Vignana Bhairava Tantra - 3

A steady gaze begets a steady mind

Sampradayamimam Devi Shrunu Samyagvadamyaham

Kaivalyam Jayate Sadyaha Nethrayoh Stabdhamathrayoh.

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When Shiva tells something to Parvathi it is nothing but the embodiment of Consciousness, imparting its qualities to the unsteady and wavering mind. By doing so, the two become one and merge into a conscious whole. So in the course of the conversation, Shiva tells Parvathy to listen fully to the tradition that he imparts in its entirety. If Shiva, the Guru of Yoga speaks of a tradition, then one can imagine how ancient this art of meditation must be!
This is a tradition of meditation, a means to dissolve into the awareness of the self. This is called Kaivalya. It is called Samadhi - Sama + Adhi : Where the intellect has merged into the Awareness. It is the same state of non-dual presence which is described as Adwaita, reaching which one attains liberation or Moksha or becomes a Jivan Mukta.
It can happen in a trice when one in total concentration is looking at the words in a book, without batting an eyelid. It can happen when one gazes steadily at a painting or the photograph of a beloved one. It can happen when one gazes with no intention, yet steadily at the lamp that lights the darkness. One gets in touch with the Self and enters into a state of Kaivalya, immediately.
In this state, one discovers the truth of being in the light of consciousness that casts its light. One can see that the fire is not created by the oil and wick when lighted. But the merging of the oil and wick, when fired by a spark, lights up as much as it can to reveal to us the already existing light in that much of space that it can show. The bigger fires like the Sun only show us the vast expanse of the presence of light in the space just around us and within.
The highest state of Samadhi arises immediately when the gaze of the eyes are fixed steadily. This gaze can be at objects without, or just the awareness within. The steadiness dissolves the mind into Consciousness. That is the end of knowing and the beginning of being.
- Swahilya Shambhavi