hello everyone, i just graduated with a degree in sociology
and will be embarking on a RTW at the end of the year. On
my trip I will be studying sexuality around the world and
writing a book. i have just begun my research and think
this would be a good forum to post some inquiries. does
anyone have any information on where one can study tantric
sex or the art of kama sutra in india. are there ashrams
where sexuality is a primary focus? i have heard of osho,
would this be a good place to start? any other input on
where i can research sexuality in india or elsewhere in the
world? please limit the flames, i will check back to
respond to posts or if anyone is interested, share more
about my work. thanks!
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A study of sexuality would be very interesting in India! I
hope you are not going to focus on Tantric and Kama sutra
though. THat seems somewhat removed from the normal reality
of nearly everyone's life there. It's like coming to
America to do study on how we live, and then only going to
Las Vegas, not very accurate, or interesting, (but it may be
titillating).
Of course you are aware that a western woman researching
sexuality in most of Asia is likely to raise eyebrows, among
other things, and I hope you will go armed with resolve, pen
and paper, and a dictionary detailing 'no' in every language
on the planet.
Dear Veronica,
I am facinated by your subject. It is something worth
researching.
Although India has a rich history in sex, in the present
times, it is by & large suppressed.
The land that produced Kama Sutra is reeling under sexual
ignorance, frustration, and abuse.
In fact, no body would be able to answer your query because
nobody talks about this subject freely.
You will have to get in touch with academicians,sexologists,
sociologists, etc.
if you want more info. mail me shaft555@hotmail.com
Isaac
I have worked with Punjabi women and I assure you they are
not shy to be flirtasious. Possibly this is because of the
restrictions of arranged marrages, but I do know that they
like to look at guys and , although I do not know so much
Punjabi, I have been told that they like to talk about sex
amoungst each other, it can be embarrasing for a skinny
white guy
Dear Veronica,
My extremely lengthy response to your query. I hope you will
atleast reflect upon it.
Before answering you directly, let me digress a little to
establish a background:
Many view India as the land of ancient culture, deep
philosophy and mystical collective pysche.
Being an Indian, I have tried to understand what exactly is
behind this universal view. Frankly, I have not been able to
pin point explicitly what is our central theme of living.
This is because Indian has too many writings, people,
histories, cultures, that a cohesive theory is impossible.
Let me exemplify...... Americans view Individuality and
Success as their chief purpose in life. The British
believe in the eclectic mix through discipline and fair
play, the french underlines insularity all the way, the
Italians cherish beauty above all, etc. What does India
believe in?
However, there is an IMPLICIT answer. Please note that this
is my personal opinion and is likely to find a lot of
arguments.
The only Core Philosophical Tenet that I can detect in
India is that of the Principal of Harmony. To get the best
out of life, one should master the art of harmonising all
the chief ingridients of life. Indians have been obsessed
with the need to harmonise various conflicting forces in
life: Nature Vs Humanity, Young Vs Middle Age Vs Old Age,
Family Vs Success, Individuality Vs Social Participation,
Emotion Vs Intellect Vs Physical Being, Work Vs Leisure, War
Vs Peace, The Ruler Vs the Ruled, etc. I can go on and on.
An important thing to note is that the acceptance of
conflicts as a given and not to bemoan it. The one who
succeeds at grappling the disharmonious equation
successfully is consider wise and by some, wealthy.
I opine that, Ancient Indians treated Sex with the same
formula. Kamasutra was a guideline for harmonise the
differential equation between the Man and the Woman. In
fact, the idea was to make sex through a physical pleasure
art into an instrument to merge the man & the woman
emotionally and psychologically. You may be shocked to
hear me say that human male & female do not mate easily and
requires consummation in more ways than one.
And sadly the equation between the two is getting weaker and
weaker by a lot of peripheral and narrow concept ideas or
movements being propounded as important phylosophies.
