Tantra Euphoria

How To Practice Tantra Breathing

2011-08-19T19:56:00.000-05:00

By Acharya Subhojit Dasgupta

To learn tantra breathing, you first have to understand what the science and art of tantric breathing is all about. One can get a basic insight into it by attending a tantra for couples workshop. However, there is no substitute for studying it diligently under an accomplished tantra teacher, since tantric breathing is an integral part of the overall tantra mosaic. In fact - though it may not be immediately evident, it plays an important role in enhancing one's experience with sex and intimacy.

Essentially, tantra breathing is the diametric opposite of our normal, shallow type of respiration. A tantric breath can be perceived all the way down to the nether regions. Along the way, it ventilates and opens up every chakra, culminating with the stimulation of the chakras connected with sex.

For couples who are being initiated into tantra breathing by a tantra master, the experience can be somewhat disconcerting. In our day-to-day existence, we have learned to breathe superficially, unobtrusively and without any awareness of the process. This is all part of our instinctual desire to avoid drawing attention to ourselves.

Tantric breathing, on the other hand, is quite different. The drawing in of breath is a focused and conscious process, and is coupled with vivid visualization of what is happening. The exhalation of a tantric breath is an audible, sighing sound that has a lot in common with an orgasmic moan. In a tantra for couples setting, hearing and engaging in tantric breathing can initially be a source of discomfort to some new students. Others are okay with practicing it in a group setting, but are uncomfortable while practicing it only with their partners.

After he has helped his students overcome their initial uneasiness, the tantra master will proceed to introduce them to the next level of tantra breathing. Here, the couple engages in rhythmic tantric breathing while keeping their gazes fixed on each other. Their locked eyes must convey their desire and love for each other - each breath needs to emphatically communicate these emotions to the other. The process soon begins to stimulate their dormant sexual energy.

This awakening of the sexual core is indeed a powerful and experience. Many students of tantra are immediately seduced by it and proceed straight to sexual union.

However, your tantra teacher will caution you that the tantra energy generated by tantra breathing is meant to be harnessed and used to achieve the higher objective of sexual control. Gaining this control is what makes tantra sex the most fulfilling erotic experience you can ever have, and is a permanent and ever-appreciating gift. Squandering the energy released by tantric breathing in immediate sexual release is counter-productive and therefore discouraged by an experienced tantra teacher.

Acharya Subhojit Dasgupta is a Tantra Teacher with an in-depth knowledge of traditional Indian sciences and Sanskrit literature. Visit his tantra online guide for Tantra Lessons, kriyas and mudras from this young Tantra Master.

Article Source: EzineArticles

What Is ShungaBliss? Science, Ecstasy, and Enlightenment for a Modern World

2011-08-13T16:18:00.000-05:00

What Is ShungaBliss? Science, Ecstasy, and Enlightenment for a Modern World, by John Levin. ShungaBliss is a new Tantra. It goes beyond sexuality to get you in touch with the ecstatic spellbinding energy of your own consciousness. It's much more amazing than anything on Quantum Mechanics. It combines the concepts of String Theory with thousands of years of experiments of meditators with Energy Bodies. You'll learn how to actually feel the electron surfaces of your body, the hidden heartbeat of emotion in Out-of-the-Body Experiences, the magnetic power you feel every moment - just barely hidden within, the alka-seltzer fizz of pure love and creativity, the real yin and yang of Einstein's Relativity, the true Oneness of the Cosmic Body, and the Emptiness where time and space cease. It's all within us and not that hard to get to. ShungaBliss is not just something you do alone. As you learn about each Energy Body, you'll also learn the deliciousness of connecting with your lover, of the hidden touches of the surfaces of these Energy Selves. This is the real Tantra that makes every moment of your life ecstatic, rich, and fulfilling. We all have it. Our cultures and societies have just forgotten to pay attention.

Regular Tantra too often just remembers that people once knew energy miracles, but now it just tries to imitate what those old Taoists and Tantrikas must have had. Affirmations, rituals, and breathing techniques to hold back your orgasms are small potatoes next to the experiential knowledge of your Energy Bodies where hours and hours of the most profound ecstatic love become both natural and effortless. Feeling the connecting touch of you and your lover's only barely hidden Energy Selves is really just a boost to help you feel the miracle of these aspects of your own awareness when you're alone, or with the trees and mountains, or even in the middle of traffic in the city. This is the real meditation. It's not centeredness, calmness, or escape from life, but the power, intensity, and magic you knew you had when you were small. You just needed to remember - and to fit it in with the scientific knowledge you now have as an adult.

If you've read Osho, you'll particularly like this book. If you've been reading anything about Quantum Mechanics and Consciousness, then this will do you one better. I hope you enjoy this new approach and learn how to drop all the silly unhappiness society has mistakenly told you was real.

Click here for more information or to instantly download.

Tantric Sex for Men: Making Love a Meditation

2011-07-17T16:08:00.000-05:00

Tantric Sex for Men: Making Love a Meditation, by Diana and Michael Richardson. A revolutionary approach to male sexuality offers the keys to achieving sexual fulfillment. Fulfilling sex nourishes love, increases vitality, and boosts mental health. Unfortunately, prevailing attitudes about male sexuality and what is good sex work against these innate features by focusing on the excitement of ejaculation as the one and only goal.

Using the tantric guidelines they have practiced for more than 25 years, Diana and Michael Richardson show men how to move beyond their preconceptions of sex as a goal-oriented--and often unintentionally stressful--event so they can relax into sex as a meditative union of complementary energies. They explain how retaining semen allows for increased vitality and extended lovemaking sessions and show the relationship-strengthening benefits of deep, sustained penetration. They also explain how to perform soft penetration and how to avoid premature ejaculation.

Tantric Sex for Men includes tried-and-true foreplay approaches, diagrams of sexual position sequences, ways to increase sexual sensitivity through awareness, and how to have ecstatic experiences through reaching a woman’s body on a sexually deeper level. The authors also demonstrate how the sexual organs can be used to heal both men and women physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Click here for more information or to order.

Diana Richardson is the author of Tantric Orgasm for Women and The Heart of Tantric Sex and is a teacher and practitioner of holistic body therapies. Michael Richardson is a teacher of t’ai chi, practitioner of shiatsu, and teacher of the Gurdjieff Sacred Dances. Both disciples of tantric master Osho, Diana and Michael have been teaching the art of Tantra in their weeklong “Making Love Retreats for Couples” since 1993. They live in Switzerland.

The New Tantra Simple and Sexy: Longer, Better Lovemaking for Everyone

2011-06-19T11:22:00.001-05:00

The New Tantra Simple and Sexy: Longer, Better Lovemaking for Everyone, by Susan Crain Bakos. The next step in the Western evolution of an Eastern classic, The New Tantra will transform your sex life. In this newly adapted and improved take on Tantra, internationally acclaimed sex author Susan Crain Bakos extracts the best and hottest techniques from the ancient traditions of the Kama Sutra and traditional Tantric teachings and combines them with the latest thinking and research on sex. The result is an exciting new Tantra designed for today's modern couple that shows you, step by step, how to strengthen arousal, sustain erection, and intensify and prolong orgasm - all without any rigorous chants or "chakra clearings." In no time at all, you'll be enjoying longer sex, stronger orgasms, and a deeper connection with your lover.

You'll learn things you won't find in any other Tantra or sex book on the market, including:

Creative intercourse positions - illustrated through beautiful photography - made to suit your bodies and provide the most sensation.

Powerful ways to embrace your sexual energy and move it around at will.

No-fail techniques to intensify orgasms.

Quick fixes for encouraging her orgasm and delaying his.

The New Tantra is your guide to the best sex of your life. You don't have to commit a lot of time to learning the techniques. There are no rules. This is the intense and thrilling erotic Tantra you've been searching for - the one your sex life can't be without.

Susan Crain Bakos, dubbed "our most peripatetic sex journalist" by Publishers Weekly, has interviewed thousands of men and women about their sexual behavior and attitudes. She is the author of The Sex Bible, and has also written numerous magazine articles for publications such as Redbook, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Men's Health, and Penthouse. She lives in New York City. Click here for more information or to order.

Awakening the Full Body Orgasm - Better Sex Tonight

2011-05-10T21:15:00.001-05:00

By Crystal Dawn Morris

Tantra uses sexual energy to expand awareness and experience ecstasy. It teaches people how to move their sexual energy from their genitals, up to the top of their head, and everywhere in between, allowing the entire physical and energetic body to become ecstatic. When the sexual energy reaches the crown it can expand a persons awareness of the mystical realms, allowing them to recognize they are Divine Consciousness in human form.

A full body orgasm is the experience of feeling your whole body vibrating with orgasmic energy. This can be done outside of a sexual context as well as while making love. Anyone can learn how to have a full body orgasm by following the steps below.

7 steps for Opening the Inner Flute:

1) Stand with your knees hip width apart and slightly bent.
2) Breathe through your mouth and deep into the belly, allowing it to expand begin activating your sexual energy.
3) Once you have master the belly breath you can increase the intensity by inhaling as if you are sipping through straw. Exhale with an open mouth and release a deep sound from the belly. Sound also intensifies the expansion of energy.
4) Now, allow your pelvis to begin rocking. Keeping the knees bent, let your pelvis rotate freely. As you inhale rock the hips back, arching the small of the back. As you exhale, tuck the tail bone under, flattening the small of the back. Breath, sound and movement are the 3 Keys of Sky Dancing Tantra.
5) Next, add the PC pump. As you inhale squeeze the pelvic floor muscles pulling them upwards and as you exhale let them relax back down. It feels a bit like you are trying to stop and start a stream of urine. These are sometimes called Kegel exercises.
6) Put all the steps together. As you inhale imagine you are breathing the energy up from your root to your heart. Practice this until you feel the energy pulsing from your root to your heart. You can play with speeding up and slowing down your respiratory rate.
7) Once you have mastered connecting root and heart move the energy up to the crown. Practice until you can feel the energy flowing from your root to your crown. See yourself as a rainbow bridge of light connecting Earth and Sky.

This is a wonderful way to get your energy flowing. Once the Inner Flute is open you are ready to learn how to expand the energy and experience Full Body Orgasm. There are 3 steps to this process:

1) The Streaming Reflex helps you recognize that your body is made of ecstatic energy which you can stimulate and expand whenever you want to. You learn to experience orgasmic energy outside of a sexual context and discover that you can awaken your own pleasure body with out genital contact. The practice-You begin by standing with your feet hip width apart and knees bent. Allow your thighs to begin to vibrate side to side. Allow the vibration the spread up and down the body until your whole body is vibrating. It is helpful to do this with music, I recommend Osho's Kundalini Meditation CD.

2) The Ecstatic Response is the process of being relaxed in high states of arousal. You learn to become a bigger container for ecstatic energy and to relax fully letting the energy naturally expand. The effect is one of sexual excitement and deep peace. When you master the ecstatic response you move beyond the genital orgasm and discover the full body orgasm. The practice- After several minutes of your whole body streaming lay down on the floor with your knees bent and your feet close together. Let your knees gently fall apart like a butterflies wings opening. Allow your body to relax fully and continue to open and close your knees. This process allows the ecstatic energy to spread throughout the body. This is best done listening to gentle, relaxing music.

3) Once you mastered Opening the Inner Flute and the Full Body Orgasm outside a sexual context you can introduce these practices into your love making and experience them within a sexual context. Sex becomes an alchemical experience that transforms the physical body into the Bliss Body.

If you'd like to learn more about Tantra and Crystal's events, sign-up for her free monthly newsletter at: TantraForAwakening.com. Read her Tantra blog at: TantraGal

Crystal Dawn Morris is a Certified SkyDancing Tantra Teacher and the founder of Tantra for Awakening. She is committed to creating a more conscious and compassionate world. She offers Tantra workshops, Tantra coaching and healing sessions. She also creates retreats for couples and individuals to awaken passion in their lives and relationships. She teaches a 9-month Tantra Teacher Certification program called The Art and Business of Teaching Tantra. She lives in Sedona, AZ where she practices yoga, writes and enjoys life. She loves to travel and is open to teaching and coaching in your community.

Article source: EzineArticles.com

Tantra: Cult of the Feminine

2011-05-01T14:16:00.001-05:00

Tantra: Cult of the Feminine, André Van Lysebeth. Known only for the virtues of its sexual practice, ancient Tantric ideology is a universal and wide-reaching ideology virtually ignored in the West. In Tantra: The Cult of the Feminine, one of Europe's foremost Tantric authors and teachers, Andre Van Lysebeth, gives readers a balanced, well-informed, modern examination of the secret teachings and symbolism of Tantra. Espousing no dogma, Tantra involves a search for reality that contradicts neither science nor religion. For Tantra, all of the myriad energy forms in the universe -- gravity, nuclear cohesion, electromagnetism -- exist throughout the cosmos. "Scientifically speaking, the universe is a gigantic continuum ranging from sub-atomic to astronomical dimensions. Tantrists have perceived this unity for over thirty-five centuries," points out van Lysebeth in his introduction. Originally published in 1992, Tantra has become the classic text on the subject, the source for serious students. Eight full-color illustrations and 36 line drawings complement a comprehensive and contemporary explanation of Tantra, complete with meditations. Andre does a remarkable job of bringing ancient theories into the modern world.

