Article on Tantra at Sutra Journal

Articles on Tantra

Towards a Theory of Tantra-Ecology

May, 2016 by Jeffrey S. Lidke

In the highly coded environs of Tantric practice the final aim is the realization that the body of the sādhaka and the body of divinity are united in a holographic universe whose constituent parts contain within themselves the whole, “this all” (sarvaṃ idaṃ). The Śiva Saṃhitā, a Nāth Siddha guide to Haṭha Yoga (ca. Tenth century), describes the body of the yogin as the seat of the entire universe. read more

Christopher Tompkins on the Origins of Vinyasa

November, 2015 by Vikram Zutshi

Well, to date I don't know of a single publication on the history of yoga, including the recent BRILL Encyclopedia entry on Yoga, which has recognized and accurately depicted the fundamental and critical place of Yoga in the thousand year long tradition of Tantra, so revolutionary for its major contribution to the yoga tradition, including the Hatha based innovation of non-seated Asana sequencing. Instead Western scholarship in particular has simply skipped over it, and has... read more

Mark Dyczkowski in Conversation

February, 2016 by Lea Horvatic

Dr. Mark Dyczkowski is one of the world’s foremost scholars on Tantra and Kashmiri Trika Shaivism and has lived and worked in India for close to forty years. Both a scholar and a practitioner, he was initiated by the great Indian teacher Swami Laksmanjoo in the year 1976. He has an undergraduate degree from Banaras Hindu University and a Ph.D. from Oxford University, where he researched Kashmir Shaivism under the guidance of Professor Alexis Sanderson. read more

Tantra and the West

October, 2015 by Dr. Sthaneshwar Timalsina

Tantra in the Western imagination stands for exotic and orgasmic rituals coming from India and Tibet that blend sex and meditation. Tantric practice is often compared with pagan animistic rituals that include blood and sex, and the supernatural powers described in Tantric texts are often compared with magic. This does not mean that Tantra has always been painted positively in its homeland. For most native Indians... read more

Interview with Gopi Krishna on Consciousness and Kundalini

October, 2015 by Pandit Gopi Krishna

This interview with Gopi Krishna was conducted in New Delhi in the mid-1970s by a reporter for a UNESCO publication in India.

The mystical vision is like the awareness gained by one when awake. I must make this clear, with all the emphasis at my command and in full conformity to what has been as emphatically stated by mystics of the past that the objective world disappears, like a phantom, in the illuminating blaze of mystical consciousness. read more

Tibet's Secret Temple: Body, Mind and Meditation in Tantric Buddhism

January, 2016 by Ian Baker and Vikram Zutshi

Beyul are places where the physical and spiritual worlds are said to intersect and where meditative and yogic practices are said to be most effective. Located in remote regions of the Himalayan mountain range, beyul are also places known for their extraordinary bio-diversity and physical beauty. The biggest lesson that I learned from staying for extended periods in several such hidden-lands is that wild and untamed landscapes can open us to dimensions of experience that are often overlooked in more tempered read more

The Essence of Kriya

February, 2016 by Virochana Khalsa

Kriya is an active synthesis of breath, visualization, mental focus, repetition, discipline, internal alchemy, a good nature, and posture to internalize our awareness. In contrast to a passive approach, which also has its place, kriya charges and directs the current of your mind and breath, which keeps you engaged as you ride it into a deeper centering of presence. read more

Mantra: Sound of the Infinite

August, 2015 by Dr. Sthaneshwar Timalsina

Mantras are central to religious experience in India, found in all modes of ritual and practices, and accompanying all life events from birth to death. While mantras ground meditative practice and the many paths to liberation, they are also applied for magical power, alchemical transformation, and medicinal purposes, and for prosperity in various phases of life. Found in the earliest Vedic literature, mantras transcend Hindu culture and are also found in Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh traditions. read more

A Thousand Years of Abhinavagupta*

January, 2016 by Dr. Jeffrey S. Lidke

A thousand years ago the world’s most prolific and brilliant literary critics is said to have penned his final work. If our historical estimations on the birth date, the date of Abhinavagupta’s final literary work — his luminous commentary, 'Reflections on the Recognition of the Lord' — and death are accurate, then this brilliant Kashmiri polymath put down his pen around the age of 66 some five years before dying, or as lore would have it, transforming back into his divine, Bhairava self. read more

How Deepest Tantra Saves the World - Part I

October, 2015 by Dr. Stuart Sovatsky

In this and the next two issues of Sutra Journal, Dr. Stuart Sovatsky discusses the nature and the impact of the Scientia Sexualis, the sex-desire-centric liberated sexuality based in Freudian theories and supported by modern birth control methods, which has also appropriated Indic Ars Eroticas of Kundalini-Tantra and Hatha Yoga in Scientia modes of neo-tantra and neo-yoga read more

Vaishnava Bauls of Birbhum Bengal

December, 2015 by Sandra Trishula Das

That is why, brother, I became a madcap Baul. No master I obey, nor injunctions, canons or custom. Now no men-made distinctions have any hold on me, and I revel only in the gladness of my own welling love. In love there's no separation, but commingling always. So I rejoice in song and dance with each and all - Rabindra Nath Tagore read more

