Why Bother with Textual Study? Because it Can Light You Up

Why Bother with Textual Study? Because it Can Light You Up

“I don’t get into textual study too much. I prefer to dive straight into meditation.”

I’ve heard that before—many times. And fair enough. If reading the old texts doesn’t speak to you, why force it?

Mt Kailash - credit Rupendra Singh Rawat - iStock photos

But I can’t help wishing you’d give it another go. Maybe the problem isn’t you—maybe it’s the translations you’ve encountered. Some are dry, overly academic, vague, or just plain wrong. And yes, that can suck the life right out of a powerful tradition.

But not all textual study is like that.

When done well—with the right translation, with guidance, and ideally, with community—it can be a deeply alive and illuminating experience. Personally, I love poring over the ancient texts. I collect different translations, compare interpretations, and seek out the golden threads of insight that make my practice come alive. The real treasure, though, is studying with a teacher who knows the terrain.

That’s why I study with Christopher Wallis, author of Tantra Illuminated. He’s a rare kind of scholar-practitioner—deeply trained in Sanskrit, steeped in years of practice and study with respected teachers of the tradition. When he offers a commentary, it lands. I find myself thinking: Ah. Now I see. Now I feel it. It’s like the text opens a secret door and invites me in.

This is exactly what’s happening in the Exploring Non-Duality group I host on Saturday mornings (on Zoom—so you can join from anywhere). We’re about to begin the Śiva Sūtras, a dense and dazzling text I’ve wanted to dive into for years. It’s not easy—but it is ripe with insight. And what we’ve found again and again is that reading and contemplating together is far more rewarding than going it alone.

I’m also part of another group working through the Vijñānabhairava Tantra on Monday nights. This is a text I’ve been with for years. Somehow, it never gets old. It keeps unfolding new layers of insight, sparking fresh inspiration for practice, and deepening my relationship with Reality.

Both texts belong to the Trika tradition of Non-dual Śaiva Tantra—rich, poetic, and utterly transformative. I have a feeling the Śiva Sūtras will soon be working their magic on me too.

If you’ve been curious about these teachings but unsure where to start—or if you’ve tried before and found it dull—I invite you to come explore with us. When a text is alive, it doesn’t just teach you something.

It changes you.