Tantra-- Not 'Sex Magic'
As per request. :)
This has been a post a very long time in the making. I've meant to write this up numerous times, and while this is not an issue here (as it tends to be elsewhere), it's something that I need to vent. :)
The modern Western world has a tendency to exploit things. Anything, really, especially if there's the potential for income. Whether it's the New Age cultural misappropriation of Eastern ideas, from karma to Tantra, to the mass-marketing of authentically fake items from African cultures. But, I am specifically going to aim my ire at the perversion of Tantra- literally and figuratively speaking.
Tantra isn't sex. It has very little to do sexual positions, orgasm delay or as a method to quicken kundalini. There's a whole market out there based upon 'tantric massage', or the proper way to massage your partner's yoni (vagina). You know what that's called? Diddling, or mutual masturbation if someone else is giving the helping hand. It has *nothing* to do with anything remotely tantrik. It has everything to do with fooling the naive out of hundreds of dollars. It's the same thing with these 'Sacred Sex' institutes. You pay them money so they can show you some sensually erotic form of foreplay, and sometimes watches you do it- to make sure it is being done right, of course. If you're an exhibitionist or want to add some romance to the bedchambers, it might be perfect for you. If you are wanting to learn tantra, rest assure that you are going to be screwed.
So, what is Tantra? Tantra is a form of Eastern practice, associated with a number of mostly Hindu sects, that deals with the reconcilliation of perceived opposites to a state of Oneness. Because Hinduism is panentheistic, the idea that all things exist within Deity, it is believed that no natural thing is bad/wrong/evil. And because Hinduism is henotheistic, believing that Deity is One, to announce that this is good or that is bad presents a dualism. Therefore, Tantra places an emphasis on the ritualistic breaking of taboo, of which sex for worship is but one, to delineate the boundries with the objective in raising the sadhana (practitioner) to that state of Oneness, samadhi or nirvana, and eventually liberation from the cycles of life-death-rebirth.
The most infamous of the taboos are known as the tantrik panchatattva, the five elements of parched rice, meat (to include animal sacrifice), intoxicants (alcohol or bhanga/cannabis), fish and, yes, sexual intercourse. These are culturally notorious because Brahmanic tradition, your 'mainstream Hinduism', has long had a emphasis on ritual purity. Any meat, including fish, was inappropriate for use in worship AND outside of worship (despite there being no actual Vedic edict) because violence brought about the end of the animal's life. Intoxicants are forbidden, especially alcohol, because it inebriates the senses and there's two stories where incidents occurred from the influence that both Brahma and Krishna placed a curse on it. Cooked rice was considered the damaging of the traditional offering of something that is both fruit and flower in one, yet incapable of reproducing itself- something emblematic of Oneness. Sex was wrong because worship was to Deity alone, with no division of thought to your lover.
The tantrik sadhana feels otherwise. He, or his mate (called a shakti), believes that because such things are good enough for us, then it's good enough for God/dess. Some schools, such as the kaulas, take the five elements as literal and may incorporate one or all of them in a tantrik puja. Others consider them more transcendent in nature, as personal sacrifices to achieve Oneness with Deity. I follow a kaula path as closely as I am allowed.
I mentioned something earlier about sex for worship. This is sex of tantra. Goddess is worshipped through the shakti, the female partner. Without going off on a tangent, it's assumed and traditionally a female, but there's nothing forbidding a male to assume the role, scripturally speaking. Anyway, it is Goddess that is worshipped, not the representative. This begins with an elaborate set of rituals seating Goddess into the shakti. Unrobed, veneration is given to her sex organ via mantra, mudra, and the offerings given in a traditional offering. Actual penetration may occur afterwards, however it's actually less common than assumed. Does some of that sound familiar to some of you? What if I mentioned that one traditional ritual was to meet her at a crossroads, trace a moon tattva on her forehead and invoke Goddess?
