Tantra Articles
Is Tantra sex?
Last Updated on Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:53 Written by Dr. Corynna Clarke Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:48
Tantra Yoga is both a written and oral tradition that dates back at least 4,000 - some say 20,000 years. It is common in the West to equate Tantra with sex, but in actuality it is a spiritual science and way of life, more concerned with artfully approaching every activity and creating a well-rounded and masterful balance of each aspect of life.
While people are prone to attach Tantra to the Kama Sutra, history reveals the Kama Sutra to be merely a book that has been translated many times, often for kings or rulers who wanted to impose certain sexual standards. Although it does have its roots in Tantra, it has been changed so many times that you would never know it by modern translation.
Tantra is about embracing all of life and taking the middle path. It doesn’t advocate hedonistic indulgence that depletes the life force, nor is it about living an unrealistic saint-like existence that doesn’t include things like lower chakras and bodily functions and needs.
Contrary to Western assumption, several partners, or even one partner is not needed to be Tantric. There are many single and even celibate Tantricas. If the desire for transformation, empowerment and enlightenment is present, then everything needed is within. Each person is born Tantric, the inside wiring is already there.
Tantric Awareness
Written by Kathryn Ryder Sunday, 06 December 2009 16:37
TANTRIC AWARENESS Kathryn Ryder
Tantra manipulates the materials, energies, and limited awareness
associated with the human body, to help the practitioner realize the
unlimited consciousness that permeates all space, time, energy, and
matter.
There are many methods in Tantra.
Some use complicated rituals of dramatic actions using ritual objects
to lead the mind to a particular feeling or awareness (Kriya Tantra).
Some tantric methods use no external objects, but still rely on
physical technique to move energy and awareness in the body - prime
examples are Tantric hatha yoga, and the sexual rituals called
Maithuna.
Tantric Hatha Yoga uses physical techniques (postures, breath
awareness, internal breath pressure, spinal manipulation, hand and
body gestures, internal muscle contractions, pressure on the various
external pressure points called marmas).
These same physical methods are shared in some varieties of Tantric
Maithuna (love ritual or union), with the added ingredient of sexual,
emotional, and spiritual arousal.
Other methods use intentional, patterned movement of the consciousness
through the body to harness and control the jumpy cognitive "monkey
mind".
For example, in Tantric Kriya Yoga, the practitioner moves his or her
awareness along specific meridian pathways (nadis) in order to achieve
more calmness of mind, along with and internal control of prana (chi
or vital breath energy).
Control of internal energy and placement of awareness allows the
practitioner to modify his or her consciousness and emotional state at
will, as well as claming the mind enough to achieve meditative samadhi
(absorption), and, by adding additional techniques from other systems,
or simpley abiding in naked awareness, Realization.
Hindu Kriya Yoga is analagous is practice and purpose to the
Taoistsystems of internal Qigong called Nei Gung.
In Tantric Laya Yoga, also known as the yoga of kundalini, the tantric
uses the resonant frequencies of the various parts of her energetic or
physical anatomy to "tune in" to new, different, or more precise
"bands" or wavelengths of consciousness, often using auditory tools
(mantra), visual tools(yantra), and anthropomorphized principles
(devata) to amplify and fine-tune her awareness and energy.
Laya Yoga principles can be used individually, in a loving couple, or
in a practice group or sangha.
In internal martial arts like kalaripayattu, tai chi, hsing-yi,
baguazhang, hoshinjutaijutsu, and pencak silat, the external
(physical) training and internal (breath, energy and mind) training,
mirror each other, similarly producing awareness of aspects of the
mind, energy, and physicality that are ignored or overlooked by the
normal person.
There are many more methods and schools within Tantric practice - but
they all intersect and build on each other...and they all rely on
experiences provided by the practice itself, not on book learning, to
deliver increased awareness of the nature of humanity and the nature
of consciousness.
If you truly practice and understand the view, principles, and methods
of any complete esoteric method, from any full system, in any culture,
when you really investigate any other system, you will see how things
fit together in the broader spectrum of tantric practice.
You will also see that if you wish to cut away all attachments and
prejudices, to really free you mind from limited concepts, there are
as many cultural prejudices in the esoteric arts as in any other
field.
The truly universal personality will want to leap over these
prejudices, ultimately leaving behind even the ideas that enabled the
practitioner to travel inwards towards freedom.
There are wonderful esoteric tools and traditions in all of the major
religions and spiritual traditions of the world.
Because of early human migrations and later the trade and cultural
exchange along the silk and spice routes, every one of those
traditions has absorbed practices from every other- nothing is, or can
be, ethnically, culturally, or religiously "pure"or separate -
Archeology is showing us over and over that everything culturally
distinct will ultimately mingle with, share fractals of, or reflect
everything else, or die off entirely.
Tantra would say thet the root or base of all these memes (ideas,
thought forms, or concepts), permutations, traditions, and individual
splinters of consciousness is the same ineffable primordial
consciousness behind and within everything, beyond name, beyond
concept.
