Swami Lakshmanjoo explains to us what aiming means in the context of meditation in this excerpt from the Shiva Sutras, The Supreme Awakening. The Shiva Sutras is a pure monistic text. It was revealed to Vasugupta by Lord Shiva directly, in verses written under a giant rock in Kashmir. This is from the first awakening, verse 16.
16. śuddha-tattva-saṁdhānādvā’paśuśaktiḥ //
By aiming at the pure element of Śiva, he possesses Śiva’s unlimited energy.
In the sūtra, “the pure element” (śuddha tattva) refers only to supreme Śiva. Now, what do we have to do with that? We have to make this universal objectivity enter in that supreme consciousness of pure Śiva.
You must see that this universe is residing in that pure element. There you will never find any impure object. Everything will appear to you as divine.
When you target, which means “aim at,” and then perceive that this whole universe is existing in the pure state of Śiva, in this way you will discard and be separated from the entangling energy that binds you with the wheel of differentiated perception. Instantly, you will become one with this universal state that is just like the pure element of Śiva (sadāśiva) and you will become master of the universe.
This is also said in Lakṣmī-kaulārṇava Tantra:
The yogic powers which are attained with the perfection of an initiation from a great master, when compared with this supreme universal consciousness, are not equal to its sixteenth part. These yogic powers are nothing in comparison. They are all to be discarded. You have only to own and maintain this universal-I (mantra vīrya).
That is called saṁdhāna. The Sanskrit word saṁdhāna means “aiming.” Aiming and entry, aiming and enjoying, aiming and feeling, aiming and attaining. And it is not only aiming, for this is just what we do when we meditate. We may meditate for one hour, two hours or three hours and during this time, we are always aiming, aiming, aiming. We are only aiming. But we have to aim once and for all. Aim and attain it. That is what is called saṁdhāna (aiming).
The Vijñāna Bhairava also speaks in the same way:
With one-pointed attention, you must feel and perceive that this universe and your body are simultaneously one with God consciousness. Then the rise of that supreme God consciousness takes place. (Vijñāna Bhairava 36)
This is also explained in Spanda Kārikā in this verse:
For such a yogī who has this kind of perception, this world is a playground. Always filled with joy, he is never sad. Doubtlessly, he is liberated while living (jīvan mukta). (Spanda Kārikā 2.5)
You can read more about mediation in Kashmir Shaivism here.
(Source: First awakening, verse 16, Shiva Sutras, The Supreme Awakening, by Swami Lakshmanjoo)
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