Sexual bliss

The enigmatic word "Tantra" brings to mind exotic Eastern sexual practices. To the Western mind, it has become synonymous with sexuality and delicious hedonistic pleasure akin to images of the Kama Sutra, the Hindu manual of sexual love. Tantra, however, is a spiritual tradition not about selfish pleasure but about bliss attained from giving after one has transcended the lower ego. And it is not as much about sexual acts but about transforming the sexual/creative energy fire.

The true essence of Tantra is the experience of total connection to the Oneness of the Divine Light. The Hindus (from whose culture this tradition stems from) seek to balance the feminine force of the Goddess and masculine force of her consort Lord Shiva. The older mystic traditions of the West have similarities to Tantra such as Christian mysticism, alchemy and astrology, Kabbala or Sufism. So allied is Tantra with the alchemical or transformative process that so much of what has been called alchemy in Medieval Europe, China, Middle East and India is actually Tantra. In other words, there is the conscious direction of transforming the lower energies of man to attune it with harmony with the Divine. The broad approach of Tantra is that one can approach the ordinary activities of life–such as eating, sleeping and breathing–into sacred practices and rituals.

Tantra practices mean that the practitioner can energetically move the forces inside and outside his physical body. For the attention and discipline given to the physical body, Tantra has been identified as a body-affirmative form of spiritual tradition. It does not negate the body but understands its workings. Breathing techniques, visualization and meditation and key disciplines that must be achieved. When these disciplines are constantly done, bliss may be attained.

One aspect of Tantra is learning to control the sexual fire that is coiled at the base of the spine, near the areas of the genitals. This sexual energy, called Kundalini, once awakened through practice, spirals and makes its way upward and around the central nervous system and spine. Its objective is to go through the seven energy centers in the body called "chakras," all located on the spinal meridian, and upwards to the top of the head or crown. An energy center is opened which connects the person to the greater cosmic reality. For any transformation of consciousness or awareness to come about requires great energy. This is Kundalini energy. It is not a psychic energy that needs to be aroused but is actually a Divine energy that must be connected with. The age period when this energy naturally begins to rise is during mid-life (specifically ages 38 to 44 years old) and it would do well for men and women to be aware of this.

Not only does the sexual need become stronger during this period, the body begins to re-tool energetically, and inner psycho-spiritual and emotional questionings, questing or crisis begins to happen. This is necessary so that a person can live the second half of his life more creative, more enriched spiritually. The arousal of this energy can be aided with the help of more meditation and awareness, of centering practices to control the mind and senses.

It will be great if we can treat and celebrate this Valentine’s Day differently this year. Beyond the traditional "Hallmark card" rituals of flowers, chocolates and romantic dinners, couples can actually practice Tantra together. For a couple, experiment and go beyond the physical pleasures of sex and try breathing techniques together as you stimulate each other’s bodies while making love. Visualize the serpentine fire of Kundalini rising on both you and your partner’s spine. Synchronize your breathing. Learn to control your breath together even during the most passionate moments of your embrace. The controlled sustained energy creates deeper emotional responses, deepening the promised blissful experience. The result: a deeper connection, a more sacred coupling is achieved. (The man, however, must be aware that he is not practising Tantra if he only seeks gratification. Tantra is first and foremost about giving, which often does not come easy with most men.)

Preliminary Tantra techniques can even be practised by couples in the courtship stage. Sit facing each other and hold hands, synchronize the breathing and stare into each other’s eyes and just try not to give in to any strong sexual energies for the moment. Try to refine the hot, sexual fires within you into energies that move up higher to the heart and beyond to higher planes.

If you are presently alone with no partner, you can still practise Tantra by breathing deep into your belly during meditation while visualizing the Kundalini energy rise along the spine. As you do so, be aware of the various emotions that come up and make themselves felt. This would be the best time to visualize the inner fire purifying or transforming any negative energies into more positive ones. Done alone or with a partner, constant practice will guarantee a deepening of your awareness, a vitalization of your body, the nervous system and the energy centers.

Today, we are so caught up affirming our bodies on a lower level. We sometimes attach too much vanity and ego-pampering as we seek gratification and happiness, often ending up abusing the body to achieve pleasures that are not really that fulfilling. With the way our world is going towards more chaos and seeming destruction, we can actually counteract this direction. Either as a couple or alone, connect to the world and bring it to a higher blissful state by awakening the powerful serpentine fire lodged within.

E-mail me at: jej1@easycall.com.ph