Yoga Journals [the lack of Tantra journals]

[Guest guest]

Len/Kalipadma wrote:

"Any mass-market 'zine advertizing "Tantra" is likely to be talking

about improving one's sex life, and not about mysticism or

spirituality."

 

I expect a mass-market (Western) "Tantra" magazine would be likely to

be full of advertisements!

 

It seems to me that one of the most notable--and overlooked—

characteristics of Western "Tantra" is that it's for sale! "Tantra"

is trademarked, packaged into expensive weekend workshops, shrink-

wrapped and available at the wave of a credit card.

 

Really! Names like "American Tantra" and "Skydancing Tantra" are

registered trademarks. (Western) "Tantra" is a commodity to be

bought and sold.

 

Near the end of the paper

 

"The Cult of Ecstasy: Tantrism, The New Age, and the Spiritual Logic

of Late Capitalism"

in _History of Religions_, 2000

 

Hugh Urban makes some fascinating observations about the fusion, in

New Age/New Religious Movements, of the concepts of abundance—sexual,

spiritual, and monetary. Affluence becomes a sign of or

manifestation of spiritual attainment. Physical or worldly desire

(and its fulfillment) becomes synonymous with spiritual hunger and

its satisfaction. "Tantra" becomes not only "lots of sex", but "lots

of money." The integration of the concepts monetary, physical, and

spiritual fulfillment makes the commodified "Tantra" the ideal

spirituality package for a consumer-oriented society.

 

-------------------

 

I've been reading a bit of Hugh Urban lately. His focus (with

regards to Tantra) is on its effects on (or sometimes, lack of effect

on) Western thought. He's not so much studying Tantra itself as the

odd things that Western society (and some Western-attuned teachers)

have made of Tantra. The "Cult of Ecstacy" paper isn't readily

available online, so far as I can tell, but the following paper:

 

"THE OMNIPOTENT OOM

Tantra and Its Impact on Modern Western Esotericism"

By Hugh B. Urban,

http://www.esoteric.msu.edu/VolumeIII/HTML/Oom.html

 

is available online (free!). In this paper, Urban discusses the

early history of how "Tantra"--or rather, the word "Tantra"--

travelled to the West, and describes how the label "Tantra" came to

be attached to Victorian sacred sexuality and sex magic practices.

This conflation has resulted in, as Urban puts it, gross

misunderstandings:

 

"[…] t would seem that in our enthusiasm for [sexual or

sensual] "liberation," we have not only increasingly confused Indian

Tantra with Western magical practices, but probably also grossly

misunderstood both traditions in the process."

 

Interesting reading!

 

"Zorba the Buddha: Capitalism, Charisma and the Cult of Bhagwan Shree

Rajneesh"

Hugh Urban

Religion (1996) 26, 161–182

 

expands on the influence of Osho/Rajneesh on the Western image of

Tantra. Urban also has written a paper on the early construction of

the (as seen by Western scholars, I think) concept or category

of "Tantra". I don't think he's written a paper on the influence of

the ceremonial magicians (like Lon Milo Duquette or Don Michael

Kraig, the author of _Modern Sex Magick: Secrets of Erotic

Spirituality_). Based on our previous e-group discussions, and the

popularity of these books, I think these ceremonial magician/authors

also have played a key role. All pieces in the puzzle of how (or how

in the world!) Western "Tantra" came to be.

[Guest guest]

I definitely agree that these are real problems in the West, re:

Tantra being commodified and distorted in the ways you mention. I find myself

incredibly frustrated in most bookshops that purport to be authorities on

Eastern religions, whose "Tantra" sections are filled with sex manuals. While

sexuality is certainly a part of Tantra, just as sexuality is part of the human

being, it is not everything, just as it is not everything in a human being.

 

However, I would like to note that there are practitioners in the West who are

teaching authentic Tantra, who are not charging outrageous sums of money for its

secrets (sometimes a nominal fee as an exchange - for most Westerners to

perceive value, there must be a monetary value attached... this has been

exploited in many cases, but in many other cases it is a valid and fair

exchange), and who are dedicated to making it accessible to Western

practitioners. Such authentic teachers can be difficult to find, but they are

out there. There was a rather large discussion about this several months ago on

this list.

 

shanti sa'ham,

erin

[Guest guest]

I should clarify (and I am sure this is what you meant, too) that I

don't regard the various paths, traditions, movements, schools, or

ways of relating to the divine (or to money, for that matter)

as "problems". Not my cup of tea, but not something I have a problem

with, either.

 

But the confusing and inappropriate terminology *is* a problem.

However, given the convoluted and rather baroque landscape of Western

interpretations of Tantra, I don't see this as an easily resolvable

issue.

 

, Erin Johansen

<erin.johansen@g...> wrote:

> I definitely agree that these are real problems in the West, re:

> Tantra being commodified and distorted in the ways you mention.

> [....]

[Guest guest]

msbauju wrote:

 

"I don't think he's written a paper on the influence of

the ceremonial magicians (like Lon Milo Duquette or Don Michael

Kraig, the author of _Modern Sex Magick: Secrets of Erotic

Spirituality_). Based on our previous e-group discussions, and the

popularity of these books, I think these ceremonial magician/authors

also have played a key role. All pieces in the puzzle of how (or how

in the world!) Western "Tantra" came to be."

 

 

I have read Kraigs Modern Magick and it does not impress on me. A lot of things

in western occultism seem to be watered down versions of yoga - with the only

aim to manipulate your environment.

 

One thing which seems heavy though is demon evocation.

 

Regards

 

Lars

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

--

 

/

 

b..

 

c..

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thanks for this, Erin. Precisely. Any number of serious sadhakas in

this group have made this point before, whether in brief asides or

long posts, but it apparently can't be said often enough. I'd urge any

members who are serious about Shakta and tantra to take heed. Sex is a

part of life, and so it is a part of Tantra -- and as in life, it is

only one aspect of existence; a very important aspect, granted -- but

in many (if not most) everyday activities and interactions, not

central. So to focus too much on it is to lose sight of what Tantra

is, and what it can do for the serious aspirant.

 

Aim MAtangyai NamaH

 

, Erin Johansen

<erin.johansen@g...> wrote:

 

While sexuality is certainly a part of Tantra, just as sexuality is

part of the human being, it is not everything, just as it is not

everything in a human being.

[Guest guest]

Tantrism entered very early into ceremonial magic

key Figures of this early dissemination have been P.B Randolph (1825-

1875)and his Hermetic Brotherhood of Light

Carl Kellner (1850-1905) and his disciple Theodor Reuss (and his Ordo

Templi Orientis) these currents later converged into Aleister Crowley.

There is a funny story how Crowley met one of the teachers of Karl

Kellner YOGI MAHATMA SRI AGAMYA PARAMAHAMSA GURU SWAMIJI in London

that can be read here for those who dare:

http://www.the-equinox.org/vol1/no4/eqi04025.html

 

I don't think he's written a paper on the influence of

> the ceremonial magicians (like Lon Milo Duquette or Don Michael

> Kraig, the author of _Modern Sex Magick: Secrets of Erotic

> Spirituality_). Based on our previous e-group discussions, and the

> popularity of these books, I think these ceremonial magician/authors

> also have played a key role. All pieces in the puzzle of how (or how

> in the world!) Western "Tantra" came to be.