Text of the Creed

I believe in Parabrahman, one without a second, the non-dual Reality, in That which is unborn, has no name, form, qualities, or attributes, in the eternal, infinite, omnipresent, all-pervading, pure Consciousness abiding in all beings as sat-chit-ananda.

I believe that the Absolute possesses the capacity for continuous creative manifestations and appears as the three cosmic forces of the Universe—creation (srishti-shakti), preservation (sthiti-shakti), and destruction (samhara-shakti), as well as the forces of wisdom (jnana-shakti), will (iccha-shakti), and action (kriya-shakti), personified as Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva (Trimurti), and their consorts.

I believe in the triple canon (prasthana traya) of the sacred texts of the Vedantic tradition, as well as in the non-dual tantras, Upanishads, and oral instructions (upadeshas) of the saints of the lineage.

I believe in the divine origin, wisdom, and blessings of the seven sages of the Vedic tradition, who include the rishis Vasishtha, Vishwamitra, Kashyapa, Bharadvaja, Gautama, Jamadagni, and Atri.

I believe in divine beings, holy sages, and siddhas of the near and distant lineages of the Teaching, and in their liberating power of blessing, bestowed through Refuge, samaya, and Guru Yoga.

I believe in Bhagavan Avadhuta Dattatreya and his incarnations as a special, unique, universal embodiment of the Absolute, uniting within himself the features of the three principal divine forces of the Universe, as the central deity (ishta-devata) of the tradition.

• the non-dual view of the single “taste” (advaita-samarasyachara)
• the natural state (sahajachara)
• the vow of devotion and purity (samayachara)
• the perfect method (upayachara)
• veneration of holy objects (sadachara): the holy Teaching (Satya Veda), the spiritual Teacher (Sadguru), and the saints (arya-sangha)
• compassion and self-giving (bhrityachara)
• inner austerity (tapachara)
• the spontaneous manifestation of perfection without limitations (siddha-svecchachara)
• divine pride and pure vision (divyachara)

• opening to the enlightening stream of the descending power of the revelation of the divine (darshanachara)

   

I believe, as a form of the Absolute and the source of all phenomena in the Universe, in self-born natural wisdom, the natural state (Sahajya), the Nature of Mind, like infinite space beyond fixations and limitations, experienced in contemplation as pure naked awareness beyond notions, concepts, and value judgments, incomprehensible to logic and the reasoning mind.

• the body of wisdom, like the space of pure consciousness (Jnana-deha)
• the illusory body, like a deity (Pranava-deha)

• the perfect body of manifestation (Siddha-deha)

   

I believe in the principles and precepts of yoga, the tantric vows (samayas), and the single samaya of contemplation, which must be applied and carefully observed in accordance with one’s status, place, time, and the instructions of the root Guru.

I believe in the philosophy of the rishi Vasishtha: that the world becomes what it is created to be in thought, that it is a manifestation of vision, that the Universe is illusory, like a reflection in a mirror, empty by its nature, and that everything in it is a manifestation of the fundamental Mind, infinite Consciousness; that by subduing and purifying the mind, one can eliminate all suffering and create like the very Creator of the Universe, Brahma.

I believe in the law of karma, reincarnation, the preciousness of human birth, that the conditioned state of samsara leads only to incalculable suffering, and that the true purpose of the life of every being is to strive for Liberation.

I believe in the power of compassion, nonviolence (ahimsa), and love for all living beings, including the lower ones.