Tantra

There is now in the States a finely illustrated and sensitively written magazine called Tantra (monitored for the Institute by Roger Knights), which is about realising more fully the spiritual nature of making love. Subscriptions cost $24, sincle copies $4-50 from Tantra: The Magazine (ISSN 1064-0584), PO Box 79, Torreon, NM 87061-0079, USA (tel 0101 505 384 2292). Adapted sample extracts follow:

A way to begin practising tantra

'Eye-gazing and unified breathing will also assist you in 'letting go' of thoughts, physical sensations and emotions'

Sit across from each other, preferably naked, and begin with both your eyes closed, centering yourself in your own being and in your own breath. When you feel you are centered, open your eyes and begin the ancient practice of eye-gazing (to gaze: to look steadily and intently, as with great interest, wonder'). It is easiest to look into the left eye of your partner. As you are doing this, you might find your breath beginning to naturally synchronise with that of your partner. Do not have effort, just breathe naturally and easily, allowing synchronisation to take place, or not take place. This practice of eye-gazing and breathing in union will begin to establish the deep connection so central to the practice of Tantra. Eye-gazing and unified breathing will also assist you in 'letting go' of thoughts, physical sensations and emotions which distract us from accessing the state known as Tantra. Continuing to breathe, still gazing, you will begin to experience something else central to Tantra - total and complete self and other acceptance. This practice helps establish telepathy, understanding and compassion. While sitting there, do not use any verbal language and from the beginning generate the intention of this being an explicitly non-sexual time. The more frequently you engage in these and other similar practices, the more you will begin to access the altered state known as Tantra. Close with an embrace.

Wish fulfilment king or queen for 24 hours

Margo Anand discusses a game that appears in her book 'The Art of Sexual Ecstasy'.

A wonderful game which is very popular and helpful for couples.is called the Yin/ Yang Game, in which for 12 or 24 hours a couple agrees that one of them is going to be yang. That person is going to be a king or a queen and they are going to be able to ask the fulfilment of every one of their wishes. The other partner is going to be yin, the facilitator. He or she will put aside their ego, their Yeses or Nos, their likes or dislikes. They are just going to be there to support and to facilitate the wishes being realised. Then the roles are switched. Two partners can agree to switch the dominant polarity back and forth. One becomes yang and the other becomes yin. One surrenders while the other leads. If they are able to flow in this permutation of roles, which is perfectly possible, then much love will be there.

Criteria for slecting a Tantric partner

Here are some of the pre-indicators that you might look for in selecting a Tantric lover and a life partner. Assuming you are aware of energy, does the other person have and exhibit energy? ('Energy' simply referred to, can be seen as aliveness, core vitality and spontaneous self-expression.) Secondly, is this person sex-positive? Third, what does it feel like to look into their eyes? Fourth, do you feel like you've come home to yourself while being with the other? Fifth, do you feel completely natural and like you really want this other being to know you completely and that they are open to you knowing them completely? Sixth, do you laugh a lot together? And seventh, do you feel that the other has a spiritual foundation and an understanding as to what that means? Traditionally, when people seek a marital partner, they look for financial security, common interest, family background, etc. While these criteria are also important, a Tantric life partnership is a merging of heaven and earth, of both the material plane and the spiritual.

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