"...Another poet, another singer, another dancer, of a totally
different quality: Shiva, and his book Vigyan Bhairav Tantra.
I have spoken about it. It is very small, only one hundred and twelve sutras. You can easily write it on one page of a book, or
at the most two pages. I have spoken on it in five volumes, thousands of pages: The Book of the Secrets.
I cannot say any other book exists as condensed as Vigyan Bhairav Tantra - the book of Shiva. Each sutra is a method unto
itself."
(Osho - Books I have Loved)
"′Vigyana Bhairava Tantra′ means the technique of going beyond consciousness. ′Vigyana′ means consciousness, ′Bhairava′ means the state which is beyond consciousness, and ′Tantra′ means the method: the method of going beyond consciousness. This is the supreme doctrine - without any doctrine." (Osho - Vigyan Bhairav Tantra)
Swiss Regula Schenkel uses the VBT as a basis for her work: her site (in German).
According to her, expert translators stated that Paul Reps′ translation, used by Osho, is not very good. She wonders why Osho didn′t use an original Sanscrit
version.
On her website Regula Schenkel mentions a few other translations of VBT. In all these versions the spelling is "Vijnana" instead of "Vigyana":
A German translation of Lilian Silburn′s verses is out of print:
"Vijnana Bhairava. Das Tantra der Befreiung", 1994
Bruno Martin Verlag,
Übersetzung von Wilhelmine Keyserling.
Bettina Bauuml;mer is Austrian and professor at the University of Vienna for science of religions. She lives and studies in Varanasi. Her translation is basically similar to the one by Daniel Odier, but differs significantly on certain points. This translation seems to be a good work, very accurate, with many explanations of special Sanscrit words and details and possible variations of translation. The Sanscrit verse is given as well for those who understand it. A glossary with explanation of many Sanscrit words is also added.
Since I practically lived next door to Swami Lakshmanjoo for the last 10 years of his earthly existence (1982 to 1991), and attended his English lectures and worked with him in his garden on a daily basis (except for his days in silence), I can assure that Bettina Bauuml;mer never worked closely with Swami Lakshmanjoo on any text other than that mentioned below.
Still, Paul Reps′ translation is not that bad. He′s an adept of the Zen tradition and, because of it, has shortened the verses and made them more poignant,
like an arrow, to stress the importance of action, inciting us to put the meditations into dedicated practise.
Paul Reps worked closely with the great Kashmiri Shaivite Master Swami
Lakshmanjoo.
Lakshmanjoo audios: Vijnana Bhairava: The Manual for Self–Realization