The act is not for sexual gratification. It is for uniting with Goddess to become One with Her. That goddess may be one of the ten tantrik goddesses, the Mahavidya, most of whom you would do well in not ever offending.
This is not a very common practice. Tantra suggests that you do not do anything more often than you do. Too Much and Too Little were two demons slayed by Goddess. Moderation is the key.
These are not the only Tantra elements. The ritual I posted, Bhuta Suddhi, is one of high importance. Nyasa, an action involving the placing of mantras on parts of the body to facilitate a bringing together of the sadhana with Deity, is intimately tantrik.
If it serves to unite yourself with Deity, irrespective of ritual taboo, it is Tantra. If there is a shock to your system when you do that no-no, and that shock elevates your consciousness to Deity, it is Tantra.
Otherwise, it is not.
This has been a post a very long time in the making. I've meant to write this up numerous times, and while this is not an issue here (as it tends to be elsewhere), it's something that I need to vent. :)
The modern Western world has a tendency to exploit things. Anything, really, especially if there's the potential for income. Whether it's the New Age cultural misappropriation of Eastern ideas, from karma to Tantra, to the mass-marketing of authentically fake items from African cultures. But, I am specifically going to aim my ire at the perversion of Tantra- literally and figuratively speaking.
Tantra isn't sex. It has very little to do sexual positions, orgasm delay or as a method to quicken kundalini. There's a whole market out there based upon 'tantric massage', or the proper way to massage your partner's yoni (vagina). You know what that's called? Diddling, or mutual masturbation if someone else is giving the helping hand. It has *nothing* to do with anything remotely tantrik. It has everything to do with fooling the naive out of hundreds of dollars. It's the same thing with these 'Sacred Sex' institutes. You pay them money so they can show you some sensually erotic form of foreplay, and sometimes watches you do it- to make sure it is being done right, of course. If you're an exhibitionist or want to add some romance to the bedchambers, it might be perfect for you. If you are wanting to learn tantra, rest assure that you are going to be screwed.
So, what is Tantra? Tantra is a form of Eastern practice, associated with a number of mostly Hindu sects, that deals with the reconcilliation of perceived opposites to a state of Oneness. Because Hinduism is panentheistic, the idea that all things exist within Deity, it is believed that no natural thing is bad/wrong/evil. And because Hinduism is henotheistic, believing that Deity is One, to announce that this is good or that is bad presents a dualism. Therefore, Tantra places an emphasis on the ritualistic breaking of taboo, of which sex for worship is but one, to delineate the boundries with the objective in raising the sadhana (practitioner) to that state of Oneness, samadhi or nirvana, and eventually liberation from the cycles of life-death-rebirth.
The most infamous of the taboos are known as the tantrik panchatattva, the five elements of parched rice, meat (to include animal sacrifice), intoxicants (alcohol or bhanga/cannabis), fish and, yes, sexual intercourse. These are culturally notorious because Brahmanic tradition, your 'mainstream Hinduism', has long had a emphasis on ritual purity. Any meat, including fish, was inappropriate for use in worship AND outside of worship (despite there being no actual Vedic edict) because violence brought about the end of the animal's life. Intoxicants are forbidden, especially alcohol, because it inebriates the senses and there's two stories where incidents occurred from the influence that both Brahma and Krishna placed a curse on it. Cooked rice was considered the damaging of the traditional offering of something that is both fruit and flower in one, yet incapable of reproducing itself- something emblematic of Oneness. Sex was wrong because worship was to Deity alone, with no division of thought to your lover.
The tantrik sadhana feels otherwise. He, or his mate (called a shakti), believes that because such things are good enough for us, then it's good enough for God/dess. Some schools, such as the kaulas, take the five elements as literal and may incorporate one or all of them in a tantrik puja. Others consider them more transcendent in nature, as personal sacrifices to achieve Oneness with Deity. I follow a kaula path as closely as I am allowed.
