Lesson I -II Principles of Kaula

Study guide to Matsyendranath Kaulajnananirnaya.

Certain amount of theory before more practical material introduced.

If not already familiar with main tenets of Hinduism then you might benefit from looking at following books:

A L Basham/The Wonder that was IndiaGeoff Samuel (2008) The Origins of Yoga & Tantra , CambridgeKaulajnananirnaya of MatsyendranathMogg Morgan/Tantra SadhanaAMOOKOS-Lokanath/Tantra Magick (when available)

---------------------------- AMOOKOS = Ancient & Magical Order of the Knights of Shamballa.

An East / West magical group, founded in 1978 after consultation between Shri Gurudev Dadaji Mahendranath ("Dadaji") and his named successor Lokanath Maharaj.

Our charter states that the Adinatha Sampradaya shall henceforth become the East West group AMOOKOS. The language used does not, and indeed can not, exclude other manifestations of the current.

"Adinatha" means "primal or first lord" and is the name of the Hindu god Shiva or indeed those who worship him. Historically the Adinathas were a very diverse group, some were complete "renouncers" others were "householders".

"Sampradaya" means: initiatory line or lineage.

The founder of this lineage is called "Matsyendranath". He lived a long time ago in about the 9th century CE. His name probably indicates that he was a humble fisherman although over time his name acquired some figurative meanings. I’d say there are at least two sources of his ideas.

One is the Hindu intellectual and religious tradition.

The second is a heavily disguised connection with an "international" magical culture that extended from the Mediterranean to the Far East. For example, consider for a moment what is would be like if a man such as Matsyendranath were to describe a Greek astronomical instrument such as an astrolabe. 1200 years later we attempt to re-translate his words into our own language. The result might be a very obscure "cosmological" text.

Matyendranatha’s name (Fisherman) may also be a clue to the "international" nature of his ideas. We should also bear in mind the contention that there is no "esoteric" tradition in Hinduism. "Kaula"  may be difficult without being "esoteric". There is no "heresy" in Hinduism - no "Office of the Inquisitor" to decide which doctrine is

"right". There are competing interpretations of the truth.

Matsyendranath’s teacher was called "Adinatha" and this may mean that the name of his mortal teacher was "Adinatha" or that his original teacher was the god Shiva.

"Kaula" is the name of the doctrine or practice established by Matsyendranath (more of this shortly). For this reason, members of AMOOKOS may be called "Nathas"; "Adinathas" or "Kaulas"

Kaula doctrineThe core of Matsyendranath’s Kaula doctine is set out in his book "The Kaula Jnana Nirnaya (KJN)" - "Investigations of the doctrines of the Kaulas". In one chapter he describes several other schools of Kaula and then the precepts of his own "Yogini Kaula" brand. In the last few centuries of the first millenium, "Kaula" grew out of an earlier, perhaps more extreme "Kula" school. [The vowel mutation from "u" to "au" is one way of expressing this drift.

The KJN is a difficult book to understand. The introduction is missing. The ideas are complicated and obscure, especially for anyone who is not a part of that milieu - ie most of us. Lokanath has made a heroic effort at translation but even so the meaning is not always clear.

According to Lokanath’s preface the core doctrines are

i. importance of the mantra "Hamsa"

ii. importance of the colour red.

iii. The concept of "Svechacara" - "path of ones own will"

iv. The three shaktis -

Iccha (desire), Jnana (knowledge) and Kriya (action).

v. etc.

Matsyendranatha wrote that there were two paths within Kaula - i. The artificial ie Kundalini Yoga.ii. The spontaneous (Sahaja) ie. "samarasa" or equipoise or balance of sun and moon; male and female; Shiva and Shakti.

The first, fragmentary chapter concerns "cosmology". It is framed as a dialogue between Shiva and his goddess consort.

He discusses the ultimate source of manifestation, the "fire at the end of time".This is said to be under the toenail of the primal being.

In Hinduism the foot of the primal being is said to be orientated toward the north. The "nail" is the polestar. So near to the beginning of the KJN, Matsyendranatha indirectly alludes to the Polestar and the constellation Ursa Major as our ultimate source. This is a good example of the international language of magick.(see Mogg Morgan/Tankhem Trilogy sq).

Next issue?? help needed?Still on the comological theme - the KJN introduces the concepts of Kula and Akula. "Kula" means family, cluster, clan. It is said to preceed "Akula" - the unclustered, the differentiated. Perhaps it is another way of saying that some sort of singularity or cluster precedes the differentiated world. Out of the single comes many.

Ultimate Reality (Param Shiva)"Shakti dissolves within Shiva, Shiva dissolves within KriyaKriya dissolves within JnanaJnana dissolves within IcchasIccha dissolves within the fire of the Supreme [form of] Shiva (Parashiva)" (KJN II.6-)*

The KJN then introduces the idea of the three "shaktis" or primary particles.These are the ground out of which everything in our universe evolves. The KJN seems to say that everything comes from them and that they cannot be reduced further. They are fundamental. This is in line with Hindu philosophical ideas such as early Samkhya dualism.It also has something in common with the "international" atomic ideas of Greek and indeed ancient Egyptian cosmology.

"As Above, So below"This important principles of Hermetic philosophy is also found within Hinduism. The cosmic principles just described are also reflected in the body - hence the Kaula practice of meditating on the inner body. The KJN rejects the external worship of physical cult objects in favour of a "internal" or "astral" meditation on the [body] lingam. The sadhaka should offer one or more of the following "mental flowers":

i.    non-killingii.     restraint of the sensesiii.     generosityiv.     right dispositionv.     compassionvi.     kindnessvii.     meditationviii.    knowledge

The list of either ethical principles shows Buddhist influence eg: compassion and non-killing.

Exercises/Meditations

“Drawing down the Plough” or Seven Sages (Ursa Major)

Vibration of mantra “Hamsa”

What is cosmology?

Peace, freedom & Happiness to all beings

Sahajanatha (Mogg)