Saivism

This Kashmiri tradition is based on the philosophy of cosmic existence emanating in direct hierarchical sequence from the divine. The conditional self is really the formless divine; the conditional self is really the emanated divine, both are really Siva. Four ways or stages of self-realization are suggested: (1) The individual way, or way of absorption in the object. (2) The energic way, or way of absorption in energy. (3) The divine or superior way, or way of absorption in the void. (4) The null way, or superior way of absorption in bliss. Although the path may be followed progressively through the four stages, it may also happen that stages are pursued simultaneously or a later stage may arise without the preparation of an earlier stage.