UPDATE 12/19: With less than two days left to go, we’ve met our first stretch goal, and all of the paperback backer copies will be signed! Now we’re working on our last two stretch goals: At $31,000, we will produce a signed and numbered special edition hardcover of the first edition for all $100+ backers. And at $36,000, we’ll produce a limited-edition letterpress copy of the original Sanskrit and translated sutra for all backers at $250 and above. Help us get there!

Illuminating a 1,000-year-old spiritual masterpiece

One thousand years ago in the valley of Kashmīr, a great Tantric master named Kṣhemarāja wrote his masterpiece: the Pratyabhijñā-hṛdayam, which means “The Essence of the Recognition Philosophy” or “The Heart of the Teachings on Recognition”—recognition, that is, of oneself as a direct expression of the universal divine Consciousness. Recognition also that that Consciousness is in truth all that exists, and that its five fundamental powers of awareness, enjoyment, willing, knowing, and acting are the sacred endowments of every sentient being.

The Recognition philosophy is the most fully developed body of teachings in nondual Tantric Shaivism, and perhaps the most fully developed spiritual philosophy in the history of India. It arose in Kashmīr over a thousand years ago and eventually spread through the whole of India. Even back then, it was considered an intellectually challenging philosophy, and so, to make the teachings accessible to a wider public, Kshemarāja composed this text, comprising about fifty pages in the original Sanskrit.

It was a concise primer, written, he said, to introduce spiritual seekers to the Recognition philosophy in less formally philosophical, more approachable language. What he created turned out to be one of the great spiritual masterpieces, breathtaking in its brevity but stunning in its power. It came to be considered equivalent to scripture itself by later generations, because of its undeniable inspiration.

Since the text is anchored by twenty key sūtras (aphorisms), Wallis’ forthcoming translation of the work is called The Recognition Sutras.

Who are we?

I’m Christopher Wallis, also known as Hareesh. I was introduced to Indian spirituality at the age of seven and initiated into the practice of yogic meditation at sixteen. I’ve been a full-time scholar-practitioner for eighteen years. My degrees include a B.A. in Religion and Classics from the University of Rochester, an M.A. in Sanskrit from U.C. Berkeley, an M.Phil. in Classical Indian Religions from Oxford, and a Ph.D. on the traditions of Śaiva Tantra from Berkeley. I received traditional education at yoga āshrams in upstate New York and India in meditation, kīrtan, mantra-science, āsana, karma-yoga, and more. I currently teach meditation, yoga darśana (philosophy), Tantrik philosophy, Sanskrit, and mantra-science, and I offers spiritual counseling. My first book, Tantra Illuminated: The Philosophy, History, and Practice of a Timeless Tradition, was published in 2011 and has sold over 11,000 copies.

I’ve partnered with the publications firm in Vancouver, Canada, that produced and manages the second edition of Tantra Illuminated. They are handling the editing, design, indexing, proofreading and printing of the book, as well as managing the fulfilment of this campaign. Their terrific organization has produced dozens of books, including The Goddess and the Guru: A Spiritual Biography of Sri Amritananda Natha Saraswati and the second edition of Exquisite Love: Reflections on the Spiritual Life based on Nārada’s Bhakti Sūtra by William Mahony.

The Rewards

Of course, at most levels of support, you can receive a printed, electronic, or audiobook copy of The Recognition Sutras. In gratitude for your support, I’m also offering a wide range of books, courses, and other opportunities for study and experiential learning of Tantrik philosophy.

Copies of my first book, Tantra Illuminated: The Philosophy, History, and Practice of a Timeless Tradition, in electronic, paperback and audiobook format.

A Śrī Yantra poster produced on a 19th-century letterpress.

An original illustration from Tantra Illuminated, signed by the artist, Ekabhumi Charles Ellik. Note that the image below is a sample of the illustrations in Tantra Illuminated, but may not be the actual image you receive. If there’s a specific illustration you want, get in touch with us first to make sure it’s available!

Space for one or two people in the sold-out Sacred Sites of Southern India tour, December 27, 2016, through January 7, 2017 (airfare not included).

More rewards, including classes and coaching over Skype, are described in the perks!

Budget and stretch goals

The money raised in this campaign will go toward the fees for these services, as well as to print the first edition paperback.

Stretch goals!

As you can see in the chart above, this campaign will not cover our full costs—I’m funding any difference myself—so I’ve set some stretch goals to help me reach the full amount!

$26,000—MET 12/19! All of the paperback backer copies will be signed!

$31,000: At this level, we will be able to produce a signed and numbered special edition hardcover of the first edition, which will go out to all $100+ backers.

$36,000: At this level, we will produce a limited-edition letterpress copy of the original Sanskrit and translated sutra (with Kshemarāja's commentary but without my explanation), to be sent to all backers at $250 and above.

Questions?

Got a question about something not covered here? Send an email to eve@talksciencetome.com.

Thank you for your support!