André Van Lysebeth has practiced yoga since 1945 and is the founder of the Belgian Yoga Federation and co-founder of the European Yoga Foundation. In addition to Tantra: The Cult of the Feminine, he is the author of five books on Yoga. Click here for more information or to order.

Decoding the Female Orgasm

2011-03-28T18:00:00.001-05:00

By Crystal Dawn Morris

The best way for a woman to decode her orgasm is by getting to know her own body. Self-pleasuring (commonly called "masturbation") is a way of finding a deeper connection to your own life-force energy, which is the power of creation that flows through all of life. It can even be a spiritual practice when it is done with Presence, awe and reverence. Through self-pleasuring, a woman can learn to expand her awareness and capacity for Bliss.

Self-pleasuring allows you time to discover what excites you without being concerned about pleasing your partner. You get to experiment with different types of touch, pressure, speed and find new erogenous zones. I recommend self-pleasuring several times this week. Take your time and connect deeply with yourself. Let your inner body-wisdom guide you. As you touch yourself, stay present to where the energy flows. Allow your sessions to be an adventure in self-discovery.

Notice if any resistance comes up around self- pleasuring. If it does, ask yourself these questions: What is my relationship to pleasure? Do I make time for it in my life? How often? Do I find reasons for not giving myself pleasure? If you are in a habit of limiting the amount of pleasure in your life, explore what old beliefs you have about pleasure, sex, and masturbation. You may be harboring sexual shame or guilt. You may feel that spending time on yourself is wasteful or selfish. Now is a good time to reframe those beliefs by restating them in ways that are sex and pleasure-positive.

Once you have explored the nuances of pleasuring yourself and feel confident in your ability to bring yourself to orgasm, you may want to share this wisdom with your lover. Learning to share how you like to be loved is a great way to deepen intimacy with your partner and increases the likelihood of being touched in ways that most arouse and satisfy you. This requires an important communication skill, called the "3-Part Communication."

The 3-Part Communication

1) Acknowledge the person for something they are doing well: "I love it when you caress me back." or "Thank you for being willing to spend this time with me."
2) Ask for what you want: "What would feel even better to me in this moment is for you to touch me even more slowly."
3) Appreciate and acknowledge the change: " Oh yes. That feels so good! You are doing it just right." This communication style will dramatically increase the likelihood of being touched in a way that pleases you and makes your lover feel good too.

As you take personal responsibility for your desires being met, you will be want to release old beliefs that no longer serve you such as, "It's my lover's job to magically figure out what turns me on." These kinds of ideas lead to feelings of being hurt and/or disappointed. Instead, recognize you are the generator of your orgasms. By learning what turns you on and asking for what feels good in the moment, you can expand your capacity for ecstasy.

Learning to decode your orgasm through practicing self-pleasuring and learning to express your sexual desires adds a whole new dimension to your lovemaking. It is a great way to increase self-awareness and expand your capacity for Bliss. It can also add juice to a new or ongoing sexual relationship. Enjoy!

If you'd like to learn more about Tantra and Crystal's events, sign-up for her free monthly newsletter at: TantraForAwakening.com. Read her Tantra blog at: TantraGal

Crystal Dawn Morris is a Certified SkyDancing Tantra Teacher and the founder of Tantra for Awakening. She is committed to creating a more conscious and compassionate world. She offers Tantra workshops, Tantra coaching and healing sessions. She also creates retreats for couples and individuals to awaken passion in their lives and relationships. She teaches a 9-month Tantra Teacher Certification program called The Art and Business of Teaching Tantra. She lives in Sedona, AZ where she practices yoga, writes and enjoys life. She loves to travel and is open to teaching and coaching in your community.

Article source: EzineArticles.com

How To Understand And Practice Tantra Yoga

2011-03-02T12:18:00.001-06:00

By Acharya Subhojit Dasgupta

Tantra yoga is not a concept that has been clearly grasped by a majority of people. It is definitely not a series of sexual gymnastics, which is what the most common understanding of tantra yoga seems to be. It is difficult to describe this very important aspect of ancient tantra in laymen terms, but essentially it is a more spiritual version of kundalini yoga.

One significant difference between tantra yoga and kundalini yoga would be that the poses and techniques are usually performed by two partners who share or wish to share a deep emotional/spiritual connection. In kundalini yoga, these are performed solo, and for reasons of personal development rather than the development of a relationship or bond.

The basis of tantra yoga remains firmly rooted in the ancient Indian and Tibetan traditions. What is special about it is that, when learned and practiced under a qualified tantra master, it has the power to strengthen relationships and our connection with ourselves, each other and the universe.

It cannot be over-emphasized that tantra in any of its various manifestations does not focus solely on sex. While it does have the power to increase sexual intimacy, erotic pleasure and one's overall wellness quotient, the fundamental objective of tantra is to deepen the spiritual aspects of our relationships.

The ancient scriptures pertaining to yoga teach us that the spine is the seat of all our energy. By learning and practicing tantra yoga under the auspices of an experienced tantra teacher, you can learn how to strengthen and harness this energy and direct its flow to. Among other things, this will help you achieve your deepest sexual and spiritual objectives.

In a way, sexual intercourse could be seen as the ultimate tantra yoga technique, but it is not only about coitus. When practicing tantra yoga postures, partners maintain eye contact with each other and also maintain physical contact in many ways. In the process, they will have an opportunity to explore their own hang-ups and spiritual blockages towards that intimacy.

For instance, in the sacred embrace technique, the partners face each other without actual physical contact, practice tantra breathing with shut eyes and then open their eyes to gaze reverently and wordlessly at each other. The next step involves wrapping each other in a close embrace with the heads on each others' shoulders, staying in this pose for a prolonged moment. Invariably, most initiates will soon find themselves wishing to break the embrace.

At this point, their tantra master will train them to ask themselves what the reason for this is. These reasons are then explored and overcome with the practice of more advanced tantra yoga techniques and instructions, until the blockages are vanquished and greater intimacy is achieved.

Acharya Subhojit Dasgupta is a Tantra Teacher with an in-depth knowledge of traditional Indian sciences and Sanskrit literature. Visit his tantra online guide for Tantra Lessons, kriyas and mudras from this young Tantra Master.

Article source: EzineArticles.com

Pilgrims to Openness: Direct Realization Tantra in Everyday Life

2011-03-02T12:06:00.001-06:00

Pilgrims to Openness: Direct Realization Tantra in Everyday Life, by Shambhavi Sarasvati. Pilgrims to Openness is a practical guidebook to authentic Indian Tantra (Kashmir Shaivism). Nearly seventy lyrical, readable essays speak with warmth, intelligence and compassion to curious beginners and more experienced practitioners alike.

Many of the essays were written in response to questions from students to the author. "Do I need a Guru?" "What is suffering?" "Why am I doing spiritual practice?" These, along with topics such as "What is nonduality?", are offered in a lucid, gutsy and often humorous style. No subject is off limits, from difficult emotions, such as loneliness, to love relationships, death, kundalini, chakras, boredom, and how to wake up in the morning and for all time. The final pages offer detailed instructions for three key practices. Click here for more information or to order.

Shambhavi Sarasvati has trained for more than twenty years in the view and practices of direct realization Tantra Kashmir Shaivism. She is fortunate to have studied with several great teachers in both Indian and Tibetan nondual traditions. Born in the U.S., she offers teachings for contemporary people that are still uncompromisingly true to their origins. Her non-mystical view is that Tantra is a way to learn about and live in the fullness of Reality. This is Self-realization. Nothing more or less.

6 Benefits of Erotic Massage for Lovers

2011-02-26T17:47:00.001-06:00

By Crystal Dawn Morris

Erotic massage is a wonderful way to relax, connect and explore pleasure with a lover or intimate friend. On the path of Tantra, we enjoy coming together to honor and celebrate the body as a temple of delight. This experience will allow you to explore erotic energy in new ways and is also a wonderful prelude to lovemaking. Learn six benefits of erotic massage.

Preparation

Prepare a warm, quiet, comfortable place where you won't be disturbed for the next 2 hours. Make sure all phones are turned off. Light some candles and put on some relaxing, romantic music.

The Heart Salutation

Begin with the Heart Salutation. It is an ancient tantric practice for acknowledging the Divine in each other as you enter into sacred time. Sit across from your partner and look into their eyes. Maintain eye contact throughout the rest of the process. Extend your arms towards the earth, palms together. Inhale and, keeping them together, bring your hands to your heart. Exhale, as you bow forward and acknowledge the Divine in each other. Inhale, as you straighten back up. Finally, exhale as you allow your hands to return to the starting position, pointed towards the earth.

The Bubble

The Bubble calls you into present moment awareness and creates a safe space in which to offer an erotic massage. Make a bubble around you and your partner with your arms so that it surrounds both of you. Remove things from the bubble that won't serve this process (the past, distractions, anger, worry, etc.) Do this with a gesture, as if physically removing an object, while stating out-loud what you are removing. Next, bring things into your bubble that will enhance your connection (Love, willingness, Presence, trust etc.) Once again, use gestures and spoken words. Here is two examples:

"I release the past."

" I call in passion."

Share Your Desires, Fears and Boundaries

Once the bubble is created, share your desires, fears and boundaries related to giving and/or receiving an erotic massage. One person speaks while the other person listens, without judgment or commentary. Then, switch roles. Here are some examples:

"My desire is to stay connect to erotic energy."
"My fear is that I may fall asleep and you may feel hurt or disappointed."
"My boundary is finish this practice by at 11 pm."

Healthy Boundaries

People often think of boundaries as walls. Healthy boundaries are actually bridges that bring people together. Intimacy arises when healthy boundaries are honored. You feel safe, are open and present. Boundaries can change, so check-in periodically to see how you are feeling. If your boundary has changed, tell your partner. Please, don't expect them to read your mind.

Giving an Erotic Massage

Decide who will give and who will receive. Invite the receiver to lay face-down on a massage table, bed or blanket on the floor. Make sure they are warm and comfortable. The giver then grounds him or herself and gently lays their hands on the receiver. Recognize this is a unique opportunity to honor and serve your beloved. Attune yourself to the receiver. One way to attune is by breathing with them for a few minutes.

Begin to awaken their skin by lightly stroking it with feathers, fur or the tips of your fingers. When you are ready, cover their body with warm oil. Use long, slow massage strokes. You are massaging more than the surface of their body. You are connecting to them on multiple levels. Encourage them to take deep breaths, make sounds and move their body. This allows the energy in the body to awaken, move and release. Use different parts of your body- your hair, arms and chest, to massage your partner. Be playful, curious and creative.

About half-way through the allotted time, invite the receiver to roll over. Massage the front of their body with warm oil, again using long strokes. Introduce sound in a new way by toning on their body, using sounds like, Ahh, Yumm or Omm. This can be a powerful tool for activating your partners energy-body.

When they feel ready, offer to explore their genitals. In SkyDancing Tantra we call the vagina, "Yoni," which means "Cosmic Matrix" and the penis, "Vajra," which means "Thunderbolt." Begin on the outside of the genitals with oil. At first, be gentle and go slow. Allow them time to release any tension in the area. Listen to their body. Watch them respond and become aroused. Focus on what gives them pleasure. Try different strokes. Again, be creative. If you are going to do internal massage, use a water-based lubricant. How much pleasure can they allow? Are they open to exploring the possibility of multiple orgasms?

Close by spooning together and connecting your heart centers with love, compassion and gratitude. Help them to sit up and end with a Heart Salutation. Offer them water or juice to drink and a chocolate or piece of fruit to eat. You may want to share what this experience was like for you. How was it to give and/or receive in this way?

Six Benefits of Erotic Massage are:

1) It awakens the senses and activates whole-body healing.
2) It allows you to explore pleasure in new and creative ways.
3) It uses eye contact, connected breathing and touch to enhance intimacy.
4) It creates conscious connection between the giver and the receiver.
5) It uses breath, sound and movement to awaken the full-body orgasm.
6) It melts away the illusion of separation and allows Oneness to emerge.