I mentioned something earlier about sex for worship. This is sex of tantra. Goddess is worshipped through the shakti, the female partner. Without going off on a tangent, it's assumed and traditionally a female, but there's nothing forbidding a male to assume the role, scripturally speaking. Anyway, it is Goddess that is worshipped, not the representative. This begins with an elaborate set of rituals seating Goddess into the shakti. Unrobed, veneration is given to her sex organ via mantra, mudra, and the offerings given in a traditional offering. Actual penetration may occur afterwards, however it's actually less common than assumed. Does some of that sound familiar to some of you? What if I mentioned that one traditional ritual was to meet her at a crossroads, trace a moon tattva on her forehead and invoke Goddess?
The act is not for sexual gratification. It is for uniting with Goddess to become One with Her. That goddess may be one of the ten tantrik goddesses, the Mahavidya, most of whom you would do well in not ever offending.
This is not a very common practice. Tantra suggests that you do not do anything more often than you do. Too Much and Too Little were two demons slayed by Goddess. Moderation is the key.
These are not the only Tantra elements. The ritual I posted, Bhuta Suddhi, is one of high importance. Nyasa, an action involving the placing of mantras on parts of the body to facilitate a bringing together of the sadhana with Deity, is intimately tantrik.
If it serves to unite yourself with Deity, irrespective of ritual taboo, it is Tantra. If there is a shock to your system when you do that no-no, and that shock elevates your consciousness to Deity, it is Tantra.
Otherwise, it is not.
Views: 65
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Sangraal on
-
I will likely post a paper I wrote on the Yoni Puja, the epitomy of sexually charged worship, once more discussion in the group has been generated. For one, it will elaborate upon my position that it's venerative in device, and that the sexual mechanics are a means to an end, rather for a ritual for the sake of sex itself. Secondly, the vastness of Tantra is not relative to this group, but this end of it has kinship- although it's mysticism, rather than magic. Lastly, it can be turned into a practical guide once a study is given to fill in the blanks that I intentionally placed in it, notably the mantras. :)
It is a bit...detailed in some portions, but not graphically so, and thus will be flying just under the TOS placed by Ning that I must, of all people, uphold.
The Yoni in kaula practice is considered the seat of the mahavidyas, and there is no higher worship. Because of this, doing it for the sake of sex, to impress someone just to 'get some' is particularly damnable. The outcome, in such an event, may result in subsequent undesirable incarnations. :) -
-
Permalink Reply by Sangraal on
-
My response for recommended reads, from my blog:
The Bhagavad Gita remains a highly regarded text of classical Hinduism. Regardless of background, everyone of the various religions collectively known as Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) knows the book. But, like all puranic texts (and even the Upanishads), it is sectarian. Another classical read from the sect of Shaktism (Goddess as Absolute sect) would be the Mahatya Devi or the Devi Gita. Shankaranarayanan's 'Glory of the Divine Mother' has likely the very best in english translations of Mahatmya. I am placing an emphasis on Goddess not due to my own bias, but rather She must be understood first to understand Tantra- that, and the majority of Tantra comes from Shaktism, too.
I recommend any book written by Sir John Woodroffe, who also writes under the penname of Arthur Avalon, a British gentleman who had been well accepted by the Shakta Tantra community in India. His recorded experiences, while dry and sterile at times, are considerably comprehensive and worth the read. In particular, his classic Shakti and Shakta takes the reader through the key components of understanding Goddess and into the world of Tantra. His general criticism is that he can be a bit overly-academic at times.