Sex is in our genes as a means to procreate. Yet the human
situation is so different from other species who can handle
sex clinically. Because of human being having a diffirent
yet special nature, sex has to be elevated to a higher
plane.... the plane on which we all operate in our daily
life. The sexual act which can last from a few seconds to
hours has to become integrated into the human gambit of
Mating Permenance (monogamy), long term plans, actions and
consequences, the pursuit of happy living, the rational ways
& tools, and the intelligent handling of the potency &
resourcefullness of the human mind.
Humans are programmed to live differently...... in
accordance with their nature. The two critical human
differentiators are: 1) Emotional survival being the same as
physical survival in order to live a human life 2) The
Factor of Choices.
Selective a mate-for-life is so important for humans because
a wrong choice can completely destabilise their view of life
if the mating game is crucial to those individuals. If the
choice is right, sex not only celebrates the fact but
cements the union into permenance.
For man, Joy is the only foundation for emotional survival.
Sex is one joyful pursuit. It satisfies one of the
psychological need of man to be productive. So does work
which satisfies the intellectual need. Or self-restraint.
I dont know what you will find in your research. I just hope
that you will remember the need to harmonise as the first
step before reaching for the best & lasting union of two
minds & bodies.
If you do find time, kindly consider a project of finding
out HOW TO HARMONISE the human couple. What is the Core
Principal behind MATING FOR LIFE. IT WILL BE EXTREMELY
USEFUL TO HUMANITY AND PERSONALLY REWARDING FOR YOU.
regards,
Isaac
thanks for your responses...fido, i see your point but i
will be focusing more on studying sexuality as it appears
in history as a philosophy (western example would be the
oneida community in NE United States dating back to the
1800's) therefore, the people i will need to talk to will
not have lives that represent the norm and may be willing
to discuss these issues with me. isaac, i appreciate your
input, my question to you is, are there still indians that
use the kama sutra as a guideline in their sexual
relations? there is a history of communities of people who
subscribe to sexual standards and rumors that some of these
communities still exist. i will soon set out in search of
them. this can be interpreted broadly, of course, some
communities of "swingers" can also be said to adhere to a
philosophy, albeit, loosely defined, and i have already
started interviewing some of them here in the states.
thanks for your input, any ideas or suggestions are most
certainly welcome.
We live strictly according to Kama Sutra. Wild orgies based
on numerical rules, every weekend. Leading to higher
plane of consciousness, What it is that you are wanting to
know?
hi vern,
staying in bombay !
pls do visit the site www.stacken.kth.se
elf sternberg
who have researched on kamasutra and other topics !.
18 may 99
bombay south
Before you leave India, please check out the Osho Commune.
Groups are offered in tantra, although this may be different
from your expectations, if any. The vibe of this commune is
not centered around sex, although that is accepted as a
normal and healthy phase of life. Good luck in your quest.
Check out www.osho.org Enjoy!
Dear Veronica,
As far as I know, Indians are not so knowledgeable about
Kamasutra nor is it universally or partially employed as a
guideline for sexual practise.
Nor have I heard of a community or a tribe in India which is
so interestingly different sexually to attract researchers.
Although the sexual style, frequency, and its importance may
vary in India between the urban/rural, north & south,
rich/poor etc.
Outward behaviour aside, I think Sex is generally treated
less awkwardly in the South but this behaviour is kept very
private. North is sexually very agressive in pursuit but I
dont think sex enjoys a strong position as a recreation.
Only the East and that too selectively, is sexually more
initiated and I think they are more adventerous without
being decandent. You will find the same attitude in the
colder places in some parts of the Northern India.
The urban sexual habits too are diverse. But nothing to
indicate any speciality worth researching. In metros, it is
largely a variation of the western model :
Super-Rich(Adventureous & Decandant),
Middle Class ( pedestrian, ignorant & conservative),
Lower Class(unpretentious & amorally Promiscuous).
But frankly, all that everyone says here is the layman's or
laywoman's view. In my opinion you need experts and you wont
find them on this site.
regards,
Issac