ABSTRACT
Chapter 2 provides an outline of the basic worldview, fundamental beliefs and central practices of Nondual Śaivism in its traditional medieval form. The author argues that Nondual Śaiva tantrism, given its commitment to a direct intuitive realization of God, is best viewed as a form of theosophy. Following this, the chapter summarizes the tradition’s cosmogony and cosmology, demonstrates the centrality of the system’s notion of the union of pure consciousness (Śiva) and the phenomenal world as the vibrational energy of this consciousness (Śakti), and discusses its nondualism, idealism and realism. Next, it details key concepts such as the doctrines of vibration (spanda), supreme egoity (ahaṃbhāva), and recognition (pratyābhijñā). It concludes with a discussion of Abhinavagupta’s four means (upāya) for realizing the supreme (anuttara), the centrality of the guru, the importance of initiation (dikṣa), and Nondual Śaivism’s notion of grace (śaktipāta).
