A small collection of teaching from Tantraloka of Abhinavagupta.
Shiva and Shakti are identical, the difference being just in name (Tantraloka, commentary I.159).
Abhinavagupta accepts the universal and absolute pure
consciousness as the only given reality and establishes Shakti (the primordial
energy principle) as the very essential nature of such Supreme Reality.
The aspect of the pure and perfect I-consciousness is His
static aspect in which He is known as Shiva and the aspect of His phenomenal
manifestation through the five divine activities (creation, sustenance,
destruction, dissolution and blessings) is His dynamic aspect in which He is
known as Shakti. Shiva is thus the basic eternal Reality and Shakti is the
nature of such Absolute Reality.
Shiva brings about the manifestation of the world by means
of His svatantrya (Shakti) or absolute autonomy by which he effects all changes
without undergoing any change in Himself. (Tantraloka III.195-196)
The world is abhasa (pratibimba) projected or reflected in
the mirror of cosmic consciousness. Just as earth, water, etc., are reflected
in a clean mirror without being mixed, so also the entire world of objects appears
together in the one Universal Consciousness (Tantraloka, III.4)
If the Ultimate Reality did not manifest, it would no longer
be consciousness or Self, but something like an object or non-Self. (Tantraloka,
III.100)
All gods, knowledge, disciplines, mystic circles, tridents,
mystic circular diagrams are normally present in the body. Beyond this there is
no other place which could be found suitable for perfect worship (Tantraloka XXIX.
171-172)
In order to obtain liberation, one should have proper Deeksha
(initiation) from an able guru. Through the power of grace of such a guru, a
sadhaka may obtain a secret mantra, which leads to liberation (Tantraloka
IV.59, XIII. 158, XVI. 269-270, XXVIII.193). However, to achieve this, proper
japa and true bhavana (contemplation) are required. As japa is used in its real
sense, so is the bhavana applied to one’s essential self (Tantraloka I.90).
Moksha is realization of one’s true nature (Tantraloka
I.156).