Divine No-thingness
In the philosophy know as Non-dual Shaiva Tantra we have both Shiva and Shakti. These are commonly referred to as masculine and feminine attributes, but this goes way beyond gender. The naming and idolising is purely there as a way of comprehending two different attributes of the same thing.
Shakti is the creative power of the Universe, that brings and animates everything into creation, everything that we can perceive. This includes thoughts, feelings, sensations, sounds, as well as actual physical manifestations. Another way to say this would be Everythingness.
Shiva then is everything that is not perceivable, or we could say the Nothingness. These two are in fact not separate at all, rather the Everythingness manifests from the Nothingness, and once again dissolves back into it in an endless dance of Creation, Preservation and Destruction. However, when it’s manifested and seemingly “separate” it is indeed still part of the whole. Which means you are part of the Whole, I am part of the Whole, your dog is part of the Whole, the flower in your garden is part of the Whole. In fact, everything you can perceive is part of the Whole and not separate at all. The separation is merely an illusion.
The concept of nothing can be a hard one to grasp. Because even trying to conceptualize it is to make it something. Yet this is where divinity lies. This place beyond form, sound, taste, or anything perceivable.
But how do we sense into nothing?
Most of us spend our entire waking life in the realm of Shakti, and the Everythingness of the perceivable World of manifestation. It’s only when we sleep at night and go into the deepest stages of sleep, where everything dissolves and ceases to exist do we experience the realm of Shiva and the Divine No-thingness. No thoughts, no sensations, not even any dreaming happens here.
The question is, how do we sense into this in our waking life? Where is Shiva? Where is Nothingness amongst the Everythingness?
Well, the Nothingness is in fact Ominpresent. We can tap into it at any place, and at any time. This might sound like a contradictory statement; how can Nothingness be everywhere?
This is much better experienced rather than merely thought about, when we try to conceptualise it, it automatically goes into the realm of Shakti. Words do not do the formless realm of existence any justice, which is not at all surprising really, right? We must experience it.
The following meditation helps as a guide towards that experience.
Pictured here is a representation of Ardhanarishvara, half Shiva and half Shakti, showing us they are not really separate. However, don’t become too attached to the masculine/feminine distinction. Idols are mere sign posts to the truth, much like words.
