Destiny the Choice is Ours

Mary Magdalene has asked us to spend these past two months, exploring the inner realms of the Self, and contemplate Kashmir Shaivism. I have not posted anything for sometime – as this process has been very deep and inward. Much continues to be cleared away, reappear and clear away again. As the conditions of the self shift, crumble and dissolve, and new conditions arise – not unlike the lap, lap of the waves upon the shore, and the experience of new possibilities arise. Recently, I opened one of my great books on Kashmir Shaivism, and was reminded of the “contractions” of being, and the expression of these in my life, and the role they play – so as we complete this 60 day cycle that we embarked on with Mary – I felt it important to post these revelations for our review. Enjoy!!



"Cidvat tac chakti-samkocat malavrtah samsari"

That Which is full of Consciousness, due to contraction of its powers, becomes a transmigratory soul, covered by impurities.


As we delve deep into the very depth of our being through our contemplations, meditations through this worldly pathway – we truly experience the magnificence of the Self – we ask: How is it possible to say that it’s covered with impurities, hampered by restricted authorship and other limitations – a soul that moves from one life to another. Of all the themes in Shaivism, the chain of our actions and their effects – which is what leads us to transmigration – is most pertinent to our lives and most controversial. This is most often known as destiny, fate or often, karma – which literally means action. Years ago, a swami, well versed in Indian philosophical tradition was asked: “Considering that God created everything, why do we have to suffer so? Why doesn’t God suffer for what he has himself created?” Instantly the swami responded: “And who do you think you are?” In a moment, the inquisitor’s mind stopped. A recognition: I am God emerged.

I am the one who creates my world. The question of how I as Shiva experience my world as painful or otherwise is something we grow into. An great sage of Kashmir Shaivism said:

“When the highest Lord, whos very essence is Consciousness, conceals by his free will the pervasion of nonduality and assumes duality all round, then his will and other powers, though essentially unlimited, assume limitation. Then only does this sould become a transmigratory being, covered with malas”


The sutra begins cidvat tat “that which if full of Consciousness”, an image that evokes the plenitude, purnatva, of the supreme Power, Shakti is always full. She doesn’t need anything in order to feel her love, her complete satisfaction. Then comes samkocat, “due to contraction”, which implies that Shakti chooses to condense her essence. The result is malavrtah - “with limitation”. This process of constriction produces concealment through the three states of imperfection, malas. The question: why does she do that? To be come a samsari, and individual who operates in the material world – this third dimensional reality. Samsari comes from the word samsara which is defined as transmigration and means literally “to wander, to drift, to pass through successive states”. A samsari is a soul that transmigrates from one body to another in a succession of lives like someone walking across a vast expanse of land, residing first in one world and then in another. The worlds may be pleasant or painful, delightful or fearsome. Another great sage says:

“A soul who lives within a body may be bound for heaven or hell, and when separated from one body is joined to another according to its (the soul’s) own proclivities” (or attractions)

Behind these proclivities, are the three malas.
The three impurities – we take on as we descend into this third dimensional reality and take on the physical body:

I am Separate

Anava-mala – the initial root constraint by which the utter freedom of the divine will (iccha-sakti) contracts and becomes our experience of being imperfect, incomplete, unsatisfied and incapable. Anava-mala is what divides and separates us from the experience of our infinite expansiveness – and gives rise to the understanding: I am separate – the first of the covers – a discrete existence that limits our possiblities.

I am Different

Maiya-mala, the veil of differentiation, defining the effect that living in a body as an individual. What is implied in having a body: we are carrying maya, with her five coverings; purusa and prakrti, along with the threefold psychic instrument, the five senses of perception and the five senses of action; as well as the five subtle element and the five dense ones – a total of thrity-one binding forces! Mayiya-mala contracts the supreme power of knowledge so that a person experiences differences through these layers of limitation, which are often compared to veils – imagine trying to see through five veils!!! The soul sees itself as different from other individuals and also perceives distinctions between one person or object and another – a universe of varied and disparate forms.

I Am the Doer

Karma-mala contracts into the third limitation, after the stage is set with maiya-mala – the veil of doership. It is now the capacity to do, to perform deeds and have thoughts under the sense of possession that is the province of the ego. This is how we think and speak, how we lend veracity to the idea that we, as individuals are performers in the drama of our lives. Karma-mala keeps us ignorant of the one source of all action, and at the same time it enables the soul to fulfill its desire for experiences – to fulfill its intention.



 Once these malas have covered you up, all you experience is the destiny created by each of them. Because of the first mala, you experience the destiny of imperfection. Because of the second, you experience the destiny of differentiation. Because of the third, you experience the destiny of your actions. In this way, you become more and more bound.


Through our own power of will, we have chosen to experience what has been made perceptible in our lives. An individual is responsible for creating her own universe, in this way.

We can explore Karma and Intention in another post.