Other recommendations:
Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses by David Frawley
The Tantric Body: The Secret Tradition of Hindu Religion by Gavin D. Flood
Renowned Goddess of Desire: Women, Sex, and Speech in Tantra by Loriliai Biernacki
Yantra: The Tantric Symbol of Cosmic Unity by Madhu Khanna
Advanced, mind-warping reads? Read the Tantras themselves, at least of what few have been wholly translated. Not only a tradition, but the Tantra is a canon of books believed to have been delivered by Shiva Himself, and are generally conversations between Shiva and Devi (Goddess) or Him and a sage. -
-
Permalink Reply by Abby Noel Smith on -
So, if one were a lady and wanted to unite with the goddess, it’s not necessary to, erm... uhm… be tantrik with another woman, correct? How would one unite with the goddess properly as a woman, without doing so? I’m sorry but maybe part of the article you wrote went over my head. I’m simply trying to learn and grasp it all.
Thanks,
Abby -
-
Permalink Reply by Sangraal on
-
I apologize for such a tardy response on this excellent question.
As a woman, you're already Goddess-- you just don't know it, yet. In tantrik perspective, that's how it is understood. In Shaktism, the sect of which I identify, all are understood as Goddess as She is the underlying Reality and our True Nature. Therefore, you're notsomuch seeking to make a connection, but rather remembering the knowledge that has been forgotten due to the delusional affects of dualism.
There's various rituals and gestures of tantrik application that seeks to re-identify Goddess with yourSelf. I rmploy most of the methods daily-- no sexual interaction required, at least in the sense of carnal intercourse, as our external actions create an internal change. The use of nyasa and kavacham, externalized by mantra and mudra, "installs" mantras upon various points of our bodies to encourage the onset of Goddess-identification.
A tantrik sadhu might apply an external, sexual practice to his shakti, but the end result internalizes the whole experience. It is absolutely NOT necessary to engage in such a thing, ever. It's only one route performed by a minority practice.
You don't need to follow Hinduism or any tantrik praxis in order to do all of this, however, but sincerety, devotion and meditation are a good start. If your goal is to reconcile percieved opposites and to discover that Oneness in the center of your being, well, it's much more "tantrik" than most of the nonsense on the market.
Abby Noel Smith said:So, if one were a lady and wanted to unite with the goddess, it’s not necessary to, erm... uhm… be tantrik with another woman, correct? How would one unite with the goddess properly as a woman, without doing so? I’m sorry but maybe part of the article you wrote went over my head. I’m simply trying to learn and grasp it all.
Thanks,
Abby -
-
Permalink Reply by Olibana Pelayo on -
thank you for the recommended reading. I found a couple of them on the internet.
Sangraal said:My response for recommended reads, from my blog:
The Bhagavad Gita remains a highly regarded text of classical Hinduism. Regardless of background, everyone of the various religions collectively known as Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) knows the book. But, like all puranic texts (and even the Upanishads), it is sectarian. Another classical read from the sect of Shaktism (Goddess as Absolute sect) would be the Mahatya Devi or the Devi Gita. Shankaranarayanan's 'Glory of the Divine Mother' has likely the very best in english translations of Mahatmya. I am placing an emphasis on Goddess not due to my own bias, but rather She must be understood first to understand Tantra- that, and the majority of Tantra comes from Shaktism, too.
I recommend any book written by Sir John Woodroffe, who also writes under the penname of Arthur Avalon, a British gentleman who had been well accepted by the Shakta Tantra community in India. His recorded experiences, while dry and sterile at times, are considerably comprehensive and worth the read. In particular, his classic Shakti and Shakta takes the reader through the key components of understanding Goddess and into the world of Tantra. His general criticism is that he can be a bit overly-academic at times.
Other recommendations:
Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses by David Frawley
The Tantric Body: The Secret Tradition of Hindu Religion by Gavin D. Flood
Renowned Goddess of Desire: Women, Sex, and Speech in Tantra by Loriliai Biernacki
Yantra: The Tantric Symbol of Cosmic Unity by Madhu Khanna
Advanced, mind-warping reads? Read the Tantras themselves, at least of what few have been wholly translated. Not only a tradition, but the Tantra is a canon of books believed to have been delivered by Shiva Himself, and are generally conversations between Shiva and Devi (Goddess) or Him and a sage. -
© 2013 Created by Sangraal.
