LOVE FOR LIFEAn Introduction to Tantra

Mark and Karen SuttonTantra Awakenings

Tantra, Meditation and Massage for the modern world

Portrait photograph courtesy of Caroline Dowling-Dunlea Photography

Content• Introduction.• What is Tantra: Definition, Meaning, Classical

Tantra and Neo-Tantra.• Misconceptions about Tantra. • Benefits of Tantra.• Tantric practices.• Tantra Massage.• Workshops.• Experiencing Tantra.

What is Tantra• A 5000 year old

meditative path.• Ecstasy, Enlightenment,

Spirituality, Intimacy and Healing.

• Experiential.• Sanskrit: “what extends

knowledge” or “Weaving”• OSHO: Method• Two words Tanoti

(expansion) and Trayati (liberation)

Definition

“Tantra is about learning to live with what is: The intense, frightening and blissful weaving of life, every moment a ritual, an opportunity to escape or a chance to fall more in love. Tantra teaches that even questioning the practice is a part of the whole experience of life and therefore the divine. In its essence, it is a profound awareness of the activity of being, where the journey is the destination. “

In the Vigyan Bhairav Tantric sutras, Devi sits on the lap of Shiva and asks:

Oh Shiva, what is your reality? What is this wonder-filled universe?

What constitutes the seed? Who centers the universal wheel?

What is this life beyond form pervading forms? How may we enter it fully, above space and time, names and

descriptions? Let my doubts be cleared?

Classical Tantra: Where and when

• Indus valley traditions (Dravidian) 2000BCE. • Shaivism.• No written texts.• Hindu Tantra: 12 and 13th centuries. • South East Asia during the 11th to 14th centuries. • Tantric Buddhism was preserved in Tibet. • Temples: Orissa, Kamakhya, Kalighat, Ellora etc.

Hindu and Buddhist Tantra

• Buddhist Tantra: Mahayana school.– Negative emotions/behaviours

transformed and directed towards the destruction of negative forces within the practitioner.

• Hindu: Left (Red) and Right-handed (White).– Both are Taboo breaking. – Women, caste system etc.– Meat, Fish, Parched Grain, Alcohol,

Sex (Varma Marg, Red Tantra).

• Old Testament and Ancient Greece.

Traditions and Beliefs

• Three main Traditions• Tantra refuted:

Attainment by Renunciation.

• “Separation”. • Sensual to transcend

the physical.• Tantra embraces all.

ARDHANARISHVARA

Classical Tantra Practice• Identification with deities.• Yantra (sacred geometry)• Mantra (sacred sound).• Asana (Body Positions).• Sexual rites.

Sex and Classical Tantra• Deity Offerings.• Clan Initiation

Ceremonies.• Buddhism: Last stage

of an initiate’s path. • 8th Century: Samanta. • 10th and 11th

centuries: Less Transgressive.

The wild goddesses

Tantra 20th Century

• Hindu:– South Indian Sri Vidya.– Kashmiri Shakta/ Kaul

tradition.– Bengali Shakta.– Natha Tantra.– Kashmir Shaivism.

• Buddhist:– America and

Europe etc.

Neo-Tantra: Where and When

• Sir John Woodroffe (Arthur Avalon. 1865–1936). • Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh: (Osho).• Margot Anand: "Skydancing" tantra. The Art of

sexual Ecstasy• Daniel Odier, Charles Muir, The Richardsons and

others.

Neo-Tantra V Classical Tantra

• Spiritual sex/ sacred sex. • Adopts concepts and Terminology.• Omits: Guru, Extensive Meditative Practice,

Traditional rules of Conduct.• Hugh Urban: “ simply a different

interpretation for a specific historical situation”.

Neo-Tantra and Sex• “Neo-Tantra Ritualises

sex, Authentic Tantra sexualises ritual”. Dharmanidhi saravasti.

• A set of techniques for cultivating a more fulfilling sexual or love relationship. “Lifestyle Tantra”

Misconceptions about Tantra

Misconceptions about Tantra

• Tantra is all about sex.• You give up pleasure.• Tantra encourages

indulgences.• You become a sex maniac.• Tantra is for Easterners.• Tantra is a religion/ cult. • It takes a long time to learn.• Tantra has to be done by a

man and a woman.

Benefits of Tantra:

• Presence and self-awareness. • Acceptance: Self love and body confidence.• Integration, Healing, Spirituality and Transformation.• Harmonising Active and Receptive energies.• Connection: Emotional, physical and spiritual. • Expanded lovemaking, Goal Orientation and Ego.• Bioenergetics, Counselling, Psychology and

coaching. (Physical and Mental Wellbeing)• 25 Second Tantra.

Practices of Tantra

• Breath / Body/ Visualisation/ Meditation– Freeflow of energy through the body.

• The Subtle Body– Chakras: “Wheel”, vital or energy centres.– The inner flute (hollow bamboo).– Kundalini energy.

• Conscious flow

Chakras

• Root or Base Chakra - Physical sensation, the body, vitality, earth connection, survival, security

• Sacral Chakra- Emotions, sexuality, pleasure, physical creativity.

• Solar Plexus Chakra- Thoughts and opinions, 'digesting' of experience, confidence, self-worth, personal power.

• Heart Chakra- Unconditional love, compassion, sharing.• Throat Chakra- Communication, creative self-expression.• Third Eye Chakra– Intuition • Crown Chakra- Cosmic consciousness, pure knowing,

connection with the divine.

Sacred Tantric Healing MassageExperience of touch. Healing

experience.

Energy:– Touch both the body and emotions.– Clears blockages through the energy channels.

Workshops

• Exploring all aspects of Tantra.• A core principle: respect. • Safe, supportive, confidential environment• Workshops are for both singles and couples. • Individual exercises and with another. • Unless stated, all workshops are fully clothed.

One to One/ Couples

• Tailored.• Integrated.• Specific.• Couples:– Intimacy– Connection– Touch

Tantra Redefined• What does Tantra

mean for you?• What is it you are

looking for from Tantra?

• That is what the definition of Tantra is for you in your reality.

The Tantra Experience: Connection

• Chakra Connection.

• Soul gazing.

• Conscious chocolate.

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