AUDIO: The Joy (and Politics) of 'Tantric Sex'

[Guest guest]

I heard this on the U.S.'s National Public Radio just this morning,

on a Boston talk show called "The Connection"; it's an interesting

and informed discussion with two fairly well-known and well-informed

guests ("schowlers," as Kochu would say ;-)). I highly recommend

that you all give it a listen. And please post your comments, if

any, after you've heard it -- is it useful public education? or just

more hype and misinformation?

 

Show Originally Aired: 8/20/2004

AUDIO LINK HERE:

http://www.theconnection.org/shows/2004/08/20040820_b_main.asp

 

The trappings of tantra are everywhere: On TV, on the web, and the

bookshelf squeezed between aromatic oils and edible underwear. But

does it matter if the original practice has very little to do with

what goes on in the average "Tantra for couples" weekend workshop

today? Two scholars who've traced Tantra back to its roots in rural

India argue that the misuse of Tantra both by New Age gurus and

modern day Hindu fundamentalists reveals how politics and

prudishness can eclipse history.

 

GUESTS:

 

* David Gordon White, editor of "Tantra in Practice"; author

of "Kiss of the Yogini: Tantric Sex in its South Asian Contexts";

author of "The Alchemical Body: Siddha Traditions in Medieval

India"; etc.

 

* Wendy Doniger, Professor of the History of Religions at the

University of Chicago. She has produced a lot of (often

controversial) scholarship on esoteric Hinduism, and translations of

Sanskrit writings from the Rig Veda to the Kama Sutra.

[Guest guest]

Thanks you DB, for that audio link.

 

I have read the first two books of Prof White and his scholarship

is amazing. I loved his The Alchemical body.I do enjoys O;Flahertys

books too. It was interesting to listen to them and also listen to

the views of the callers.

I was in India recently and picked up a book called "Abhinava

Gupta : The Kula ritual as elaborated in Chapter 29 of the

Tantraloka" by John R Dupuche. There is a large section in it about

the exchange of bodily fluids etc.

There are too many things going on at the same time. There is

the wonderful body of tantric texts, there is the not so open pool of

tantric masters and practioners and there is California neotantra.

Despite the fact that lot of Indians practice some form of

Tantra the majority view is a apologetic one where all the "nasty"

parts are pushed under the mat. Most of the people especially those

of the upper castes see it a a means to realize the wonderful

adwaithic goal of the Shankara tradion and anything which conflicts

with that is useless, immoral and evil or is for persons of lesser

mental intellectual and moral calibre. And then there is the secrecy

and the caste politics. Its kind of sad that so many of the texts,

practices and traditions are lost because of this. This is in

complete contrast to the Buddhist tantras.Ofcourse the tibetans dont

start by drawing attention to their tantric practices involving the

same panchamakaras, they just talk about world peace.

Its also unfortunate that practicing tantrics instead of being

open to all the paths are denying a lot as being against the vedic,

hence "bad".

And there is the western concern with tantric sex which is just a

small part.

Whatever form it takes this is good for tantra and its survival. The

scholars are producing great books, people are having better sex and

the sadhakas are having better access to texts and teachers.

Tantra has arrived lets make the best use of it,and choose any

path without being apologetic about it.

[Guest guest]

Thanks JaiMaa1008, for your thoughtful comments. I'm glad you found

the audio interesting -- frankly i'm surprised that it didn't draw

more of a response. White and Doniger are definitely worth listening

to on these topics.

 

White, especially, seems a fair and balanced academic observer, who

evenhandedly presents historical material and lets living

practitioners tell it as they understand it. Doniger is more

subjective and lively; definitely a serious and accomplished

scholar, knowledgeable in Sanskrit and respectful of tradition --

but at the same time, capable of making very unorthodox and

(intentionally?) provocative assertions.

 

It was a good opportunity to hear them discuss these things in a

rather unusual place and forum.

 

In any event, I LOVED your conclusion: "Whatever form it takes this

is good for tantra and its survival. The scholars are producing

great books, people are having better sex and the sadhakas are

having better access to texts and teachers. Tantra has arrived lets

make the best use of it,and choose any path without being apologetic

about it."

 

Thanks again

 

DB

[Guest guest]

I had a chance to listen to the audio today.

Thank you for posting the link, DB.

 

It seemed quite well balanced to my (admittedly uneducated) ears.

I particularly appreciated Prof. White's commentary.

 

, "Devi Bhakta"

<devi_bhakta> wrote:

> [....]

> Show Originally Aired: 8/20/2004

> AUDIO LINK HERE:

> http://www.theconnection.org/shows/2004/08/20040820_b_main.asp

>

> [....] Two scholars who've traced Tantra back to its roots in rural

> India argue that the misuse of Tantra both by New Age gurus and

> modern day Hindu fundamentalists reveals how politics and

> prudishness can eclipse history.

>

> GUESTS:

>

> * David Gordon White, [....]

>

> * Wendy Doniger, [....]

[Guest guest]

, "jaimaa1008" <jaimaa1008>

wrote:

> Whatever form it takes this is good for tantra and its survival.

The

> scholars are producing great books, people are having better sex

and

> the sadhakas are having better access to texts and teachers.

> Tantra has arrived lets make the best use of it,and choose any

> path without being apologetic about it.

 

Well said!

 

Tantric practice has taken many forms in India in past centuries. (To

get some idea of its scope I recommend the book _Brief History of

Tantra Literature_ by S.C. Banerji.) So it should not be a surprise

to see tantra taken diverse forms today, both in India and the west.

 

Om Shantih,

Colin

[Guest guest]

Speaking of tantric practices, I'm told there's a peerless book by Gopinath

Kaviraj. I couldn't find any of his books in English (even a visit to

Motilal Banarsi Das publishing house did not help). Can anybody on this list

help me?

 

Thanks!

 

Regards,

Uri-David

 

 

 

 

colin777au [colinr]

Thursday, August 26, 2004 02:09

Re: AUDIO: The Joy (and Politics) of 'Tantric Sex'

 

 

, "jaimaa1008" <jaimaa1008>

wrote:

> Whatever form it takes this is good for tantra and its survival.

The

> scholars are producing great books, people are having better sex

and

> the sadhakas are having better access to texts and teachers.

> Tantra has arrived lets make the best use of it,and choose any

> path without being apologetic about it.

 

Well said!

 

Tantric practice has taken many forms in India in past centuries. (To

get some idea of its scope I recommend the book _Brief History of

Tantra Literature_ by S.C. Banerji.) So it should not be a surprise

to see tantra taken diverse forms today, both in India and the west.

 

Om Shantih,

Colin

 

 

 

 

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