Vijnana Bhairava · Day 22
Day 22 — Emptiness Above, Root, and Heart
This dharana expands the previous practice by holding emptiness above, at the root, and in the heart at the same time.
Original Verse
Verified from source textSource: Vijnana Bhairava Tantra — The Mystery Within, Verse 45
Sanskrit
पृष्ठशून्यं मूलशून्यं हृच्छून्यं भावयेत्स्थिरम् ।युगपन्निर्विकल्पत्वान्निर्विकल्पोदयस्ततः ॥
Transliteration
pṛṣṭhaśūnyaṃ mūlaśūnyaṃ hṛcchūnyaṃ bhāvayet sthiramyugapan nirvikalpatvān nirvikalpodayaḥ tataḥ
Literal Translation
One should meditate steadily and simultaneously on the emptiness above, the emptiness of the root, and the emptiness of the heart. Because of that simultaneous nonconceptuality, the nonconceptual state then arises.
Plain English Rendering
“Sense openness above, below, and in the heart at once. As attention rests steadily in this threefold openness, the mind becomes quiet and less caught in concepts.”
Literal translations remain close to the source text. Plain English renderings are interpretive contemplative renderings for accessibility and reflection.
Meaning
The verse gives three supports: emptiness above, emptiness at the root, and emptiness of the heart. The practice is to hold them together, not to move through them one by one.
Steadiness matters. The mind becomes less centered on a narrow personal reference point and more open to a wider field of awareness.
The nonconceptual state is presented as arising from this simultaneous openness. It is a quieting of conceptual contraction, not a forced blankness.
The Practice
- 1Sit quietly.
- 2Let the breath remain natural.
- 3Sense openness above the body.
- 4Sense openness at the root or below the body.
- 5Sense openness in the heart.
- 6Hold all three gently in awareness at the same time.
- 7Let sounds, sensations, and thoughts appear within this wider field.
- 8Rest in the continuity of open awareness without strain.
Practice for 10 minutes with relaxed, steady attention.
What to Notice
- less fixation on a central me
- panoramic awareness through threefold openness
- spacious perception
- reduced mental contraction
Common Misunderstandings
- This is not dissociation from the body.
- Panoramic awareness does not require visual effort.
- The practice is about openness, not trance.
- Awareness naturally includes experience without struggle.
Reflection Prompt
“What happens when the heart, the root, and the space above are held in one quiet awareness?”
Connection to Inner Freedom
Inner freedom deepens as attention is no longer organized around a single tight center. Experience remains ordinary, yet awareness becomes more open, inclusive, and steady.