If you'd like to learn more about Tantra and Crystal's events, sign-up for her free monthly newsletter at: TantraForAwakening.com. Read her Tantra blog at: TantraGal

Crystal Dawn Morris is a Certified SkyDancing Tantra Teacher and the founder of Tantra for Awakening. She is committed to creating a more conscious and compassionate world. She offers Tantra workshops, Tantra coaching and healing sessions. She also creates retreats for couples and individuals to awaken passion in their lives and relationships. She teaches a 9-month Tantra Teacher Certification program called The Art and Business of Teaching Tantra. She lives in Sedona, AZ where she practices yoga, writes and enjoys life. She loves to travel and is open to teaching and coaching in your community.

Article source: EzineArticles.com

Sextasy: Master the Timeless Techniques of Tantra, Tao, and the Kama Sutra to Take Lovemaking to New Heights

2011-02-12T11:22:00.001-06:00

Sextasy: Master the Timeless Techniques of Tantra, Tao, and the Kama Sutra to Take Lovemaking to New Heights, by Caroline Aldred. In this eye-opening, indispensable handbook, Caroline Aldred, the bestselling author of Divine Sex and an esteemed yoga master and Tantric-sex coach, reveals how to transform intimate relationships into mutually rewarding unions in which both partners achieve true ecstasy. Combining the time-honored positions, techniques, and philosophy of the ancient Tantric erotic arts with Western knowledge of anatomy and physiology, Aldred shows how to expand your sexual, emotional, and spiritual consciousness and bring love into every area of your life. Discover the differences between male and female sexual responses–and how to maximize each, how to become a skillful, effective lover–enhancing lovemaking skills through regular sexual workouts, how making love can be a path to spiritual enlightenment, how to maintain sexual vitality through every stage of your life, plus: the male G-spot…the 9 levels of female orgasm…fantasy and erotica…rituals to promote conception…and much more

Lavishly illustrated throughout with subtle but explicit photographs and detailed anatomical drawings, Sextasy offers a practical, easy-to-follow approach to lovemaking. A book that honors sex as the sacred and deeply fulfilling practice it can be, this is an invaluable resource for anyone searching for pleasure, joy, fulfillment, connection, and ecstasy in their everyday lives.

Caroline Aldred is the author of the bestselling Divine Sex. Born in Zambia, educated in England and America, she now lives in Italy. After studying Tantric yoga and meditation in England and Bali, she began lecturing and leading classes and workshops on Tantric sex. Her work has been featured in a variety of UK magazines and newspapers, and she has appeared on television and radio to promote it. Click here for more information or to order.

Tantrika

2011-01-26T11:22:00.000-06:00

Tantrika, Filmed by John Wadsworth. Tantrika initiates a series of meditation videos that center consciousness on the beauty of the human Presence. Inspired by the Tantric discipline of transcending sensual attachment through meditation on decaying corpses or exquisite women, Floating Worlds seeks to instill transcendent desire through radiant appreciation of the human form. As consciousness rises through all 7 Chakras, Tantrika reveals the luminous essence within everyone....the luminous essence of The Floating Worlds. Download instantly here.

Ancient Tantra - The Key To Ultimate Relationship Depth

2011-01-26T11:11:00.000-06:00

By Acharya Subhojit Dasgupta

Tantra is the key to deep emotional bonding and spiritualized relationships between men and women. It preaches that in relationships, we must find a balance between playfulness and seriousness while never losing sight of an essential erotic undercurrent. Tantra expounds the uninhibited expression of our humanness, and deplores the tendency of human relationships to become mechanical and soulless.

In our lifetime, we undergo several evolutionary changes. Tantra teaches us to meet these changes with enhanced awareness and self-honouring at every stage. By applying the precepts and practices of ancient tantra, we can ensure that our deepest relationships are rich in understanding, love and harmony.

We must learn to differentiate authentic tantra from the vacuous, superficial offerings being marketed by supposed tantra workshops. No 'tantra retreat' can hope to inculcate the necessary depth of spiritual awareness that defines pure ancient tantra.

Remember, genuine tantra practices guided by an accomplished tantra master actually paint the tapestry of your life in new and joyous ways. As any qualified tantra master can affirm, there will never be any shortcuts to such a divine goal.

In present times, many relationships blow hot and cold, lacking in the depth and abundance that Nature decrees they should have. These relationships become uncomfortable and barren for both partners.

This is because the partners love for themselves and harmony with each other, rendering them incapable of feeling expressing joy in the relationship. Sadly, the sacred message of tantra either never reaches their ears, or is garbled and rendered impotent by inept interpretation.

An authentic tantra teacher works with his pupils to bring the joyful "Ohs" and "Ahs" back into their relationships by addressing physical, emotional and spiritual lacunae. The ecstasy returns - it seeps back in at the emotional and spiritual levels, and then spills joyously over into the physical realm. This is how expertly guided tantra practices heal our relationships, and help them be all they can be in our existence here on earth.

The sacred scriptures of ancient tantra are explicit on how spiritual harmony makes any relationship truly complete. To quote from the 'Yoni MahaNirvan':

"Hold me close, profoundly and spiritually So as much as His arms were around me, I feel a sense of peace and complete acceptance And.....desire to be like this forever!

Sexual attraction has ended; spiritual attraction has begun (spiritual attraction has begun... spiritual attraction has begun"

Most women know deep down that they possess the seed of profound harmony within. Most men know that their male energy is capable of balancing this harmony to completeness - to the joyful fulfilment of both partners.

Enabling this blissful state of harmony is the sacred promise of tantra. Let nothing keep you from drinking deep of this ancient font of wisdom, and from taking your relationships from barrenness to divine levels of delight and harmony.

Acharya Subhojit Dasgupta is a Tantra Teacher with an in-depth knowledge of traditional Indian sciences and Sanskrit literature. Learn tantra for women and other Tantra Lessons, kriyas and mudras from this young Tantra Master.

Beyond Tantra: Healing Through Taoist Sacred Sex

2011-01-19T11:33:00.000-06:00

Beyond Tantra: Healing Through Taoist Sacred Sex, by Mieke Wik and Stephan Wik. Beyond Tantra is a down-to-earth guidebook for bringing the ecstatic powers of Taoist Sacred Sex into your love life. Based on the authors’ true story of their successful journey into discovery and healing, it provides Westerners with a step-by-step, tastefully illustrated, practical introduction to the ancient Chinese Art of Sexual Dual Cultivation. The authors draw on original Taoist sources together with years of personal experience and practice. They share both their successes and challenges to create a personal, encouraging and inspiring story of hope and success.

"This is an open-hearted true story of a couple who transformed their relationship while learning to charge their vitality and health with enriched sexual energy. Mieke and Stephan share the knowledge and experience gained as a result of their mutual courage and commitment as a couple to engage in respectful, unfettered interpersonal communication while creatively applying the principles of Taoist lovemaking. They provide a beautiful example of how to personalize the information and methods carried forward from past Taoist teachings with meaningful clarification from today’s knowledge." --Taoist Master Mantak Chia, co-author of The Multi-Orgasmic Couple

Stephan Wik (acupuncture student and musician) and Mieke Wik (precision reflexologist and massage therapist) have lived, loved, and worked together for more than twenty-five years. They have four grown children and a grandson.

The Book of Secrets: 112 Keys to the Mystery Within

2011-01-19T11:25:00.000-06:00

The Book of Secrets: 112 Keys to the Mystery Within, by Osho. The book, one of the ancient texts on Tantra, contains a masterful commentary on 112 techniques of meditation by the enlightened mystic, Osho. He brings into focus the central point that, such as the physical science shows techniques to transform matter, Tantra shows techniques to transform the spirit. Tantra, as Osho explains, does not condemn sex, nor does it ask to indulge into it. Tantra merely shows ways to raise sex energy for experiencing the higher states of consciousness.

The book is perhaps the first in acknowledging a woman's status as an independent inquirer. Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva, asks him some of the most quintessential questions for unraveling the secrets of how meditation can bring about a complete mutation in human consciousness. Sex being the strongest desire there is, Shiva explains how the way of Tantra helps in understanding this desire and transcending it. Osho's insight is: "Tantra says, be aware of the desire; do not create any fight. Move into desire with full consciousness, and when you move into desire with full consciousness you transcend it."

Osho has provided an in-depth understanding of the differences between sex and Tantra, Tantra and Yoga, the views about sex in the East and the West, male and female polarity and how both can become mutually nourishing.

The core message of this incredible text on meditation is that, sex is essentially a mystery, it is a creative energy manifested in the entire universe. Tantra is helpful in the understanding of this energy and showing how to live a healthy and natural life with love and awareness. Osho's observation is: "...the days of tantra are coming. Sooner or later tantra will explode for the first time in the masses, because for the first time the time is ripe -- ripe to take sex naturally. It is possible that the explosion may come from the West, because Freud, Jung, Reich they have prepared the background. They did not know anything about tantra, but they have made the basic !ground for tantra to evolve." Click here for more information or to order.

Yoga Spandakarika: The Sacred Texts at the Origins of Tantra

2011-01-09T12:16:00.003-06:00

Yoga Spandakarika: The Sacred Texts at the Origins of Tantra, by Daniel Odier. The Spandakarika, the "Tantric Song of the Divine Pulsation," is said to have been transmitted directly to the sage Vasugupta from the hands of Shiva on Mount Kailas. In his commentary on these fifty-two stanzas, the sage Ksemaraja described them as the heart of the Mahamudra. The oldest masters of Spandakarika viewed everything in the universe, including matter, as consciousness and created a yoga practice in accordance with this realization. The sacred dance of Yoga Spandakarika, Tandava, is extremely subtle and difficult, requiring thousands of hours of practice to master, yet it surpasses any other physical practice, allowing the practitioner to touch the divine inner pulse. Once its third stage has been mastered, the yogi or yogini is able to manifest the dance of Shiva in space, a tradition visible in the statuary of Tantric temples in India and Tibet. Energy is no longer contracted by the perception of duality, and the mind and body become unbounded, forming a sphere that contains all that was formerly outside. In Yoga Spandakarika Daniel Odier passes on these vanishing teachings as he received them from his Tibetan master, Kalu Rinpoche, and Kashmiri yogi Lalita Devi.

Sexual Liberation, Tantra, & Sacred Activism

2011-01-09T11:55:00.000-06:00

Sexual Liberation, Tantra, & Sacred Activism, by Andrew Harvey. Directed by Richard Startzman. Andrew Harvey will show that sexual liberation and Tantra are vital parts of the Divine Mother's plan for the birth of a new humanity, since they make possible a profound and ecstatic contact with what Andrew calls Divine Eros - a tender passionate dynamic love-connection. True tantric sexuality gives its' practitioners access to extraordinary and unified energies which will form the base of a commitment to Sacred Activism. Andrew Harvey was born in South India where he lived until the age of nine, a period he credits with shaping his vision of the inner unity of all religions. He left India to attend private school in England, and then entered Oxford University to study history. After Harvey became disillusioned with life at Oxford, he returned to India to begin his spiritual search. Harvey has written and edited over 30 books including Mary's Vineyard, A Journey to Ladakh, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying (coauthored with Sogyal Rinpoche), Dialogues with a Modern Mystic, The Way of Passion: A Celebration of Rumi, Hidden Journey and Son of Man. Click here for more information or to order.

Tantra With Your Clothes On

2011-01-01T11:31:00.002-06:00

By Tanja Diamond

Tantra is like the black sheep of the family, she's a really misunderstood being. Especially here in the west where we have bastardized the word to mean anything we want, but generally related to sex workers, or a type of erotic massage, or endless physical orgasm.

Tantra is a life philosophy, a school of thought, an intimate experience of your own body, soul and the universe. It is a solo practice especially at the start, and it is not a casual undertaking.

My definition of the concept of Tantra is: "Tantra is the ultimate love affair with yourself and all of your existence. In the process of igniting your internal flame, you come to experience all ordinary moments as extraordinary experiences. Immersed in that experience, you realize that you are the divine, there is nothing else to need or want, but that moment."

Only 3 percent of Tantra is even related to sex. Yes, you say, but sex is the part you want to learn about.

Well here's the thing. You can not have a truly spiritual sexual relationship with another until you have a truly spiritual life with yourself and others with your clothes on.

Most people are just plain getting it backwards.

Trying to be a master lover with technique alone is like being a mute singer. You may be able to form the muscles to make the sound, but no sound will be heard.

Most of Tantra is practiced with your clothes on. Even the extremely deep love making to another's soul can be accomplished without being naked. That's the beauty of learning Tantra, once you learn to utilize its principles you can do magick.

The endless orgasm and living in arousal that Tantra is famous for is really misinterpreted to be a physical response in the genitals when in actuality it is a full body, soul and divine ( God) experience.

Living In full arousal is experiencing living in the fullest expression you have as a human. It would be a sad thing for such an enormous expression to be so limited to only your crotch. That would be like the ocean only having one color, or a song with only one note.

