From: tyagi@shell.portal.com (Tyagi Morgoth NagaSiva) Newsgroups: alt.magick.sex,talk.religion.newage Subject: Re: TANTRA Date: 31 May 1994 01:31:12 GMT Joy Williams writes: |What exactly is Tantra. ANd how does it relate to sexuality? The eternal question. Asked many times in this newsgroup already. I'm glad to see other answers. There is not enough variation here. |According to "Sexual Secrets", Tantra is the sanskrit word for |"SPiritual method that takes into account both "inner' and "outer" |realities. Weaves the 'spiritual' and 'material' into the 'experiential'. |Derived from the root words meaning "to expand," "weave" or |"extend consciousness" tantra implies a continuity beyond the physical. I say it implies that the act of it is the weaving of the polarities of experience. Those who separate out 'physical' from 'spiritual' can benefit from crossing the poles and seeing what happens. Put a little sex and/or other indulgence in your ritual. Find the full experience of doing something which is 'ordinary' for you (perhaps making a sandwich or peeing). |Tantric teachings evolved in India and spread to Nepal, Tibet, China, |Japan, Thailand, and Indonesia. This is the rough history of Tantric Yoga. I tend to like to think that Tantra is a living process which arises and recedes with the life-force of humanity (indeed all of life and the cosmos). |These teachings are said to be |particularly relevant in this time of materialism and narcissism This is a reference to the 'Kali Yuga', which is said to be a time of darkness, delinquence (from the Law of God! :>) and 'right things'. I think we are fortunate to live in such a time of freedom! |since |all human activities can be used as tools in the Tantric route to |Liberation. Tantras are texts that outline specific Tantric practices." This is the typical line. Notice that here we are told that there is a particular 'Tantric' route to 'Liberation' (moksa). Personally I think the only liberation to be done is mental. We are miracles of light and darkness, form and essence, and we think we are but commonplace insects. |In the Thankgas of Tibet, the images protrayed are often that of a God |and Goddess, Notice that one usually predominates and this depends on the tradition as to whether or not the divinity is male or female. Sometimes many- headed, sometimes ogres! The Tibetan Art exhibit that cruised through SF a while back was spectacular. |in a Yab Yum position which is a picture that speaks about |the holy union of the polarities, a one-ness that can be achieved through |not only meditation and the like, but also through sexuality., because |the divine speaks in a very beautiful way that way, if you are with the |right person. Yab-Yum is Father-Mother or something like that. My poor memory. I'll bet there are different interpretations of that term also. Some are more conservative than to think it is a coitus-symbol, though this is how I find most value in it. I don't think 'the right person' is as important as 'the right situation'. The 'situation' depends on the set and setting, as well as the partner. |My partner and I when we make love will sometimes emulate the Yab Yum |position...He sits erect in alotus position, and I will put my legs |around him sitting straight up as well. His lingham in my Yoni stays erect |alot longer in this position, but the real benefit is that our kundalini |energy has a real opportunity to flow through all of our chakras. All of |our chakras resonate with each other, and I touch something truly lovely |in myself and in him. My Abyss and I do this even when *not* in conjugal bliss. There is something spectular about a mutual hug without stress that I find unimaginably delightful. |Lingham? Phallus, quite complex. |Yoni? Kteis, again, more than just vagina. |Kundalini? Not only of feminine reference (cf any 'ini' name), but 'Kunda', which reminds me greatly of 'Kundry', the origin, apparently, of 'cunt'. :> Supposedly this is a serpentine energy, residing at the base of the spine in Hindu Yoga systems. Note the similarity here to the Caduceus. |Chakras? Wheels of energy, supposedly. Lots of people like to play with this system, and I think it worthwhile. Note that there are countless variations on the number of wheels (these occur all over the body, even though the main chakras tend to center on the spine, often in odd numbers - 3, 5, 7, 9). |What are these? These are tantric terms for the Penis, Vagina, The life |energy that flows from the root of your body to the crown of your head, |and chakras are 7 concentration of this energy. Sometimes the kundalini goes from root to Heart, meeting up with the Shiva-force that comes from the Crown. |Water shared is life shared! Yeah yeah |Joy Williams |dhummer@netcom.com tyagi Tyagi@HouseofKaos.Abyss.com