is more about the tradition than about themselves.