Living in a state of full expression as a human is done by being dynamic, in all aspects of your range of emotional feelings and physical sensations. It has little to do with your head (simply a state of logic) or just pleasure in your lower body. Full body integration is a tough thing to understand in a world where we are so compartmentalized.

Our bodies, feelings, and souls are out of balance, and most people are leading with only one major expression at a time.

For example, every one knows that person with the soft touch. They tend to "fall in love" easily and never say no to anyone who needs help. They usually end up acting like a martyr because they are so out of balance. Then there is the cerebral person, who seems to posses no feelings, and makes all their decisions from logic. Usually this person seems cold and not very romantic (no heart), frequently they will have anger lurking beneath the surface from repressed emotions, once again out of balance.

The art of Tantra is way to rebalance the body, mind and soul. It is an exploration of self, and an opening to all the wonders that are in and outside of us, a way to connect fully with the universe.

Starting with the self you will learn to tune into your feelings, and physical sensations, learning to expand your capacity for both of these. Most of you are living a 2 on a scale to infinity in the amount of pleasure you can feel, both emotionally and physically.

Once you learn to expand in self you can start to look around with new wonder at all the things you have not noticed before. It is as if you are awakening to a new life, and new way of being, and you are.

Then once open to this path you will find you will not want to go back. You will want more and more of the full expression you are capable of.

From here you can start to experience the potential of loving in an entirely new way, physically and emotionally. Now all the techniques you know for love making are merely extension of your soul instead of physical manipulation. Just gazing at your lover with your clothes on will be more magnificent than any physical act you created before, ever was.

And that's just the tip of the ice berg of the art form of Tantra.

"Tanja Diamond The Tantra Teacher" is an international Sexual Intimacy Expert who's mission is to teach people how to love each other better. Visit her site for a free ebook and Mp3 LearningTantra.com.

Tantra: Continuity of Consciousness

2010-12-28T09:54:00.000-06:00

Tantra: Continuity of Consciousness, Tantra Bensko MFA. Tantra Bensko explains the Naga origins of Tantra, synchronicity, superhuman abilities, becoming aware during all the brain-wave frequencies, working with crystals. Doing the traditional mantras, breathwork, and more leave you in a transcendent state by the time you follow along with all the exercises. Tantra also teaches sexual exercises for Tantric orgasms, without ejaculations for men, and forming a conduit of continuity during arousal that allows the higher self to communicate with the lower self. Dream yoga and hypnogogie are explored, in this visually stunning video amongst flowers, produced in conjunction with VLM.Download instantly here.

Tantra: Clarity of Interaction

2010-12-28T09:45:00.000-06:00

Tantra: Clarity of Interaction, Tantra Bensko MFA. Tantra Bensko teaches Tantra on the beach at the beautiful Sutro bath ruins, in this colorful, vivid presentation produced in conjunction with VLM. Two young men friends join her as she teaches them mantras and ways of exchanging energies to help each other evolve, bringing their spirits together to help answer questions for each other. Using traditional Tantric mantras, breathwork, etc., she shows how to strengthen and cleanse and protect the aura, to separate as well as to merge, to keep boundaries as well as to give freely. She coaches on the raising of the Kundalini, and Tantra as physics. Download instantly here.

Tantra Sex Step By Step

2010-12-18T12:18:00.003-06:00

Tantra Sex Step By Step, directed by Pala Copeland and Al Link. Learn the art of Tantric loving, at home, at your own pace, with this DVD and eBook program. It includes a detailed 28 day plan with step by step instructions for simple, fun to do practices that will strengthen your relationship and intensify your sexual/spiritual connection. Tantra Step By Step is not just a collection of radio or TV interviews; it is a complete learning curriculum developed over the past 20 years of our personal Tantric and Taoist sacred sex practice, and tested with hundreds of couples over the past 10 years in our live Tantra retreats. We have been personally using these methods since 1987 and teaching them to others since 1997! We walk the talk.

While you can spend many years exploring Tantra s depths you can also realize some of its intense benefits in a very short time, which is particularly appealing to lovers caught in the hectic pace of life today. This video home study course is designed for lovers who are very busy. It shows you that Tantra is a practical approach to intimacy that can have a profound impact on your life, without requiring a great deal of extra time. The exercises are quite short, on average you ll spend no more than 20 minutes per day on your sacred loving practice, less time than a TV sitcom or the evening news. Once per week there are longer lovemaking periods in which you reap great delights from the skills you ve been learning. Click here for more information or to order.

The Forgotten Treasure Of Vigyan Bhairav Tantra

2010-12-18T11:44:00.001-06:00

By Acharya Subhojit Dasgupta

Today, the sacred tantra scripture called Vigyan Bhairav Tantra has been reduced to just one of many meditation manuals. While several amateur adaptations are available online, the original version has never appeared on public domains. With its true essence thus obscured, most will never know the Vigyan Bhairav Tantra actually stood for - and what it does not stand for.

True, Vigyan bhairav tantra is an ancient treatise outlining 112 fundamental tantra meditation techniques. However, it is not to be mistaken for a meditation bible, for it explains tantra techniques that do not only train just our minds. Vigyan Bhairav Tantra is a 10,000-year-old tantra scripture meant to catalyze the expansion of consciousness, mind, body and soul.

Tantra is a very practical philosophy, and with ardent practice of this ancient art you can develop a personal spiritual connection with the flow of your life. You can then reach and out tap into the Divinity that exists within you. Vigyan Bhairav Tantra is a holistic approach to life that honors and respects all aspects of your being, including sexuality, love and spirituality.

An ardent student of tantra would do well do avoid the many so-called 'commentaries' on this fabulous treatise, which has its deeper meanings inbuilt within the original text in Sanskrit.

The Vigyan Bhairav Tantra is not an intellectual or philosophical work that can be absorbed in a retreat or workshop. A qualified tantra teacher can instruct you in its essential teachings to aid you in your tantra lessons, but the complete work required at least a decade and a half to master.

This scripture - one of the most revered in ancient tantra - explains the exact breath techniques Gautama Buddha used to achieve spiritual enlightenment. The Buddha's Vipassana meditation method is well-known for being 'one of His techniques', but it is not generally known that it is based firmly on the Vigyan Bhairav Tantra.

Most religious and spiritual schools of the world have borrowed heavily from the various methods and techniques it offers without acknowledging it as their source. For example, Gurdjieff formulated his famous techniques on the lines prescribed by this ancient tantra scripture and introduced them to the West under his own name.

The student of tantra must understand that this ancient treatise is not only about the systematization of breath. Rather, it teaches us to use breath as a technique to bring about pure consciousness. This consciousness is essential if we are to begin exploring the sexual aspects of tantra, which cannot be divorced from deep spirituality.

Via the techniques taught by Vigyan Bhairav Tantra, we learn to harness energy that is otherwise wastefully expelled through mundane sexual intercourse. It changes the way we perceive sex. We learn to see it as much more than just a peaking of erotic energy that must be released and then done away with.

Acharya Subhojit Dasgupta is a Tantra Teacher with an in-depth knowledge of traditional Indian sciences and Sanskrit literature. Visit his tantra online guide for Tantra Lessons, kriyas and mudras from this young Tantra Master.

Renowned Goddess of Desire: Women, Sex, and Speech in Tantra

2010-12-15T15:03:00.001-06:00

Renowned Goddess of Desire: Women, Sex, and Speech in Tantra, by Loriliai Biernacki. Tantra is a family of rituals modeled on those of the Vedas and their attendant texts and lineages. These rituals typically involve the visualization of a deity, offerings, and the chanting of his or her mantra. Common variations include visualizing the deity in the act of sexual union with a consort, visualizing oneself as the deity, and "transgressive" acts such as token consumption of meat or alcohol. Most notoriously, non-standard or ritualized sex is sometimes practiced. This accounts for Tantra's negative reputation in some quarters and its reception in the West primarily as a collection of sexual practices.

Although some today extol Tantra's liberating qualities, the role of women remains controversial. Traditionally there are two views of women and Tantra. Either the feminine is a metaphor and actual women are altogether absent, or Tantra involves the transgressive use of women's bodies to serve male interests. Loriliai Biernacki presents an alternative view, in which women are revered, worshipped, and considered worthy of spiritual attainment. Her primary sources are a collection of eight relatively modern Tantric texts written in Sanskrit from the 15th through the 18th century. Her analysis of these texts reveals a view of women that is generally positive and empowering. She focuses on four topics: 1) the "Kali Practice," in which women appear not only as objects of reverence but as practitioners and gurus; 2) the Tantric sex rite, especially in the case that, contrary to other Tantric texts, the preference is for wives as ritual consorts; 3) feminine language and the gendered implications of mantra; and 4) images of male violence towards women in tantric myths. Biernacki, by choosing to analyse eight particular Sanskrit texts, argues that within the tradition of Tantra there exists a representation of women in which the female is an authoritative, powerful, equal participant in the Tantric ritual practice.

The Generation Stage in Buddhist Tantra

2010-12-15T09:27:00.000-06:00

The Generation Stage in Buddhist Tantra, by Gyatrul Rinpoche. To begin with, it is important to know that when you receive Dharma teachings, three types of motivation are possible. You might have a virtuous, positive intention, a negative intention, or a neutral intention that is neither positive nor negative, but merely dull and thoughtless. You must eliminate negative and neutral intentions, which is done by recognizing them.

You cannot do away with negativity until you recognize it, can you? Any kind of worldly intention is negative. All worldly intentions, such as hearing the teachings to obtain non-spiritual benefits, are considered negative. However negativities are expressed-through body, speech or mind-they should be eliminated.

All negativities are supported by the ten non-virtues. Of these ten non-virtues three relate to the body, four to speech, and three to the mind. The three that relate to the body are killing, stealing and adultery. The four corresponding to speech are lying, harsh speech, slander and gossip (idle words). The three of the mind are craving, ill will and incorrect view. If you don’t know how these non-virtues are accrued, you should study the teachings on cause and result.

A neutral intention is a state of dullness or lack of awareness which is devoid of positive intention. This is not necessarily a negative state, however. You just attend the teachings in a stupid state, following the way a dog follows its master, or perhaps the way that a small child follows its mother. With this attitude, you don’t really get anything out of what you are pursuing because you have no real intention or motivating force to begin with. Cultivating a positive motivation is a basic requirement to receive the teachings purely.

According to the Mahayana tradition of Buddhism, which is known as the greater spiritual pursuit, a positive motivation is the twofold intention to benefit oneself and others. This can also be expressed as having a single intention to cultivate the ten virtues, to perform all other virtuous deeds, and to achieve enlightenment, the level of ultimate realization, for the sake of benefiting oneself and others.

We call ourselves Mahayanists or practitioners of Mahayana Buddhism. Beyond that, we call ourselves dzogchen practitioners, or practitioners of atiyoga. Whatever we claim to be, whether Hinayanist, Mahayanist or dzogchen atiyoga practitioners, the main thing to remember is to develop and maintain the intention to hear and practice the teachings for the sake of oneself and all other beings.

Ngöndro, the preliminary practices that many of you perform on a daily basis, should not be thought of as mere "preliminaries." These practices begin with the Four Thoughts that Turn the Mind towards the spiritual path. These contemplations embody the essence of the Hinayana tradition of Buddhism, which is known as the lesser spiritual pursuit. The practices of refuge, bodhicitta, Vajrasattva, and mandala relate to Mahayana Buddhism, the greater pursuit, and the guruyoga practice relates to Vajrayana. All nine vehicles of Buddhism can be reduced to these three yanas, which are all practiced within the ngöndro. The ngöndro is a very profound practice that activates all three vehicles simultaneously. Because the three vehicles are all related, perhaps you can see the importance of contemplating the Four Thoughts and of cultivating compassion before you engage in Vajrayana techniques.

When Shakyamuni Buddha first gave teachings in this world of samsara, the very first thing he explained was that cyclic existence is a place of natural suffering. The realm of cyclic existence is by nature a place of suffering, turmoil and delusion. It is therefore essential that, before hearing the teachings and beginning any practice, you contemplate the Four Thoughts that Turn the Mind. Just as the Buddha chose to present these teachings before any others, similarly this is the first step in your own study of Dharma.

After considering the truth of suffering, proceed to cultivate an awareness that all other living creatures in the realms of samsara are in a state of delusion, just like yourself. All living creatures have, over the course of countless past lifetimes, been your own kind and loving parents, changing roles like players in a drama. All of these beings have brought you into the world at some time or another, and all of them, without exception, desire happiness and fulfillment. No one in this world of desire lacks the impulse toward happiness. They desire happiness; yet all the while, they create the causes for more suffering. What they desire and their actions of body, speech and mind are in direct opposition, but this irony remains unnoticed. In this way, like blind people, beings in samsara remain in bewilderment.

