Psychill music mix on an explanation by Swami Laxman Joo on Abhinavgupta’s idea of fear based on Utpaladeva’s Utpalastotrāvalī .
Audio: Lakshman Joo, in an old audio recording (circa 1971) explaining “The Paramarthasara”, 105 verses written by the tenth-century Kashmiri scholar and sage, Abhinavagupta, to John Hughes. Hughes transcribed it in “Sri Lakshman Joo-My Notes – Essence of The Supreme Reality.
Fear, is dealt in stanze 58.
Abhinavgupta:
Ekako’hamiti saṁsṛtau janastrāsasāhasarasena khidyate|
Ekako’hamiti ko’paro’sti me itthamasmi gatabhīrvyavasthitaḥ||
“(The expression) ‘I (aham) (am) alone (ekakaḥ… iti)’ (is said by) a person (janaḥ) who is distressed (khidyate) by the feeling (rasena) of cruelty (sāhasa) (and) terror (trāsa) in (this) Saṁsāra –Transmigration replete with misery– (saṁsṛtau). (But Abhinavagupta says) ‘I (aham) (am) alone (ekakaḥ… iti)’ (because) who (kaḥ) else (aparaḥ) is existing (asti) besides myself (me)? In this way (ittham), I am (asmi) one who remains (vyavasthitaḥ) free from fear (gata-bhīḥ… iti)”.
Music and Cover art: Vinayak Razdan/SearchKashmir.
In captions, I have added shlokas and translation using excellent web resource : sanskrit-trikashaivism.com
Somehow, Laxman Joo laughing like a child in this audio and explaining the fear, the rational and irrational fears, reminds me of Kashmir winters and in darkness listening fearfully tales of Yakshas and demons and the comfort of knowing none of it is real, there are no demons, you are home, with family, among those who love you.
Enjoy!