Dancing Forth the Divine Beloved: A Tantric Semiotics of the Body as Rasa in Classical Indian Dance

December, 2015 by Dr. Jeffrey S. Lidke

In this essay I explore the connections between the temple-originated dance traditions of Andhra Pradesh, the hermeneutics of rasa articulated in both Tantric and alamkaracontexts, and the reflections on the danced-body by contemporary exponents of dance. This presentation reflects preliminary work on a larger book project on the embodied mysticism in Indian arts. In that work I seek to adopt Timalsina’s challenge for an application of a Tantric hermeneutics to Indian culture... read more

How Deepest Tantra Saves the World: Part Two

November, 2015 by Dr. Stuart Sovatsky

Numerous spiritual teachers are calling Now-consciousness the ultimate enlightenment based in the giving up of all seeking and finding Wholeness right here, right Now. Yet, this fully-attentive, being present, unchanging or always in the Now awareness seems to fit the ars erotica definition of pratyahara or dharana or, possibly, some glimmers of dhyana - de-sticking one's bare attention from inner and outer objects... read more

Pranayama in the Light of Consciousness

May, 2016 by Godfrey Devereux

Even the slightest hint of effort, or intention, maintains mind in its linear, dualistic limitations. Rather the infolding flow of awareness so clearly and elegantly presented by Patanjali, happens only and exactly because all effort, all intention have been relinquished into the free flowing intelligence of consciousness. This is, of course what surrender means. Not to submit to some higher power, but to let go of resisting the presence of natural intelligence. read more

Daniel Odier in Conversation

March, 2016 by Lea Horvatic

Daniel Odier is a Swiss author and screenwriter and a prolific writer on Eastern religious traditions, especially Tantra, had a mystical initiation from a tantric dakini, Lalita Devi, in Kashmir. Odier also received dharma transmission from Jing Hui, abbot of Bailin Monastery and dharma successor of Hsu Yun, using the name "Ming Qing". He founded the Tantra/Chan centre in Paris, which operated from 1995 to 2000, and has taught courses on Eastern spiritual traditions at the University of California. read more

Pakistan's Sufi Dervishes, Digambar Jain Monks and Udasi sadhus

January, 2016 by Haroon Khalid

Standing in one corner of the courtyard was this group of bald dervish. They were a combination of old ages. Their naked bodies shone through their thin black shawls that they had used to cover up their torso. Some of them wore glass ear rings and had a horizontal tika on the forehead, a symbol of Hindu ascetics. Others had glass bangles on their wrists, associated with Bhaktis. All of them were without shoes, even though shoes were allowed in this courtyard. Dust had become one with the skin of their feet. read more

Tantra Unveiled through the Feminine: My Initiation into the Tantric Path

January, 2016 by Shantara Khalsa

My initial tantric initiation took me to a place where I was far removed from the everyday dramas of other people. My goal in life to be liberated from the wheel of birth and death set me on a very alone journey to self-mastery. This has been for me one of the greatest blessings of the tantric path. My beloved and I say now to others when they speak of difficulties with aloneness, that aloneness is 'all-one' without the extra 'L' which stands for Love. We grow to learn to be happy... read more

Working with Samskaras and Vasanas

March, 2016 by Marshall Govindan

Have you noticed that your mind often returns to particular memories or feelings? They might be related to individuals with whom you have unresolved issues, or they might be associated with very pleasurable past experiences, for example, related to food, sex, or winning in a competitive sport. Or they might be associated with difficult experiences that you fear repeating: a physical attack, a divorce, an embarrassing situation, rejection by someone you love or admire. Have you ever wondered why? read more

Marshall Govindan on Thirumandiram and the Tamil Yoga Siddhas

July, 2016 by Vikram Zutshi

Marshall Govindan (or Yogacharya M. Govindan Satchidananda) is a Kriya Yogi, author, scholar and publisher of literary works related to classical Yoga and Tantra and teacher of Kriya Yoga. He is the President of Babaji's Kriya Yoga and Publications, Inc., and the President of Babaji's Kriya Yoga Order of Archaryas, a lay order of more than 25 Kriya Yoga teachers operating in more than 20 countries. read more

An Interview with Ray Maor on Living without Food

January, 2016 by Virochana Khalsa

A Breatharian, unlike most people think, is a person that uses mostly energy as his primary source of energy. This is the reason why a Breatharian does not feel hunger or thirst. A Breatharian can eat or drink if he chooses to and most Breatharian I am familiar with do eat or drink, only in small quantities and not out of a necessity. They will mostly eat or drink for social situations like being with the family or on holidays. read more