Sophia Returning: The Path to Planetary Tantra

2010-11-25T13:32:00.001-06:00

Sophia Returning: The Path to Planetary Tantra, by John Lamb Lash. Directed by Jay Weidner. In this fascinating DVD, John Lamb Lash, comparative mythologist and author of the classic book, Not In His Image, offers an examination of the truths hidden deep within the ancient Gnostic sects of Europe. Two thousand years ago the Pagan religion of Gnosticism was one of the world's largest religious belief systems. The Gnostics held a deep reverence for the earth in all its wonder and beauty. In contrast to the teachings of the patriarchal and monotheistic religious traditions, the Gnostic creation mythos was centered upon the compelling story of the Wisdom Goddess Sophia. This knowledge, which offers us new insight into the power of the earth as a vital living being, has been brought forth today as a fundamental part of the Gaia theory.

The Gnostics had many beliefs that were considered heretical by the emerging Christian populations of classical Europe. John Lamb Lash acquaints us with their unique perspective on the nature of human experience and the destructive power of the mysterious beings they called the Archons whose dark influence has led to the fear-based, chaotic character of the times in which we live. By assisting us in comprehending the Gnostics vast knowledge of nature, the Earth, and the intimate relationship between the Goddess Sophia, and we who are her creation, he reconnects us with our ancient heritage and offers a sacred path toward the future. Click here for more information or to order.

Hearts Cracked Open: Tantra for Women Who Love Women

2010-11-25T12:12:00.000-06:00

Hearts Cracked Open: Tantra for Women Who Love Women, by Pacific Media. 'Hearts Cracked Open' provides the first in-depth look inside the world of lesbian Tantra with its ancient ecstatic practices and sexual techniques. Through interviews with Tantra teachers and students, workshop footage, and daily practices, Hearts Cracked Open celebrates sexuality and coupling in the lesbian community while also promoting discussion about this usually hidden aspect of our lives. We invite you to witness the transformative power of Tantra to crack open the heart as women reclaim the fullness of their beings. Click here for more information or to order.

7 Myths about Tantra and Tantric Sex

2010-09-30T17:04:00.002-05:00

by Jennifer Lawless

The word Tantra comes from two Sanskrit roots "Tanoi" which can be translated as expand and "Trayati," which means tool. Thus, Tantra can be translated as tool for expansion. The tool is your physical being, and what you are seeking to expand is your consciousness.

In Tantra, the greatest source of energy in the universe is sexual intercourse, and orgasm is considered a cosmic and divine experience. Because Tantra celebrates sexuality, it has become ripe for criticism and misunderstanding. Here are seven myths and truths about Tantric sex:

Myth: Tantric sex is all about sex.

Truth: Tantric sex practices sometimes do not even include genital contact. They are really about energetic and spiritual contact between partners. Intercourse or the connection of genitals only serves to heighten the energetic connection when a couple is ready for that intimate stage.

Myth: Practicing Tantra means you give up pleasure.

Truth: This myth is the opposite of the myth that Tantra is all about sex. The Tantric sex path does not see sexual desire as something to be denied. Instead, Tantra recognizes the powerful force that sex plays in our lives and harnesses it to achieve states of bliss beyond just physical pleasure.

Myth: Tantric sex encourages indulgences of the appetites, which leads to affairs or orgies.

Truth: Although some people use Tantric sex as a way to rationalize having sex with many different people or many people at once, this is not the spirit of true Tantra. Sexuality is not meant to be frittered away mindlessly or thoughtlessly, but honored and intended for the purpose of higher states of consciousness, rather than simply physical stimulation or satisfaction.

Myth: Tantric sex turns you into a sex maniac.

Truth: Tantric sex does release your sexual energy and give you full permission to express yourself, so the tendency to act out sexually is possible, but only if you misuse the practices. If you learn the practices responsibly, you will overcome any tendencies to have random, meaningless sex.

Myth: Tantric sex is for Easterners and is not consistent with how we see sex in the West.

Truth: Tantric sex practices are actually quite consistent with our Western way of thinking. The focus on the individual, the acceptance of pleasure, and clearly defined steps are a perfect fit with the way Westerners currently live their lives. Tantric sex retools these approaches to be more aligned with the road to true ecstasy.

Myth: Tantra is a religion and a cult that will trap or brainwash you.

Truth: Tantra is neither a religion nor a cult. Genuine, ethical Tantra teachers do not want to control you. They merely guide you in a series of practices that you choose for yourself and adapt into your life.

Myth: It takes a long time to learn how to do Tantric sex.

Truth: One of the best aspects of the Tantric path is that the practices can be put into effect immediately and results noticed. In just one weekend workshop, you can learn enough basic ideas and practical exercises to immediately improve your sex life and general feelings about yourself, which will generate to every part of your life.

Tantric sex can change your entire outlook on sex. Although Tantra does not promise instant results, for couples who wish to enrich their relationship, these practices can release a particular kind of energy that can bring about harmony and increase sexual pleasure and intimacy. Don't let myths keep you from exploring Tantra and Tantric sex.

Jennifer Lawless writes about Tantra at her blog Tantra: Gateway to Ecstasy. To discover how to instantly improve your sex, love, and relationship life at home with Tantra, read her review of home tantra courses.

Yoni Tantra: Worshipping The Tantra Goddess

2010-09-30T16:05:00.000-05:00

By Acharya Subhojit Dasgupta

Yoni is a Sanskrit word for the vagina, which ancient tantra considers a lot more than just a sexual reproductive organ. The yoni is nothing less than the Sacred Temple of the Tantra Goddess. In fact, the vagina is also known as the Yantra - the dwelling place of universal tantra energy, or Shakti energy. Yoni tantra is a sacred and secret scripture for initiates of the Tantra tradition, since it is the celebration of the Tantra Goddess. There is great benefit for couples who study this scripture, and also for women who want to understand their real inner strength - and their true place in the Universe.

The sacred text from Bengal (16th century) that concerns itself with this aspect of tantra describes the Yoni Tantra Puja (worship). In this ceremonial tantra practice, the ordinary rules for tantra worship are suspended for the one who follows 'Siddha Shakti' precepts. The following verse, when translated, yields the true meaning behind the concept of the Tantra Goddess: 'Women are jewels, women are life, women are, truly, jewels.' Invoking the tantra goddess within through this puja is an established path towards conscious self-realization. The process requires that that the Goddess be worshipped along with her yoni and the lotus budding from her neck, which signifies creation.

The Dasa Mahavidyas (or the Ten Divine Studies) are listed in the third patala of Yoni Tantra as Kali, Tara, Shodasi, Bhuvaneshvari, Bhairavi, Chinnamasta, Dhumavati, Bagala, Matangi and Kamala, and associated with the different parts of the yoni. This can, of course, be very confusing for those who have just embarked on their study of ancient tantra and its profoundly mystical truths. To encapsulate the concepts in these scriptures - the vagina is a triangular form of Mahamaya or Prakrit, or the origin of the world. The three corners of the yoni are Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshvara. The vagina is divided into ten, each of which is considered a manifestation of the divine feminine (Tantra Goddess).

The shlokas (verses) are extremely explicit, and a new student of tantra is apt to misunderstand their real meaning. Tradition therefore requires that yoni tantra be studied only under the auspices of an authentic tantra master. Closely guarded, these tantra secrets are passed down from tantra teacher to tantra teacher and cannot be fully grasped from mere literature. Attempting to practice it without expert guidance is a corruption of energy and can lead to degradation of the Sacred Feminine - and this always has adverse consequences.

Acharya Subhojit Dasgupta is a Tantra Teacher with an in-depth knowledge of traditional Indian sciences and Sanskrit literature. Visit his tantra online guide for Tantra Lessons, kriyas and mudras from this young Tantra Master.

Tantra With The World

2010-09-18T11:11:00.000-05:00

Tantra With The World, In a transcendent setting, Tantra Bensko, long-time Tantra teacher, with guests Alyson and Adam, teaches the philosophy and art of Tantra Yoga. This video goes into the heart of Tantra which is practiced for the sake of higher awareness, with sexuality being only one of the methods to achieve that goal. Here, we find that as only one of the many methods explained for interacting with flowing love with all things using traditional Tantric exercises that are extremely powerful, exacting, and effective in producing altered states of consciousness, bliss, lucidity, and evolution. Art from Tantra's Metaportal series helps provide visual excitement. Download instantly here.

Tantra Infusion - Basic Essentials for Juicier Living

2010-09-18T11:02:00.000-05:00

Tantra Infusion - Basic Essentials for Juicier Living, directed by Ronald James. This is a great DVD set for couples who want to a add a little bit of spice to their lives in this tasteful and gently sexy DVD series! Join Relationship and Intimacy Coaches, Barbara and Rassa, on the beautiful red rocks of Sedona, with sumptuous foods in the kitchen, and finally, in the sacred space of the bedroom. This exploration is sure to stimulate your senses and awaken your passions. With simple tools and techniques, you will learn basic practices, which serve to bring more health, vitality, awareness, presence, intimacy and juiciness into all aspects of your life. Tantra Infusion, is designed for couples of all ages and at all stages of relationship. Gain a new perspective as you learn to support and empower each other, deepen your intimacy, and let the fire of your love burn brighter. No previous experience is necessary, only your desire to expand into a more fulfilling relationship with your partner, and a willingness to engage with yourself and each other in new and different ways. Have fun and enjoy as you learn how breath, movement, sound, and intent can enhance and enliven your relationship and your life. Barbara and Rassa are relationship coaches in Sedona, Arizona. Click here for more information or to order.

The Dalai Lamas on Tantra

2010-09-03T09:18:00.003-05:00

The Dalai Lamas on Tantra, by Glenn H. Mullen. This is a unique collection of authentic teachings by the Dalai Lamas on Tantric Buddhism and tantric practice. The clarity and power of their tantric writings is unparalleled. Glenn H. Mullin is an internationally renowned Tibetologist, author, and expert on Buddhist meditation. Glenn lived in Dharamsala, India, the home of the Dalai Lama, for many years, where he studied Tibetan language, literature, yoga, and meditation under twenty-five of the greatest masters of Tibet. He is the author of over fifteen books on Buddhist topics and has led many pilgrimages to Nepal and Tibet in the last five years. He now divides his time between writing, lecturing, giving workshops, and leading pilgrimages to the power places of Central Asia.

The Tantric Secrets of Sacred Sex

2010-09-03T09:11:00.000-05:00

The Tantric Secrets of Sacred Sex, directed by Lightworks. Learn the Tantric secrets of sacred sex. Discover an art of loving that will forever transform your lovemaking into a truly intimate, fulfilling, spiritual experience. Based on the ancient Tantric belief that the hidden potency of sexual loving is the seed of all creativity and transcendence, this remarkable program teaches you how to awaken your own natural sexual energy and experience a deeper level of intimacy and connectedness with your love partner. Beautifully filmed with visual but sensitive explicitness, you'll see six engaging real-life couples who share and demonstrate Tantric methods adapted for Western lovers in sacred sex lovemaking. You'll explore over twenty techniques to enhance pleasure and deepen intimacy including: sexual breathing and movement, guided imagery, erotic touch, sexual dialogue, self-pleasuring, expanding orgasm and positions for ecstatic lovemaking. Click here for more information or to order.

The Lion's Roar: An Introduction to Tantra

2010-09-03T09:09:00.001-05:00

The Lion's Roar: An Introduction to Tantra, by Chogyam Trungpa. This book is based on two historic seminars of the 1970s, in which Chögyam Trungpa introduced the tantric teachings of Tibetan Buddhism to his Western students for the first time. Each seminar bore the title "The Nine Yanas." Yana, a Sanskrit word meaning "vehicle," refers to a body of doctrine and practical instruction that enables students to advance spiritually on the path of Buddha-dharma. Nine vehicles, arranged in successive levels, make up the whole path of Buddhist practice. Teaching all nine means giving a total picture of the spiritual journey. The author's nontheoretical, experiential approach opens up a world of fundamental psychological insights and subtleties. He speaks directly to a contemporary Western audience, using earthly analogies that place the ancient teachings in the midst of ordinary life. Chögyam Trungpa (1940–1987) was a meditation master, teacher, and artist who founded Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, and an international association of meditation centers known as Shambhala International. He is the author of numerous books.

Tantric Yoga: The Royal Path to Raising Kundalini Power

2010-09-02T09:36:00.002-05:00

Tantric Yoga: The Royal Path to Raising Kundalini Power, by Gavin and Yvonne Frost. Tantra is a specific system of Yoga which teaches the raising of the kundalini-s'akti through ecstatic experience, self-deification, ritual, and sexual union. Gavin and Yvonne Frost, Elder Initiates in a Welsh Tradition of Witchcraft, and founders of the Church and School of Wica, show information on their own adapted form of Tantric ritual, and make it available to the West. It also contains a section by Gay Astrologer and Witch, Glenn Malec, about adapting the Tantric rituals for same sex partners.

