(II) Three Paths, One Truth through the Lens of the Bhagavad Gita

sarvabhūtastham ātmānaṁ sarvabhūtāni cātmani

īkṣate yogayuktātmā sarvatra samadarśanaḥ - Bhagavad Gita 6:29

"Such a yogi sees all in the Self and the Self in all." (III)

Bhagavad Gita 6:29 Through the Lens of Tantra & Sri Vidya

In the Bhagavad Gita 6:29, Krishna reveals the vision of a yogi established in unity:

"The yogi who is established in yoga sees the Self present in all beings and all beings in the Self. Such a one, united in yoga, sees the same everywhere."

While the previous section explored this through Patanjali’s systematic approach, Tantra—especially Śrī Vidyā—offers a deeply embodied and devotional path to this realization. Here, the Divine is not just an abstract Self (Atman), but a pulsating, living reality permeating all existence.

Śrī Cakra Yantra - A sacred geometric representation of the unfolding of the cosmos and eventually reveals itself within you as the map of your soul.

Sri Vidya: The Sacred Vision of Oneness

Sri Vidya, the highest form of Shakta Tantra, teaches that all of creation is the Divine Mother—personified as Lalita Tripurasundari—expressing herself as both consciousness (Shiva) and manifestation (Shakti). To see unity is not merely an intellectual understanding but a direct perception of Shakti as both immanent and transcendent.

How does Sri Vidya help us experience Bhagavad Gita 6:29 in our daily lives? Let’s explore its core principles:

1. Shakti as Consciousness-Force: Seeing the Divine in All

Unlike Advaita Vedanta, which sees ultimate reality as pure, formless consciousness, Tantra affirms both stillness (Shiva) and movement (Shakti). Every being, every experience—whether mundane or mystical—is an expression of Divine energy.

Practice:

• During meditation, visualize all beings as manifestations of Shakti, arising and dissolving within the cosmic play (Lila).

• As you inhale, silently affirm: "Shakti flows through all things." As you exhale: "All things are Shakti."

• In daily life, practice darshan—seeing the sacred in everyone you meet.

2. The Divine Mother as the Embodied Self

In Śrī Vidyā, the highest reality is Lalita Tripurasundari—the embodiment of grace, wisdom, and beauty. The realization of Bhagavad Gita 6:29 is not just about seeing the Self in all, but experiencing all as the Divine Mother Herself.

Practice:

• Before interacting with others, silently invoke: "O Devi, may I see You in all beings."

• Recite the Lalita Sahasranama or Shodashi Mantra, surrendering to the truth that all is Her Play.

• Offer simple acts of devotion (bhakti)—even daily chores can become worship when done with awareness.

3. Mantra & Yantra: Vibrational and Geometric Pathways to Unity

Mantra (sacred sound) and yantra (sacred geometry) are central to Śrī Vidyā, serving as direct means to dissolve separation and enter divine awareness.

• Mantra: The Panchadashi Mantra  (15 syllables that are the vibrations of the One. More information on this in future blogs) or Soham (“I am That”) can be repeated to cultivate unity consciousness.

• Yantra: The Sri Yantra represents the interplay of Shiva (consciousness) and Shakti (energy), illustrating how all duality collapses into oneness at its center point (Bindu).

Practice:

• Draw and meditate on the Sri Yantra, visualizing yourself merging into its sacred geometry. (*Please see video attached)

• Chant the Soham mantra while contemplating how the breath connects all beings.

• Use sound vibration (Nada Yoga) to attune yourself to the deeper harmony of existence.

4. Bhoga and Moksha: Embracing Life as Sacred

A fundamental teaching of Śrī Vidyā is that there is no separation between experience (bhoga) and liberation (moksha). Unlike ascetic paths that reject the world, Śrī Vidyā teaches that every moment, every sensation, every relationship is a means to realize the Divine.

Practice:

• Treat daily activities—eating, working, speaking—as sacred rituals.

• Cultivate inner rasa—aesthetic delight in the beauty of life, seeing each moment as an offering to the Divine.

• When facing difficulties, remember: "This, too, is Her Play."

Living the Vision of Unity

Śrī Vidyā does not separate philosophy from life. To truly embody Bhagavad Gita 6:29 is to move through the world with the eyes of the Devi, seeing all as Her expression.

Final Thought: Patanjali’s path in the Yoga Sutras guides us step by step toward unity, and Śrī Vidyā invites us to live it now—to see the Divine Mother’s presence in all, to dissolve boundaries between sacred and mundane, and to let every moment be an act of worship. I Am the Divine Mother expressing and experiencing every moment of this sacred human journey.

Drawing the Śrī Chakra Yantra is a profound sādhanā (spiritual practice) in the Sri Vidya tradition, thus an integral aspect of Living Shakti Sādhanā, offering a direct experience of the oneness described in Bhagavad Gita 6:29—the vision where the Self is seen in all beings and all beings in the Self. Each line, triangle, and layer of the yantra mirrors the cosmic unfolding from pure consciousness (Shiva) into manifest reality (Shakti) and back again.

This embodied meditation aligns the practitioner with the subtle flow of Shakti, activating the chakras (energy centers) and refining inner awareness. The geometric precision and focused intention channel pranic energy, creating a sense of balance, clarity, and inner harmony. Through this practice, the outer form becomes a mirror of the inner journey, dissolving the illusion of separation and revealing the divine presence within and around us.

In the next part of this series, we will explore how Advaita Vedanta reconciles this verse through the lens of pure non-dual awareness (Brahman beyond all form and manifestation).