The esoteric traditions are merely systematic methods to
experientially realize and live in full awareness of that primordial
consciousness!
If you begin esoteric practices - yogic, sexual, meditative,
scientific, shamanic, or otherwise - take each principle or method you
learn, practice it, play with it, experiment and explore it, and fit it
and its experiences into the bigger whole!
Sexuality in Tantric Buddism
Last Updated on Wednesday, 25 November 2009 18:01 Written by Kathryn Ryder Wednesday, 25 November 2009 17:22
Sexuality in Tantric Buddism by Kathryn Ryder
Please note that this very brief explanation is merely intended to give a taste for the profundity of tantric practice as antidote to what many people think is a mere superstitious belief in thousands or strange "gods" with many arms and feet that are having sex all the time. All the images and ritual involved are merely intended to practice very advanced techniques for training the mind and controlling subtle energies within one's body.
It is quite the opposite of ordinary sex with attachment and craving.
As mentioned in my Tantric Exercises article, parts of the exercises in tantric practice are involving controlling and transforming bodily energies. Sexual energy happens to be one of the strongest forms of physical energy; simply said, it is built-in by nature to ensure the survival of the species. Also these sexual energies need to be completely controlled and transformed. What is usually overlooked is that sexual practices in tantra should
be free from the ordinary desires and lust, and only very advanced practitioners should try these practices after permission from their teachers. Simply said, it has very little to do with ordinary sex. Arousal of the sexual energy is preferably done by just visualizing a consort.
The union of male and female are symbolic for the union of method or compassion and wisdom, or more specific in tantra, the union of bliss and emptiness. (See also Keith Dowman's website for a more elaborate explanation.)
"Through the skillful methods of tantra, meditators are able to cultivate
pleasure in a way that actually aids in spiritual progress. Afflicted
grasping and desires based on mistaken ideas are the problem, not happiness
and pleasure. If the pursuit of happiness and pleasure can be separated from
afflictive emotions, then it can be incorporated into the path and will even
become a powerful aid to the attainment of enlightenment."
From 'Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism' by John Powers
This also illustrates one of the typical aspects of tantra: rather than repressing negative emotions like attachment, they are transformed into positive energy. But using this transformation principle has two sides: it is not only a very effective means of making mental changes, but if they are done without proper guidance of a qualified teacher, the practitioner can easily increase negative emotions rather than reducing them. So very powerful psychological techniques like tantra need to be treated with much care and consideration to avoid disastrous results for the practitioner.
Can a Man Really Become Multi-Orgasmic?
Last Updated on Friday, 11 December 2009 08:17 Written by Mare Simone Tuesday, 11 August 2009 02:04
Can a Man Really Become Multi-Orgasmic? By Mare Simone
I get asked this question a lot. For the record, the answer is Ohhhh Yes!!! From the tantric perspective, orgasm is not a goal or completion of sex, but rather an aroused physical and emotional state that literally can be experienced throughout one's entire being. The longer one lingers in this aroused state of excitement, the more energy and life force they can absorb and radiate. A man may have multiple orgasms without ejaculating and yet actually feel energized in the afterglow. As a woman, I can only tell you that it's extraordinarily satisfying to be with a man who can continue to ride wave upon wave of pleasure with me. It creates a deeper and profound feeling of union.
The techniques that assist one in developing these skills can be learned and mastered with practice. Physiologically, it is possible for a man to have orgasm without ejaculating. Sadly, it is also possible for a man to ejaculate without much physical pleasure at all! Orgasm and ejaculation are functions that are activated by separate parts of the nervous system. Although they often do occur simultaneously, each of these functions can be experienced independent of one another. To a man this means prolonged and multiple orgasms are possible without an ejaculation.
Tantra and Tantric Sex - An Overview
Last Updated on Friday, 04 June 2010 18:16 Written by Goddess Tanya Tuesday, 11 August 2009 01:53
Tantra and Tantric Sex - An Overview By Goddess Tanya
Tantra is a spiritual path and a path of sacred sexuality, whereby you come to experience the union of your sexual and spiritual energies. In so doing, you experience the divinity in yourself, your partner and in all of existence. Tantra is concerned with the transformation of energy. It directs us to transform our life-force energy and sexual energy into spiritual energy for the purpose of spiritual enhancement and enlightenment. Within the context of Tantra, sexual relationships and experiences are grist for the mill of our spiritual advancement – which includes creating a bond of sacred love with our partner.
Tantra is an ancient tradition with its roots in Hinduism and Buddhism. It came to America and the west, pioneered in a new form, known as Neo- Tantra. Its resurgence can be attributed mainly to the enlightened Tantric master Osho Rajneesh and his disciples – although others, such as the kria-yoga Tantricas played a crucial role too. Osho Rajneesh underplayed the emphasis on mantras, positions and ritual and placed it on spiritual consciousness, and a unique combination of meditation, non-attachment, risk-taking, wildness and spontaneity. The issue was to go deep, find your true core and express it in its fullness – both in life and in your sexuality.
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