The Perfect Matrimony: The Door to Enter into Initiation / Tantra and Sexual Alchemy Unveiled

2010-09-02T09:18:00.002-05:00

The Perfect Matrimony: The Door to Enter into Initiation / Tantra and Sexual Alchemy Unveiled, by Samael Aun Weor. The first of sixty books written by the founder of the modern Gnostic Movement, The Perfect Matrimony contains a complete introduction to the profound and beautiful mystical knowledge from which all the world s great religions have blossomed. First published in 1950, this book contains the first public revelation of the esoteric teachings of Alchemy, Tantrism, Kabbalah, and the Mysteries of the Mayans, Aztecs, Egyptians, Tibetans, Eleusians, Essenes, and hundreds more. Herein one discovers the Doctrine of the Synthesis: the universal Laws and steps of the Path to Absolute Self-knowledge. Anyone who longs to know the Mysteries of Life and Death through their own experience, to taste and touch the superior worlds, to know the truth directly, personally, will find the keys to those experiences here.

"We have written this book with broad clarity; we have unveiled what was veiled. Now, whosoever wants to Self-realize in depth can rightly do so. Behold, here is the guide, here is the complete teaching. In this book we have lifted the veil of the Christic Mysteries. We have explained what the Christ-principle is. We have invited all human beings to follow the Path of the Perfect Matrimony in order to attain Christification." (Samael Aun Weor)

The Tantra Experience: Discourses on the Royal Song of Saraha

2010-09-02T09:09:00.000-05:00

The Tantra Experience: Discourses on the Royal Song of Saraha, by Osho. In these discourses, Osho offers penetrating insights into previously insoluble paradoxes of life. He reveals how Tantric experience will free us from the destructive Hebraic-Christian dualism that has crippled our bodies, minds and hearts and condemned as evil almost everything we do. With the author as a guide, this book gives readers a new perspective, a new way of looking at themselves and at life and of living in harmony with existence.

Tantric Yoga for Lovers

2010-09-01T11:33:00.001-05:00

Tantric Yoga for Lovers, by Steve and Lolita Carter. Do you want to improve the quality of your relationship and loving, and share gentle exercise with your partner? This DVD offers easy-to-learn yoga routines for lovers to increase the flow of sexual energy, develop a regular practice for toning your bodies, and balance body mind and spirit - in and out of the bedroom. Included: Tantric Partner Yoga - A relaxing and energetic yoga practice for lovers that cultivates spiritual connection and prepares the body, mind and spirit for deeper intimacy. Yin and Yang Stretches for Him and Her - Learn to give gentle, relaxing stretches to your partner to connect and support each other in becoming more toned and relaxed. Tantric Energy Yoga - Awaken your life force energy and explore new ways to be together and share energy. Suitable for all levels of flexibility, fitness and ages! Click here for more information or to order.

Sex, The Secret Gate to Eden - Alchemy, Tantra, and Kabbalah

2010-09-01T11:22:00.001-05:00

Sex, The Secret Gate to Eden - Alchemy, Tantra, and Kabbalah, by Glorian Publishing. This documentary contains no lewd or graphic imagery and is illustrated entirely by the worlds heritage of art, illuminating core mysteries of humankind: temptation. The serpent. The expulsion from Paradise. Archetypal stories that have moved millions of human beings: but who has understood their real meaning? Theories abound, but humanity remains suffering in the wilderness, removed from the state of bliss (which in Hebrew is "Eden"). Drawing upon the greatest teachers of humanity, like Jesus, Buddha, Moses, and others, and investigating what they actually taught, we can see the emergence of the genuine root of all of their teachings: that creation, the most sacred act in the universe, is always sexual. All life emerges from sex, even spiritual life. But unfortunately, we have corrupted sex; that is why humanity was expelled from Eden. By learning the ancient science of sacred sexuality, anyone can return to the natural state of existence: harmony with nature and God. When you make male and female into a single one... then you will enter into the Kingdom. - Jesus of Nazareth, from The Gospel of Thomas And the companion of the (Savior) (was) Mary Magdalene. (He) loved her more than all the disciples, and used to kiss her often on her mouth. - The Gospel of Philip In the view of Tantra, the body's vital energies are the vehicles of the mind. When the vital energies are pure and subtle, one's state of mind will be accordingly affected. "By transforming these bodily energies we transform the state of consciousness." - The 14th Dalai Lama. Learn about: The Universal Experience of Suffering and its Universal Remedy - The Secret Teachings of Jesus and Moses - How Man and Woman were "made in the image of the Elohim": Male-Female - The Tree of Life, also called Kabbalah - The Tree of Knowledge, also called Alchemy, Daath, or Tantra - The Duality of the Serpent: Kundalini and Kundabuffer - How to Experience Eden for Yourself. Click here for more information or to order.

Tantra & Sexual Dysfunctions

2010-08-30T18:24:00.000-05:00

By Carla Tara

There is a certain embarrassment or even shame that is connected with sexual dysfunctions. No one would be ashamed to have, for example, a liver or heart dysfunction. One would be sad but not embarrassed and one would immediately ask a professional for help.

The most common sexual dysfunctions that men experience are: loss of desire, erectile dysfunctions, premature ejaculation and impotence. Some women experience: inhibited sexual desire, lack of orgasm, insufficient lubrification and painful intercourse. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, in 2005 more than 105 million Americans have reported struggling with chronic sexual dysfunctions and many of them were not aware that there is help available.

Diabetes can be one of the causes of sexual dysfunctions. Also some prescription medications for depression can have a negative effect on sexual desire.

There are many causes: some of them are related to hormone production, to blocks to the flow of energy, to shallow anxious breathing and unhealthy diet, just to mention a few.

The hormonal production tends to diminish with age, and you could consult a good endocrinologist to check your hormonal production status. There is a lot of information available on the internet. It's worth learning about it. There are also products available that are natural, organic, that very safely stimulate the body to increase production of the body's natural growth hormones.

What you eat and drink is also important. There are certain simple recommendations you might want to observe most of the time: eat your biggest meal between 12 and 2 PM; eat fish vegetables often; keep your stomach light at night; drink lots of water during the day. Drinking a little alcohol can help lower inhibitions, while drinking too much can inhibit sexuality.

Breathing shallowly and high in the chest is probably the most important single cause of lack of energy and anxiety during lovemaking. Through the years, we became habituated to breathe shallow breaths, often filling only the higher part of our chest where the lungs are narrow and smaller. The body brings the venous blood to the lungs to be purified and the largest veins are located on the bottom of the lungs. Venous blood contains carbon dioxide and other poisonous gases that need to be exchanged with oxygen and thus transformed into vital arterial blood that nourished and strengthens the body.

To be fully present and energetic lovers, we need to learn to breathe to facilitate this exchange as fully as possible. Tantra teaches different breaths for different purposes. Some of the most used techniques are to increase energy and to retain energy without going over the top.

However, many of the sexual dysfunctions are due to emotional issues, entrenchment into set habits, undelivered communications and resentments that could build a cold wall between couples and unconscious issues coming to the surface. A good Tantric Healer can help you look at those issues with increased energy and guide you to use this powerful Tantric tools to open up blocks and take care of unfinished issues that limit the joy of our lovemaking.

Lots of issues have been repressed and feeling rationalized instead of felt. When emotions are not expressed, blocks to the flow of energy form along the pathway where erotic energy would otherwise flow to the whole body. When blocks are present your vitality is lower and sex becomes more a "squeeze and burst" event, at best a letting go of tension instead of an exchange to deepen your love for each other.

Some men have trained themselves with techniques to "making her come" the fastest way possible so that they can "come" thus missing the opportunity for emotional connection and really fulfilling lovemaking. This way of having sex gives leaves you with a sense of immediate relief but robs you of the opportunity to use this powerful energy for deep heart connection and nurturing. Thus lovers are depriving themselves of deeper and longer pleasure that could enliven all the cells of the body.

Making love could be the greatest way to "make love" grow and to live a longer, happier life.

Deep breathing helps bring emotions to the surface. "E-motion" means energy in motion. When emotions are felt sexual energy can reach higher levels riding higher and wider waives sending into ecstatic lovemaking that is really fulfilling. Sex without emotions leaves people tired, empty and sometimes sad. We instinctively know there is more to it.

Deep breathing is also a key to avoiding anxiety about performance. When your whole body tingles with aliveness and when you hear our lover breathe equally deeply, perhaps even making a sound on each exhalation, you are less prone to thinking about performance and more about riding the waves of pleasure a little longer.

Tantra offers the view that we are spiritual beings having a physical experience and as such we have infinite potential for expressing love. By adding the spiritual dimension into the lovemaking, it elevates it to ecstasy and adds opens doors for infinite creativity.

As spiritual beings we have infinite potential available and therefore boredom is no longer a danger.

Carla Tara is an internationally-acclaimed teacher of Tantra, who masterfully integrates a variety of tantric approaches with body-oriented psychotherapy. She has studied with Eastern masters and Western teachers. Her background as a yoga teacher, psychotherapist, dancer, and relationship counselor contributes to the strength and creativity of her work as a coach to both individuals and couples.

Only Way Out Is In

2010-08-30T09:18:00.003-05:00

Only Way Out Is In: A Modern Day Yogi's Commentary on the Synergy of Ashtanga Yoga, Ayurveda, and Tantra, Anthony Prem Carlisi. How can we get on the road to true happiness, peace, and equanimity? Is it possible to find it in this lifetime? The Only Way Out Is In, addresses these questions and gives an answer to man's relentless lifelong quest of looking outside oneself and chasing this inevitable illusion when the answer is simply to look within! This book offers guidance for each individual to look inside and live in the here and now, using the ancient practices of Ashtanga Yoga, Ayurveda, and Tantra in daily living. It affirms that the way "In," can be found by the practices of self-study offered by these three sciences. Utilizing the synergy of the three is one of the most powerful practices for the journey within. Each one has it's own unique qualities of clearing, building, and cultivating the needed energy to ascend. Ashtanga Yoga does this through the practices of yogic postures, breathing, and awareness techniques while using the body as a vehicle for transformation. Ayurveda assists each individual by creating a blueprint for which to live a healthy, vibrant life, as well as to understand your own unique place in the natural order of the Universe. Tantra guides readers further within by connecting people with their own inherent wisdom through the concept of loving yourself first and foremost. Out of cultivating this love of yourself, people naturally share the abundance with everyone and everything. Carlisi's book demystifies these esoteric practices in a user-friendly way. He lures the reader "In" by describing vividly and vulnerably his own trials and tribulations along the Yogic path. He does this by clearly creating a usable "map" for life, that he developed over 30 years of self research as a practitioner of these 3 sciences.

Tantra Without Tears

2010-08-30T09:09:00.002-05:00

Tantra Without Tears, by Christopher S. Hyatt and S. Jason Black. For the Western mind, this is the only Book on Tantra you will ever need. A bold statement? Perhaps. However, the idea behind this book is simple: It is power. It is Kundalini, dressed in Western clothes. It describes experiences and techniques which allow you to glimpse beyond ordinary day-to-day reality, into a world of marvels---and horrors.

This new volume of tantric instructions removes much of what is obscure and moralistic in tantra, and reveals it to be an ancient cross-cultural system of self-development. It examines in detail the marriage of magick and yoga, as well as the discipline of focusing all aspects of one's life on the goals of the tantric system. Tantra without Tears is an excellent introduction for those who wish to undertake practical work in the Hindu and Tibetan tantric traditions.

Why Lazarus Laughed: The Essential Doctrine, Zen--Advaita--Tantra

2010-08-29T10:26:00.003-05:00

Why Lazarus Laughed: The Essential Doctrine, Zen--Advaita--Tantra, by Wei Wu Wei. This is the second book written by Wei Wu Wei in a collection of what are now considered spiritual classics in the area of Zen Buddhism, Advaita, and Taoism. Why Lazarus Laughed is a powerfully written book of aphorisms, meditations, and startling ruminations on the nature of time, consciousness, freedom, enlightenment, duality, and free will. Wei Wu Wei described his books as reflections of the moon in a puddle because he does not set himself apart from any other, does not profess to be a teacher, and does not claim to have the last word on spiritual truth. His modest assessment of how well he succeeds at his task would most certainly be disputed by his many enthusiastic readers: Essential understanding might have found its way into occasional pages. Indeeed, profound insight seems to leap from every sentence.

Play your part in the comedy, but don't identify yourself with your role! says Wei Wu Wei, and he follows his own advice. He writes his works anonymously and uses his iconoclastic humor to drive home his points. Those who discover his books feel they have found a secret teaching that brilliantly delivers the purest truth. He has become a sort of underground spiritual favorite whose fans anxiously await each reissued book.

