Tantra and Sexuality

[Guest guest]

Friends of Tantrasadhana;

 

 

 

Persons on the list wishing to know more about tantra and sexuality.

 

 

This is rather a challenging issue to address. First, tantra is a

system of practice and a little bit of philosophy. It allows

aspirants, through their own efforts, and the Grace of a Teacher, and

in some cases, the Grace of a community of aspirants, the opportunity

to grow spiritually. Spiritual growth can mean many things.

 

 

If I told you that the by-product of devoted discipline and Grace will

be that you will no longer resemble in any way, shape or fashion the

human personality you thought that you were, what would your reaction

be? If I told you that you would not possess a 'personality' in the

normative sense of that term, how would you feel?

 

 

With this in mind, let me say, whatever you are imagining that this

might be like, it is not that. It is nothing like what you can

possibly imagine. That is the essential truth about transformation,

and in particular, tantric Sadhana.

 

 

Tantra Sadhana is all about the energy of creativity, fertility and the

Mother. Spiritual practice in general will benefit sexual

relationships. Who makes the best lover, one who thinks primarily of

his or her own needs, compulsions or fears when having sex, or one who

is relaxed, comfortable with the body they occupy, and not particularly

concerned about the quality of orgasm they may or may not have.

 

 

All yogic practice properly engaged in will benefit sexual

relationships. The best sex is usually had by the most relaxed and

non-egoistic partners. Breathing exercises, yoga postures, etc., will

impart relaxation and the relaxed body responds to pleasure far more

erotically than the tense body. But, quite frankly, most human beings

have no idea of what if feels like to truly be relaxed. How long can

you sit without fidgeting or moving? How often do you sneeze, twitch,

tap your feet to no particular tune? Do you notice that nearly

everyone around you--possibly including yourself, are incapable of

being still?

 

 

How long can you look at a flame? Seated, on the floor, legs folded?

How many times do your eyelids flutter?

 

 

The orgasms one may have experienced in one's sex life are probably

poor indicators of the quality of not only sex, but the erotic

potential of how life can feel if one has surrendered, surrendered and

surrendered some more.

 

 

There lies more to be gained, oftentimes, in sublimating sexual energy

than in exercising sexual energy out right. This may not be a popular

idea for some 'seekers'. But if they are truly seeking Grace, wisdom

and fitness for the Service of the community, nothing but

discipline--and sometimes, asceticism--will be more effective.

 

 

Now, there is asceticism and asceticism. One doesn't have to move to

another country or engage in self-flagellation, (unless you really want

to).

 

 

Sublimation is the key to success when one combines sexuality with

spiritual discipline. And, Bhakti, or sincere devotion.

 

 

If a couple came to me, practiced with me for awhile, and I saw that

they were full of love and devotion for God, AND wished to know how

their sexuality might assist them in this endeavor, I might have some

suggestions for them. More than likely, these suggestion would take

the character of ceasing all spontaneous love-making. They would be

encouraged to practice yoga, meditation and ritual nyasa for a month or

two. Then they would be encouraged to plan a ritual that would include

sexuality. But how and what I might say to this couple would depend on

what I knew of them, the warmth of their spirits, what my intuition

tells me. There is not much more that I can say than this.

 

 

There are plenty of books around, from Margo Anand to Dr. Jonn

Mumford--I recommend the latter. Sexuality is a marvelous positive

fertile energy. But it is also the most dangerous to the spiritual

aspirant, the most misunderstood, and misapplied.

 

 

My general position is this: if you want to experiment--more power to

you. But the chances of anything like true spiritual growth

transpiring are nearly nil. But you will have fun and perhaps learn to

know yourself and your partner better in the process. For true

spiritual growth, that is, progress toward self-realization,

dissolution of the ego-boundaries and the sense of difference that

alienates individuals from their Whole Body, a word of mouth

relationship with a Realized Master is the way. Good luck finding one

of those.

 

 

Dinu Roman is a Teacher in Florida. My impression is that he knows a

great deal about both realization and sexuality. But I don't know much

about him. You can read an essay by him at the Church of Tantra

website.

 

 

The movie Bliss, was interesting, but very misleading and steeped in

reverse chauvinism. In Madhyanandi"s view, all persons are equally

male and female. One doesn't need a partner of the 'other' sex to

complement what one already Is. Ancient techniques were chauvinist in

nature and structure. Men created them for themselves and other men.

Worshipping "all naked woman" as Prakriti, or Nature is a crock. It is

chauvinism pure and simple. Yes, the woman's body is an effective

symbol and form for the Shakti of the Mother. Yes, the male body and

phallus can be an effective symbol for the Pure Light of Shiva. But

then, every human being possesses both phallus and vagina, linga and

yoni. Both in the quality of energies that comprise your subtle body

and in the middle of your face: mouth and tongue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<bigger><bigger><bigger><bigger>The Gnostic Soil

 

 

 

 

 

 

</bigger></bigger></bigger>He stands tall on one arched foot,

 

left leg crossing the right--

 

His pedestal, the flaxen pasture,

 

spreads for miles in every direction,

 

His arms are raised high, wide and

 

lost to the pale sky, His radiant hair

 

stands on end, reclining toward heaven.

 

He is erect, His moistened linga

 

poised between heaven and earth--

 

held in her adoring kiss. She is

 

kneeling, breasts against His shining

 

thigh, arms thrust behind, palms open,

 

quivering in ecstasy, craving neither

 

earth nor sky, only Him, warm and

 

full in her waiting palate--

 

drunk with Him, drowning in Him,

 

surrendering through her willowy hair

 

the golden seed to the gnostic soil.

 

Her silver Voice sings of heaven,

 

His golden Dance furrows the musky earth,

 

She- the bovine ground of His endless horizon,

 

He- the quickening breath of Her eternal Song.

 

 

 

 

Madhya Nandi

 

 

 

</bigger>In any case, ask Madhya about the eroticism of everyday life,

about the ecstasy of what occurs when one explores the senses in ways

that one never before contemplated. Sex is terrific, but only a

relatively small aspect of Tantra. You've read this before I know, but

there it is.

 

 

 

 

<bigger><bigger><bigger><bigger>Seduction Inside-Out

 

 

 

 

</bigger></bigger></bigger>You want to know

 

who you are?

 

Your heart beats

 

within--

 

Listen, with your

 

eyes,

 

Watch, with your

 

ears,

 

Feel from inside

 

of your skin--

 

abandon all thoughts

 

to the Sacred Percussion.

 

 

The hour will arrive,

 

blessed One,

 

when the inner

 

pulse soars

 

and the heart's

 

incantation grows

 

sensuous as the

 

chaste string

 

surrendering love

 

to the bow's

 

liberating kiss.

 

 

Return often,

 

in devotion,

 

to listen,

 

watch, and

 

feel the

 

ecstatic rhythm,

 

and in this lifetime,

 

Beloved,

 

you shall meet

 

your Self.

 

 

 

 

Madhya Nandi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

</bigger>Now, if you are still with me, if I told you that the most

delicious, sin-sational, erotic ecstasy could be had by following the

indications offerred in Seduction Inside-Out, would you believe me?

 

 

 

 

Grace and Blessings to All,

 

 

 

Madhya