A mentor, whom I greatly respect, once told me that the deeper aspects of spirituality, particularly contemplation, are not for show. For me, the practices of Shaivism are deeply personal and I engage them with passion and regularlity.

The holy mystery that we approach as Shiva, the "kind one," is what Rudolf Otto aptly termed "mysterium tremendum."

While we might think we know what Shiva means, this familiarity can be comfortable; however, such comfort is incongruous with a mysterium tremendum. At the very least, while we may begin with some sense of comfort, there are aspects of this holy mystery that lie beyond what is familiar and comforting.

Embarking on a journey to seek Shiva involves asking: What does this mean? What does it entail? Much depends on the sadhaka (the seeker) and the upasaka (the practitioner). We are all different, with diverse interests and varying attention spans.

Not everyone feels the same way simultaneously. So, what does it mean to explore this jour...