kashmir shaivism · Vijnana Bhairava Tantra (Kashmir Shaivism), one of the 112 dharanas taught by Bhairava to Devi
Vijnana Bhairava: Chidakasha (The Space of Consciousness)
A dharana that moves the outward gaze at the sky inward — attending to the dark, spacious field perceived behind closed eyes, traditionally called Chidakasha, the 'space of consciousness.'
The theory, briefly
This dharana follows directly on from the outward sky-gazing dharana in Vijnana Bhairava Tantra's sequence, and turns the same principle inward. Instead of the physical sky, attention is directed to the dark, open field perceived with the eyes closed — traditionally called Chidakasha, literally the 'space of consciousness,' distinct from the physical space (Bhutakasha) and the space of the heart (Hridayakasha) used in other dharanas of the text.
As with the outer sky, this inner space has no fixed boundary and offers nothing in particular to fix upon, which is precisely why it is used: attention that rests in an objectless field, rather than on any specific inner image or sensation, is considered to approach the nature of awareness itself more directly than concentration on any bounded object could. The instruction is to let this inner darkness be spacious rather than empty or blank — a field being rested in, not a void being stared into.
The practice
Resting Attention in Chidakasha
10–20 minutes · Seated, eyes closed
- 1Sit comfortably and close your eyes, letting the initial visual afterimages and random flickers settle for a minute or two.
- 2Notice the dark, open field that remains once these afterimages fade — the space perceived behind closed eyes.
- 3This space is traditionally called Chidakasha, distinct from ordinary physical space or the felt space of the heart used in other dharanas. It has no boundary, and nothing fixed within it to find.
- 4Let attention rest in this space as a whole rather than searching it for any particular image, light, or point.
- 5Notice any pull to search this darkness for something — an image, a light, a meaning — and let that searching relax. There's nothing missing here that needs to be found.
- 6If an image or thought arises within this field, let it pass without following it, returning attention to the surrounding spaciousness itself.
- 7Let this darkness be spacious rather than empty or blank — a field you're resting in, not a void you're staring into. The difference is a felt quality, not an effort to add.
- 8Continue resting in this open inner field, treating its very lack of a fixed object as the point of the practice rather than a distraction from it.
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