Conciousness, in her freedom, brings about the attainment of the universe

Citih svatantra visva siddhi hetuh:  -  the first sutra of Kashmir Saivism breaks down like this:

citih:  consciouness
svatantra:   free, independent, self-relieant
visva:  the universe
siddhi:  accomplishment, attainment
hetuh:  cause

This beginnning Sutra discusses the creative force of the univers.  From a devotional view, it addresses the heart's longing to know the nature of God.  This surta offers an explanation of Reality -- the nature of Reality and its relation to the world and to us and human being.

In the Pratyabhijna-hydayam, the highest reality is know by the term:  Citi (pronounced chiti) -- or the great light of conciousness -- one of the feminine forms which implies to perceive, to observe, to appear, to understand and to know.  That is, it is that which  give the power to know which makes things appear.  Citi "makes" things appear in the sense than an object can only appear, or exist, in our experience, when it is held in the field of our awareness.  Like a caring mother, Citi lovingly nurtures and supports the universe -- the supreme Consciousness.

This philosophy of Kasmir Saivism - the Pratyabhijna, states that if you want to understand the highest Reality, you must first understand yourself, that you, yourself is your doorway to Reality.  We do this by simply turning our attention inward -- by becoming aware of ourself.  You can ask the question:  "Have you noticed that you're alive"?  Then allow yourself to go beyond the mind -- asking  Who is asking the question?  Who is experiencing the mind? Whi is it that knew the mind was quiet or noisey?  This can take us to the deeper sense of "I", which has never changed, which was with you in your childhood and has remeined unaltered in every instance since, it is pure Consciouness, It is citi.

We go on to contemplate Light and the Awareness of Light -- you will find in the blog:  The Aromatic Quest.blogspot.com.  A very cool contemplation of Prakasha and Vimarsha.