Swedish Bhairavi Says: ”Refining the Gaze, Focus & Perspective”

In Siddha Tantra, the teachings move like an artful dance. In the course specifically; one week the spotlight is on Grāhyatā, receptivity grasping power, another week on Ekāgratā, single-pointed focus. Yet nothing stands alone. We bring something up, then another, then return to the first, until they begin to coexist, intertwine and mature together within you. That is the nature of Tantra, weaving of practices, experiences and perspectives, evolving, spiraling upward.

Even though each week carries a specific emphasis, the entire body of teachings lives as one. This week’s reflections on gaze, Ekāgratā “focus” and Smriti “memory” are part of that same living thread and will help contribute to your overall perspectives and experience in life.

The gaze and the drishti that one has cultivated is highly important..

I can tell you about a judgement drishti from my side which straight up costed me, at that time, to be excluded from using a very precious item of alchemy. I will not say exactly what it was but it was an item that Bhairav ji, after some time of practices together revealed and let sit by our then practice space. The item was to be used for many different auspicious things and it had its own hand made fabric casing. Bhairav ji didn't introduce the item or say the specialness of it before hand. At that time I didn't even know much about alchemical sciences or precious items.

One day when I was doing my daily yoga asana practices I had my head in a direction which was close to the item. And with my - dare I say - Swedish stickler mindset, my eye gazed at the item and the fabric around it. Forgive me once again for this, but I saw that there was what looked like some type of mould or similar and my mind went in a mind loop of fear and complete gross material reality where I started thinking about whether it is really good with something mouldy around when I'm doing asana pranayama taking deep breaths in?

Almost immediately, as straight forward as I sometimes am, I said it to Bhairav ji, that ”is it mould on this, is it really good to have it where we practice?” And for those of you who are more refined than I was at that time or who understand the subtle signs… you understand that moment is where I lost the chance to continue that reality in that form.

My drishti, gaze, at that time, did not match that item's frequency and the worlds and realms that its greatness existed in. An item which had travelled to many auspicious places, been part of various mystical practices of Bhairav ji… and he had hoped to be able to use it together with me. Unfortunately I not only closed it for myself but he had to remove it from my vicinity and thus causing him not to use it either. This was because my drishti and eye, focus, perspective and understanding of the item at that time had pulled us into a whole different realm of existence. An existence where the potency of the item was lost and even negated.

To not create a separation and distance between us as Bhairav and Bhairavi and also for me to not incur “bad rep” regarding those practices since we practice under the graceful eyes of Siddhas, he just humbly folded it away without ruffling the atmosphere. Now I understand why he did that and why it is so important with proper drishti, focus and even tact as well as tantra etiquettes to continue on the best route forward. Proper guidance is needed.

Years later, an item of similar essence as that item from the past was introduced into our lives. Not the same but fortunately in the same area or realm..

So yeah… that is a concrete example of how perspectives can be different, how one sometimes cannot share everything with everyone and how sacrifices are sometimes needed to allow for certain things to co-exist or for allowing for certain paths to continue.

So, we all have cultivated different perspectives and ways of interpreting and resonating with the world. And that itself means that we are attracting or repelling certain things in life. A thought, a feeling even before being voiced is already a vibration and resonance. You can't hide that even though you would want to. The innate habit, tendency is there whether you like it or not.

But, it is changeable. Sanskars, as well as imposed habits from this life can be refined. That is what Siddha Tantra does.

Growing up in a world with multiple cultures, multiple ideas that often clashes and scatters the mind can be challenging just as well as growing up with only one idea can create a ridgid dogmatic perspective. Keeping a fresh agile mind is important so as to not remain a “stickler” of one or the other side.

I am reminded that Mahayogi Ashutosh Nath ji would often challenge my mind by taking an opposite stance or make me argue for both sides or multiple sides of a subject to understand their core and understand that things can be as correct and real as the other, more or less. At least until one has reached the truth, something everlasting.

If you want to really refine yourself and your being you should do the practices of Vajra Dhyana: Maha Nara Khechara Meditations to collect yourself, inspect yourself, test yourself, make yourself the project and focus inwards. The good and the bad. With lots and lots and lots of self compassion.

Right now you might see some stuff which is in the way of your clear focus and proper Ekāgratā, we do hear it in the assignment reflections as well. Event hough it is hard to accept that there are hurdles that muddles the vision, the ability to notice these things and be aware of them is increasing and that itself is a very good sign.

It is important to do the practices, let them take space in you, let yourself be nurtured by your self-compassion and let the story unfold.

With love,

Swedish Bhairavi