तन्त्रसार (महामाहेश्वर अभिनवगुप्त - तन्त्रालोक का प्रामाणिक सार-संग्रह सटीक)

xxi Bhairava, the clear void of consciousness creates the picture of the universe in Himself. He manifests them and experiencers that, ‘I am the universe.’ Thus He assumes the immanent nature. This is His function of creation. Then He maintains the sixfold adhvās and experiences them as being reflected in him. Thus He is the manifestor of maintenance. Then lastly, into the flame of all-consuming Fire the entire universe is withdrawn and dissolved. Thus, the person who is able to realise the partless one as the single unit of conciousness ( akhaṇḍaikarūpatayā ) in which the above three functious of creation, maintenance and dissolution have their rise and rest, is absorbed in the Supreme by means of Śāmthava upāya. IV The highest end of human being is to arrive at the very nature of Paraśiva who is ever free from determinacy ( vikalpa ). One is able to get rid of thought-constructs by means of pure reasoning, listening to holy texts known as Āgamas and following the teachings of the spiritual teacher. The practice of contemplating or viewing everything as Siva, the essential Reality, is the means by which one is able rise above impure vikalpas. In Tantrasāra it is stated that one considers oneself bound on account of vikalpas. The wrong conception of one’s true nature is the cause of samsāra. Therefore, when a vikalpa of quite opposite nature is born, it dispels the wrong one and places one on the right track and soon it becomes the cause of the highest good. Though vikalpa is of no avail to reveal the nature of Paraśiva, the highest Reality, for It is everywhere and in every way self-luminous, Yet it is the considered opinion of the author that pure vikalpas remove the sense of duality