Sources of the Soteriological Knowledge and the “Knowledge as State” in Hindu Tantrism

Abstract

The article continues the theme of spiritual knowledge in Hindu Tantrism. The sources
of such a knowledge and the knowledge as a specifi c condition are described in the article.
Spiritual knowledge is acquired by various means. Among them are a direct divine revelation
in the form of special power (shaktipata), the study of sacred texts, the experience of spiritual
discernment, contact with the teacher, yoga, in some cases also a ritual activity. Essentially all
of these sources of gaining knowledge are equivalent. Knowledge is closely connected with an
unusual, that one hard to describe, “mystical”, “enlightened” psycho-physical state in which
the individual experiences a deep connection with the spheres of higher order than his ordinary
reality. In order to describe this state, tantric texts use different terms, among them “samadhi”,
“samata”, “turiya”, which are analyzed in the article. A special kind of “knowledge as state” is
the spiritual recognition by the individual of his true nature (pratyabhijna).