The Power of Words in Kashmir Shaivism

This lecture is going to be an exciting one: Can You Become Enlightened From Watching YouTube Videos? Despite the cheeky title, we're going to explore some of the subtlest linguistic mysticism ever: the Kashmir Shaiva development of the 5th CE sage Bhatrhari's claim of the śabdabrahman, the "sound Brahman". Interestingly, it is a beautiful commentary on the opening of the Gospel of John, "in the beginning was the logos, the word." What does it mean for the "word"...