As the subtitle states, Why Lazarus Laughed explicates the essential doctrine shared by the traditions of Zen Buddhism, Advaita, and Tantra. The author is not interested in these traditions as religions, but only in so much as they reflect the moon for us. To read this jewel of a book from the immortal Wei Wu Wei is to enter into the heart and mind of one who possessed a very clear insight into the essence of understanding.

The identity of Wei Wu Wei was not revealed at the time of the publication of his first book. But we now know a few background details that help put the writings into context. He was born in 1895 into a well-established Irish family, was raised on an estate outside Cambridge, England, and went to Oxford. Early in life, he pursued an interest in Egyptology. This was followed by a period of involvement in the arts in Britain in the 1920s and 1930s. Having exhausted his interest in this field, he turned to philosophy and metaphysics, traveling throughout Asia and spending time at the ashram of Sri Ramana Maharshi. In 1958, at the age of 63, he saw the first of the Wei Wu Wei titles published. Over the next 16 years, seven more were published, including his final work under the new pseudonym O.O.O. During most of this later period, he maintained a residence with his wife in Monaco. He is believed to have known, among others, Lama Anagarika Govinda, Dr. Hubert Benoit, John Blofeld, Douglas Harding, Arthur Osborne, and Dr. D. T. Suzuki. He died in 1986 at the age of 90.

Taoists, Tantrists, and Sex: How Tao and Tantra Can Improve Your Sex Life

2010-08-29T10:17:00.002-05:00

Taoists, Tantrists, and Sex: How Tao and Tantra Can Improve Your Sex Life, by Kristina Benson. Have you ever wanted to take your sexual relationship with your partner to the next level and found yourself lost as to how to proceed? This book discusses sexuality within the context of Taoism and tantra to help you understand how to connect with your lover on the physical, spiritual, meditative, and sexual plane. An in-depth knowledge of Taoism, the chakric wheels, and energy systems are not assumed but are discussed in detail, and sensate focus exercises are suggested so as to heighten awareness of your lover's physical sensations, and energy. Heteronormativity is not assumed, and lovers in any arrangement are encouraged to use the techniques contained within to bond and generate energy between them. Highlights include anxplanation of the chakras and their application to sexual activity, how to create, expand, and connect psychic energy, and suggestions for increasing the level of awareness of your lover's energy, mood, physical sensations, and sexuality

Tantra of Sound: How to Enhance Intimacy with Healing

2010-08-29T09:06:00.003-05:00

Tantra of Sound: How to Enhance Intimacy with Healing, by Jonathan and Andi Goldman. Tantra of Sound is a first-of-its-kind book that introduces the emerging field of sound healing into the realm of intimate relationships. The Goldmans emphasize the science of using sound healing for relationships and personal growth as well as providing the nuts-and-bolts of tantra, including basic meditations and a series of simple toning and breathing exercises designed to activate the chakras. A pioneer and innovator in the field of sound healing, Jonathan Goldman is an award-winning and best-selling New Age musician, and the author of four books including Healing Sounds, . His wife Andi Goldman is a licensed psychotherapist specializing in holistic counseling and sound therapy. Tantra of Sound includes a CD of music, chants, and tones designed to enhance and heighten the reader’s experience and understanding.

"Tantra of Sound provides a significant new approach to creating harmony and balance within us by using the power of sound. Blending ancient sound techniques with holistic counseling approaches, the book enables readers to experience the compassion so necessary for the evolution of our consciousness in today's world." —Deepak Chopra

The Tantra Connection: Healing Through Cosmic Interface

2010-08-28T09:27:00.004-05:00

The Tantra Connection: Healing Through Cosmic Interface, by Monika Muller. Having started the new millennium we are in the midst of imminent changes. This era was foreseen five millennia ago, and described in tantric scriptures as the transition from the "Age of Darkness" to the "Age of Truth". The main intention of this book is to heighten the reader's understanding of this transformation and to assist in this time of change we are going through, individually as well as in society. Tantra considers the spiritual component of sexuality as it presents a balanced approach to life. Like Tantra this text is designed to enhance and support individual spiritual growth - in unity within a healing body. Holistic health is an ever-present undercurrent, since the work intertwines the conscious use of energy in the body with knowledge gleaned from ancient Tantra. Some parallels, between ancient East Indian Tantra and the highly developed cosmology of the pre-columbian Mayan culture, are also identified. The work is based on personal experiences. These have led the author to an energetic understanding of Tantra. Describing the use of certain meditations, different modes of energy-cleansing and cultivated sexuality, it attempts to reinforce the reader's courage and self-confidence. The goal is to master life, eventually becoming a "whole" human being - a microcosm within the macrocosm. In this context, the work seeks to clarify - from the focal point of energy and social programming - the adversities and opportunities that couples face as soon as either partner begins the journey to Self. It concludes, by pointing to a possible future vision - enabled by our consciousness and the actions we can take to bring on deepened awareness.

Monika Müller, originally German, has lived in Greece and in Mexico, and is now based in Montreal. In 1979, after completing her studies and having started a career as an adult educator in Germany, a serious intestinal ailment ravaged her colon to the point that even the specialists in Munich were astonished that she was still alive. At this threshold, rather than giving in to the fear of death, she chose to put into action what had already evolved as a concept within her work as an adult educator. As intertwined as they had been, she left her fears and taboos behind and took full responsibility for her decisions. This not only allowed her to heal her body, it set her on an unusual life-path from which she never wants to recover. She has also traveled extensively in Central and South America as well as Asia. During this period, Monika spent almost a year in solitude in the jungle. In 1984 she developed a healing technique based on the conscious use of Bio-Cosmo-Energy, a way of healing which is built on shamanic and tantric knowledge.

The Roots of Tantra

2010-08-28T09:18:00.004-05:00

The Roots of Tantra, by Katherine Anne Harper and Robert L. Brown. Among the many spiritual traditions born and developed in India, Tantra has been the most difficult to define. Almost everything about it-its major characteristics, its sources, its relationships to other religions, even its practices-are debated among scholars. In addition, Tantrism is not confined to any particular religion, but is a set of beliefs and practices that appears in a variety of religions, including Hinduism and Buddhism. This book explores one of the most controversial aspects of Tantra, its sources or roots, specifically in regard to Hinduism. The essays focus on the history and development of Tantra, the art history and archaeology of Tantra, the Vedas and Tantra, and texts and Tantra. Using various disciplinary and methodological approaches, from history to art history and religious studies to textual studies, scholars provide both broad overviews of the beginnings of Tantra and detailed analyses of specific texts, authors, art works, and rituals.

Katherine Anne Harper is Associate Professor of Art History at Loyola Marymount University and the author of The Iconography of the Saptamatrikas: Seven Hindu Goddesses of Spiritual Transformation. Robert L. Brown is Professor of Art History at the University of California, Los Angeles and the Curator of Southeast Asian Art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. He is the author of The Dvaravatiµ Wheels of the Law and the Indianization of South East Asia, and editor of Ganesh: Studies of an Asian God also published by SUNY Press, and Art From Thailand

A Guide to the Deities of the Tantra

2010-08-28T09:09:00.002-05:00

A Guide to the Deities of the Tantra, by Vessantara. A Guide to the Deities of the Tantra is a fascinating insight into a subject that has captivated the imagination of many but remains mysterious and exotic to all but a few. Tantric deities? Who are they and what do they do?

This volume focuses on the deities whose mantra recitation and colorful visualizations lie at the heart of the Tantra. We meet goddesses of wisdom, the prince of purity, the lotus-born guru Padmasambhava, and dakinis— wild-haired women who dance in the flames of freedom. All, the peaceful and the wrathful alike, urge the reader to break through to wisdom, pointing out the true nature of reality with uncompromising vigor.

Devoid of pop culture misperceptions, this guide is a window into the sometimes mysterious world of Buddhist Tantra. Vessantara explores the key characteristics of the Tantra in this magical fusion of the practical and the imaginative—giving us a direct insight in into the poetry and the power of the Tantra.

A much-published and well-respected Buddhist author, meditator, and teacher, Vessantara is a senior member of the Western Buddhist Order. He holds a particular love for Tibetan Buddhism and is well-known as an effective storyteller. This is one of three volumes looking at Buddha figures in the Indo-Tibetan Buddhist tradition.

Tantra: The Path to Blissful Sex

2010-08-28T09:00:00.001-05:00

Tantra: The Path to Blissful Sex, by Leora Lightwoman. Tantra is a celebration and awakening of sexuality, love and life that embraces our spiritual essence. This guide explains what Tantra is and how it can change your life and your relationships. It focuses on sexual intimacy as an opportunity for healing and transformation, joy and bliss. Leora Lightwoman has been leading workshops and working with individuals and couples for ten years. Leora regularly appears on television and has produced meditation and music CDs and videos to accompany Tantric practice. She lives in London.

Tantra: The Cult of Ecstasy

2010-08-27T09:27:00.003-05:00

Tantra: The Cult of Ecstasy, by Indra Sinha. Conquer your senses by leaving nothing unexperienced! Tantra embraces sexual energy as the path to spiritual wisdom, with each partner worshipping the divine in the other. For more than a thousand years, India has produced a wealth of erotic literature and art, including the best known of them all, the Kama Sutra. Drawing on a range of works, including some unavailable in English, an Indian scholar brings together a rare collection of material from the classical, medieval, and modern period. Lavish illustrations of statues, paintings, ivory combs and silk hangings, and other examples of the most beautiful arts appear, many of which had until now been reserved for ritual purposes. A spiritually enriching guide to the erotic mysteries of Tantra.

Yoga, Bhoga and Ardhanariswara: Individuality, Wellbeing and Gender in Tantra

2010-08-27T09:18:00.003-05:00

Yoga, Bhoga and Ardhanariswara: Individuality, Wellbeing and Gender in Tantra, by Prem Saran. This book is a social–scientific interpretation of the 15 centuries-old Hindu and Buddhist traditions of tantra. It is a self-reflexive study, informed by an insider’s empathy and the apprehension of an Indologist-cum-anthropologist who is also a mystic and an initiated practitioner of the cult himself.

Using his personal praxis to inform his research, the author examines three core themes tantra: a ‘holonic’/mandalic individuality that conduces to the mystical experience; a positive valorisation of pleasure and play; and cultural attitudes of gender-mutuality and -complementarity as neatly encapsulated in the icon of Shiva as Ardhanariswara. This analysis —as captured by the tantric mandalas of deities in intimate union who vividly enact the three themes — leads to his compelling metathesis, that of tantra serving as a permanent counterculture within Indic civilisation.

This book should be of interest to those in anthropology, South Asian studies, religious studies, gender studies, psychology, and philosophy, as also the general reader.

Prem Saran is currently Commissioner of the Department of Science and Technology in the Assam State Government. He joined the IAS in 1978 and has since been working in the Assam cadre. Having taken initiation into a traditional tantric cult in 1981, he first obtained an MA in South Asian Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. He then completed another MA and a Ph.D. in Sociocultural Anthropology at the University of California at Santa Barbara. Dr. Saran’s first book Tantra: Hedonism in Indian Culture (1994) and is currently in its fourth reprint. He is also working on another book titled Indic Play Ethic.

Tantra For Westerners

2010-08-27T09:09:00.002-05:00

Tantra For Westerners, by Francis X. King. While Tantra has mystical, philosophical, and religious aspects it is, above all, a technique of action -- a system of physical, mental, and spiritual discipline incorporating meditation, yoga, and sacramental worship in the widest sense of the phrase. Tantra for Westerners is a complete theoretical and practical guide to the Way of Action, covering concepts of pleasure and pain, power and passivity, esoteric physiology, Tantra and Qabalism, right-hand and left-hand Tantra, tantric rituals for westerners, and the arousal of kundalini -- the serpent power.

Tantra of Svayambhu Vidyapada; with the Commentary of Sadyojyoti

2010-08-26T21:09:00.004-05:00

Tantra of Svayambhu Vidyapada; with the Commentary of Sadyojyoti, edited by Pierre-Sylvain Filliozat. The thirteenth in the traditional list of the 28 Agamas of Saivasiddhanta. One of the oldest Acaryas of this school of Saivism, Sadyojyoti has composed a commentary on its vidyapada section. The subjects dealt with are pasu, the bound soul; pasa, the bond; anugraha, God's grace and adhvan, the ways to liberation. The text of the commentary is critically edited with an English translation.

