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Sad facts about most people's sex lives Control yourself What's love got to do with it? Hedonism, hypocrasy, and humping Wilhelm Reich's Notes Pan Problems Magick of Sarcasm On Loneliness & Being Alone |
Tantra is not just one path. There are hundreds of "Tantric" paths, the majority of which are branch off from one school or another. Tibetan based Tantra differs from Hindu based Tantra, which differs from Buddhist based Tantra. All of these schools are 'valid' tantric paths, and all of them have one thing in common; they utilize sexual energy for creative goals. Other than that, there's not much more to be said about their similarity. The differences far outweigh any commonality between paths. One of the biggest problems, however, is that Tantra is a progressive path. That is to say, one must start at the beginning and work up from there. Just as a marathon runner did not start training by running 100 miles, a Tantric cannot start training simply by having excellent sex. Unfortunately, many people who have excellent sex confuse it with Tantra, as excellent sex can be a spiritual experience. However, many times those who claim to be Tantrics, when asked how they learned it, will simply say "I'm self taught." More than likely, they are practicing a vibed-up brand of spiritual hedonism, not Tantra. Not to say there is anything wrong with hedonism, because in itself hedonsim can be a powerful Tantric tool. However, when the only tool you have is a hammer, everything starts looking like a nail. If the only thing you know about Tantra is hedonism, then all your rituals start to look like orgies. Which is a very difficult energy to focus, if you think about it. Many people can naturally learn to exchange energy between sexual partners in a couple. Some learn to do that and call it Tantra. While it is just another cool tool in the toolbox, it is not a complete path in itself. What is actually going on is that the couple is sharing as much energy with each other as they can, getting a rush off the movement of the energy in and out of thier systems. However, if one of the partners is more energetic than the other, it could lead to bad vampire-like relationships. What seems to happen to a lot of 'self-taught' tantrics is that they get stuck in one mode, using one tool, working the energy of one chakra, and they get a great rush out of it. A rush that they've never had before because that one chakra has never been opened before. What doens't occur to most of them is that there are more chakras to unstick. EVERY single chakra will have at least one issue impacting it, unless you were raised in an Ashram, and even then..... But exchanging energy when the only open chakra you have is the lower ones (where most people start their training) leads one to a life of hedonism, wretched excess, and wallowing in negative energy. When one has finally unlocked base survival or sexual centers, it really feels good to have energy flood in and out of it for a change, which any serious sexual encounter will supply. But afterward, when the Tantric beginner with the newly opened chakras absorbs all the crap in his/her partner's base chakras, the Tantric student will feel powerful. Maybe vibrating enough to get some sort of twisted vision of the partner in some sort of holy or demonic light, but definitely not very well grounded. This affect could last for days. And it's really addicting, causing the Tantric student to seek out more and more partners, sucking up more and more energy, even tho the energy is not clean. They claim to be teachers so that others come to them and give up their energy willingly. Soon, instead of a holy order, they have a fan club. What usually happens is that these people eat the Karmic return for their actions. The metaphysical blends over to the physical. They contract STDs. They find themselves rejected or denied access to certain social groups. Sometimes they fall into old patterns again, giving up the Tantric trail all together. Every once in a while, tho, someone will catch it before it's too late and force themselves to step back on the path and work the next few chakras. These are the people who make it to full Tantric ability. Hedonism is only one step in the process to enlightenment. Unveiling what we are otherwise afraid to express, wallowing in pure joy and pleasure, relaxing, breathing it in, sharing it with a partner, these are all important steps in learning Tantra. To accept what our physical body is doing with the energy, to direct and focus that energy within our Will, and to have our mind in control of it at all times is the goal of Tantra. If you're just gonna hump, don't call it Tantra. Smiles, © 1999 -2005 Sienna Newcastle |