Religious Therapeutics: Body and Health in Yoga, Ayurveda, and Tantra

2010-08-26T09:27:00.002-05:00

Religious Therapeutics: Body and Health in Yoga, Ayurveda, and Tantra, by Gregory P. Fields. Religious Therapeutics explores the relationship between psychophysical health and spiritual health and presents a model for interpreting connections between religion and medicine in world traditions. This model emerges from the work's investigation of health and religiousness in classical Yoga, A÷yurveda, and Tantra--three Hindu traditions noteworthy for the central role they accord the body. Author Gregory P. Fields compares Anglo-European and Indian philosophies of body and health and uses fifteen determinants of health excavated from texts of ancient Hindu medicine to show that health concerns the person, not the body or body/mind alone. This book elucidates multifaceted views of health, and--in the context of spirituality and healing--explores themes such as mental health, meditation, and music. Gregory P. Fields is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Southern Illinois University–Edwardsville.

The Kilaya Nirvana Tantra and the Vajra Wrath Tantra

2010-08-26T09:18:00.003-05:00

The Kilaya Nirvana Tantra and the Vajra Wrath Tantra: Two Texts from the Ancient Tantra Collection, by Cathy Cantwell and Robert Mayer. The (rNying ma'i rgyud 'bum) contains many of the oldest examples of Tantric literature in Tibetan. It also contains many of the most important examples of Buddhist Tantric literature surviving in any language. Its contribution to Tibetan religion and culture over the last 1,200 years has been incalculable, and remains undiminished today. Yet, like most manuscript traditions of such great antiquity, centuries of accumulated scribal corruption have reduced them in a great many cases to near incomprehensibility, even for the most learned Tibetan lamas. The modern period has been a particularly challenging time for this great scriptural tradition, above all because the Chinese entry into Tibet led to the destruction of an estimated ninety-five percent of its extant witnesses. In this work, Cantwell and Mayer have begun the immense task of restoring these wonderful texts to their original form through textual criticism. The present scribal state of the texts, the surviving editions, and the various possible methods of restoring them through textual criticism are discussed. Editions of two important texts have been produced, which also consider features of the original compilation and their commentaries. This is intended to be a small contribution towards the eventual restoration of the entire tradition.

Tantra for Gay Men

2010-08-26T08:01:00.002-05:00

Tantra for Gay Men, by Bruce Anderson. Western cultures have often thought of the ancient practice of tantra as a form of super-sex. However, as scholar and teacher Bruce Anderson makes clear in this guide for gay men to the art of tantra, it is actually a rigorous practice that harnesses sexual energy as fuel for spiritual development. In eight empowering chapters, Anderson explores and explains the spiritual concepts that practitioners must fully integrate into their lives before experiencing the transformative effects of tantra.

How does Tantra facilitate the awakening and rise of Kundalini? What is the relevance of Tantra today for men who love men? What are the origins of Tantra? What is the goal of Tantra? Readers will be guided through the process of incorporating Tantric philosophy and practices into their sexual and spiritual through multiple excercises on:

Harnessing breath as a means to awakening development.

Achieving bliss through posture.

Strengthening abdominals, and erections.

Lovemaking techniques for achieving sacred unions.

Postponing and prolonging orgasms.

Bruce Anderson’s astute and unaffected approach to both the technical and spiritual elements of tantra will allow gay men to enhance the power of their lovemaking and the strength of their orgasms to reach a state of cosmic bliss.

Bruce Anderson has studied with Amazonian and Plains Indian shamans as well as Tibetan, East Indian, and Egyptian tantra teachers. He is a third-level cobra breath practitioner and teaches the class "Tantra for Men" at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center’s Village at Ed Gould Plaza.

Background On Gay Tantra

2010-08-24T14:25:00.000-05:00

By Howie Holben

Tantra, a Sanskrit word means to weave, expand, spread or connect. In gay tantra the couple aims to use their opposing flows of energy to reach a deeper connection and level of spirituality. Although many people believe the process is not possible for same sex couples, the increasing numbers of people getting involved shows otherwise. The appeal for many couples is the opportunity provided to become closer and obtain a more complete understanding of their personalities.

Tantra is a system of personal and spiritual development. It is not just about prolonging orgasms or becoming more intimate with your partner although these are common benefits. Contrary to most spiritual traditions Tantra views sexual energy and lust as an integral part of human spirituality and a path to enlightenment. It also involves recognizing darker parts of the personality and integrating those and full sexual potential into the being. The aim of Tantra is to expand boundaries, accept ourselves and dispel guilt or fear and learn about our mystical selves.

The theories which are called tantra come from all over Asia and are built on ancient traditions from Hinduism and Buddhism. Therefore practices can vary a lot between different teachers.

Some traditions of tantra assert that the practice is not possible for same sex couples because the opposing male and female energies are needed. However there are several schools which include gay tantra. Techniques which use the theories of Kundalini energy flows are possible for same sex couples. This is because in Kundalini the rising energy flows are the same in all people regardless of sexual preference or gender. Some traditions use a lot of visualization in their processes. In these cases partners can imagine themselves as being of different sexes when guiding the flows of energy. Sexual preference is viewed as a personality trait in Buddhism and is therefore unimportant in the context of tantra.

Tantric Buddhism was created by a Buddha and his companion Big SkyDancer. The followers of this school of tantra were known for being particularly passionate and devoted to the spiritual path. It was developed by a Frenchwoman called Margot Anand Naslednikoy in the eighties. Her system, called Sky Dancer Tantra is now the most widespread type of gay tantra. It is based on the concept of love as a dance in the sky.

Most tantric practice involves meditation. Breathing is a vital part of the process with techniques involving alternating breaths between partners. Visualization is another common method which has many aspects. It is possible to visualize deities or other magical powers or processes between the two bodies such as movement of energy. Yoga is used to maintain positions and for its meditative properties and focus on breathing.

Tantric massage is another prevalent way to apply tantra. It is not intended to bring about climax but to release blockages of energy in the body. The masseuse builds up sexual energy in the body and then uses that to unblock the necessary areas.

For those who want to learn more about gay tantra there are many retreats, workshops and gurus available. It is easy to find details of these online. Increasing numbers of same sex couples and single gay people are starting to practice gay tantra. There are a range of methods but the main aim is personal development.

Howie Holben is owner and caretaker of Spirit Journeys. Spirit Journeys offers spiritual gay travel opportunities. He is a Reiki and Karuna Ki Master and also a Quantum Touch and Breathwork Practioner. You can learn more about Howie and gay vacations or gay tours with a spiritual focus at SpiritJourneys.com.

Sex Magic, Tantra & Tarot: The Way of the Secret Lover

2010-08-24T09:27:00.004-05:00

Sex Magic, Tantra & Tarot: The Way of the Secret Lover, by Christopher S. Hyatt and Lon Milo Duquette. With this book, the student of Western Tantra may attain the knowledge and inner truth that has been hidden from us since conception. Within this new, expanded edition you will find a wealth of practical and passionate Tantric techniques utilizing the Archetypal images of the Tarot. Nothing is held back. Every method is explicit and clearly described.

"Each of us has a Guardian Angel---a companion and lover who waits just behind the images that flood our minds during sleep or reverie. A protector and guide who disguises as the individual with whom we fall in love; an ideal lover who has adored us since the beginning of our individual existence and who will never abandon us until the instant we merge our being into Absolute Godhead." A deeply personal sexual awakening of the heart that will unlock your innermost romantic spirit.

A Woman's Guide to Tantra Yoga

2010-08-24T09:18:00.003-05:00

A Woman's Guide to Tantra Yoga, Vimala Schneider McClure. A multi-disciplinary approach for an intelligent 90s woman who is seeking greater tranquillity, right relationships and health. McClure makes it easy to adopt the ancient wisdom and practices from the East by blending them with medical and social commentary from the West . In the section explaining yoga postures, readers will thank the author for many thoughtful details. For example, the illustrations depict an Everywoman in a sweatsuit rather than a wasp-waisted model with flowing locks. Especially interesting is her description of kaoshikii, an aerobic dance that can be done when other yoga postures may upset hormonal balance. And the chapter explaining how yoga affects the emotions as well as muscles, joints, and internal organs, makes you want to begin the postures immediately to gain the benefits. What sets the book apart, however, is McClure's discussion of the specific traditions of Tantra, the "yoga of everything" in which the spiritual is united with every aspect of life. Through numerous examples in parenting and socio-political choices, she translates principles like acceptance, honesty, and following God into terms 90s women can understand and emulate. Reading A Woman's Guide to Tantra Yoga feels like having a wise and compassionate teacher at your side.

Tantric Sex for Women: A Guide for Lesbian, Bi, Hetero, and Solo Lovers

2010-08-24T09:09:00.002-05:00

Tantric Sex for Women: A Guide for Lesbian, Bi, Hetero, and Solo Lovers, by Christa Schulte. Using an inclusive, empowering approach, this book explains how every woman - lesbian, bisexual, heterosexual, or solo - can add relish to sexual encounters and increase her pleasure through tantric methods. In a warm, knowledgeable tone, Christa Schulte explains the basics of tantric sex, including how to become more body-aware, how to cultivate pleasure using all five senses, and how to practice "Tara-tantra," a woman-centered tantric method of her own creation. The book includes 20 helpful introductory solo exercises, exercises for couples, transformation rituals, love games, meditations, and massage techniques, and covers numerous practical strategies for helping women enhance their sensitivity, remove barriers to fulfilling experiences, and explore the spiritual dimension of their sexuality. Not only does Tantric Sex for Women show its readers how to expand and enhance sexual gratification, it promotes an attitude of remaining open to the many ecstasies of everyday life.

The Red Book: A Deliciously Unorthodox Approach to Igniting Your Divine Spark

2010-08-22T09:33:00.003-05:00

The Red Book: A Deliciously Unorthodox Approach to Igniting Your Divine Spark, Sera J. Beak. Beak, a religious scholar and writer for the San Francisco Chronicle Web site, sfgate.com, presents a brief but potent book focused on invigorating spirituality in the 20- or 30-something American woman. She vividly criticizes the patriarchal interpretation that has dominated most belief systems for centuries, and then quickly moves on to create her own feminist one. Beak encourages her female audience to do so as well, with their own "red book" modeled after hers, which was first given her as a birthday gift by her sister after their grandfather's death. Beak initially rejected the idea of keeping a journal, but soon found herself writing down prayers, recording dreams and in essence keeping a spiritual scrapbook. Avoiding the typical sentimentality, Beak's vision is a modern, femme fatale spirituality. The book lives up to its "unorthodox" subtitle, advocating that young women search for the spiritual in all things, even sex (memorably in a chapter called "Open Up and Say Ahh"). Beak calls herself a "spiritual cowgirl," taking her readers along for the ride. Her writing is probably too brazen for more conservative spiritual readers, but she displays poignant insights throughout.

The Economics of Ecstasy: Tantra, Secrecy and Power in Colonial Bengal

2010-08-22T09:18:00.003-05:00

The Economics of Ecstasy: Tantra, Secrecy and Power in Colonial Bengal, by Hugh B. Urban. This is a study of the Bengali Kartabhaja sect and its place in the broader movement of Tantrism, an Indian religious movement employing purposely shocking sexual language and rituals. Urban looks closely at the relationship between the rise of the Kartabhajas, who flourished at the turn of the 19th century, and the changing economic context of colonial Bengal. Made up of the poor lower classes laboring in the marketplaces and factories of Calcutta, the Kartabhajas represent "the underworld of the imperial city." Urban shows that their esoteric poetry and songs are in fact saturated with the language of the marketplace and the bazaar, which becomes for them the key metaphor used to communicate secret knowledge and mystical teachings. A refreshing blend of archival and field research, history of religions, postmodernism, and postcolonial studies.

Avatar Bodies: A Tantra for Posthumanism

2010-08-22T09:09:00.000-05:00

Avatar Bodies: A Tantra for Posthumanism, by Ann Weinstone. Otherness, alterity, the alien-over the course of the past fifty years many of us have based our hopes for more ethical relationships on concepts of difference. Combining philosophy, literary criticism, fiction, autobiography, and real and imagined correspondence, Ann Weinstone proposes that only when we stop ordering the other to be other-whether technological, animal, or simply inanimate-will we truly become posthuman. Posthumanism has thus far focused nearly exclusively on human-technology relations. Avatar Bodies develops a posthumanist vocabulary for human-to-human relationships that turns our capacities for devotion, personality, and pleasure. Drawing on both the philosophies and practices of Indian Tantra, Weinstone argues for the impossibility of absolute otherness; we are all avatar bodies, consisting of undecidably shared gestures, skills, memories, sensations, beliefs, and affects.

Weinstone calls her book a "tantra"-by which she means a set of instructions for practices aimed at sensitizing the reader to the inherent permeability of self to other, self to world. This tantra for posthumanism elaborates devotional gestures that will expose us to more unfettered contacts and the transformative touch.

Ann Weinstone is assistant professor of literature and new media at Northwestern University and the winner of the 1994 Chelsea Award for Fiction.