The Love Song of Devi and Bhairava

December, 2015 by Lorin Roche

Your heart is a free and open space, always pulsating with the mantra of life itself. The most intimate core of your being is a temple, luscious like a flower, with gorgeous colors, shapes, scent, nectar flowing. Meditate here. Here is treasure - everything you love, everything you long for is here. Bathe in this splendor. This is your essence. Drink of this elixir and be happy, listen to the primordial mantra of your being and melt into god consciousness. read more

Tantra Unveiled through the Feminine - Chapter One

December, 2015 by Shantara Khalsa

Tantra is a complete spiritual path that culminates in liberation and transcendence of all that limits us as human beings. Tantra is the existence of manifest creation itself. To be able to hold our personal energy and at the same time to blend totally with another field of consciousness and energy knowing that all is One, this is tantra. This becomes a dance between the form and formless, and we could not exist without it. Yet seldom is this magic used in a conscious way. read more

Beloved I am Listening: Reflections on the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra

January, 2016 by Lorin Roche

The Bhairava Tantra is a conversation between The Goddess Who is the Creative Power of the Universe, and the God who is the Consciousness That Permeates Everywhere. For short, they call each other Devi and Bhairava, or Shakti and Shiva. They are lovers and inseparable partners, and one of their favorite places of dwelling is in the human heart. read more

Eternal Yoga

December, 2015 by Virochana Khalsa

Eternal Yoga, a term given to me at the end of a winter retreat in the Himalayas, is a set of practices where we go above our head to discover our eternal nature beyond conceptualization and individuality, while at the same time increasing our individual definition. This brings forth a conscious continuum where we know for ourselves what is our spirit, our soul, and the weaving into our embodiment. read more

Radiance Sutras: Where Body Meets Infinity

February, 2016 by Lorin Roche

The Vijnana Bhairava Tantra is a classic meditation text that describes 112 doorways for entering divine awareness right here in the midst of everyday life. Lorin was introduced to the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra in 1968 while working in a physiology lab at the University of California that was doing research on meditation. It was love at first listening, a love that continues to this day, this moment. read more

The Śaiva Religion and its Philosophy in Context Part Two: Shaivism’s Sources and Influences

July, 2016 by Christopher Wallis

In this article, we will be examining the scriptural literature; Part Three (appearing next month) will deal with the exegetical literature commonly labelled today as “Kashmir Shaivism”. read more

A Cognitive Science View of Abhinavagupta’s Understanding of Consciousness

March, 2016 by Loriliai Biernacki

I propose that the Hindu, nondual Śaivite system that Abhinavagupta lays out offers a framework that may be useful for our contemporary cognitive science and philosophy of mind precisely because Abhinavagupta offers a theory for connecting the material with the phenomenal. read more

A Hippie in Bhairava’s Clothing: the dangers of cultural appropriation

March, 2016 by Christopher Wallis

When spiritual practitioners who are not also trained intellectuals attempt any kind of translation or re-rendering of a foreign work (especially one from the ‘mystic East’), they often read into the text what they wish to find there, while being unable to see that they are doing so, because of lack of both linguistic competence and lack of historical awareness. read more

Abhinavagupta's Maṅgala verse No. 2 (video talk) from Parātrīśikā Vivaraṇa & Tantrāloka 13 103-107

May, 2016 by Boris Marjanovic

Boris Bhāskara Marjanovic, the eminent Kashmiri Shaiva scholar, shines a light on the verses from Abhnavagupta's Tantrāloka and Parātrisika Vivaraņa. (Video) read more

Alchemy and the Hermetic Tradition: Mircea Eliade and Carl Jung

January, 2016 by Cerena Ceaser

The relationship between Mythology and the Religious traditions is an intricate weaving of metaphor. Both Mythology and Religion have the similar function of relating lived experience to a universal purpose. Often, religion relates life choices to divine models, while Mythology creates narratives that contextualize experience. In many instances mythology and religion function simultaneously. However, a major distinction between the two traditions is that... read more

Consciousness is Everything

March, 2016 by Swami Khecaranatha

The purpose of spiritual practice is to understand and directly experience this ultimate truth, and furthermore, to discover that we are that Consciousness. In the nondual Kashmir Shaivite tradition of Anuttara Trika, this all-pervading Consciousness is called Śiva. read more

Kriya Yoga in the Light of Recent Findings in Neuroscience

January, 2016 by Marshall Govindan

If we consider that the mind is an embodied and relational process that regulates the flow of energy and information, we can use the mind to change the brain. By focusing our attention, intentionally directing the flow of energy and information through our neural circuits, we can directly alter the brain’s activity and its structure. To do so, we must know how to promote well-being through awareness. Mental activity actually creates new neural structures. Hence, even fleeting thoughts and emotions can leave read more

Lal-Ded: The Mystic of Kashmir

March, 2016 by M.H. Zaffar

Lal-Ded is a rebel saint, a revolutionary mystic of the 14th century Kashmir. We know her only through her verses called 'Vak'; that have come down to us through folk tradition of Kashmir. Lala-vak is not primarily poetry nor is it mere learned discourse. It is a discourse for the practical purpose of sanctifying and divinizing human nature. read more

Meher Baba: Intoxicated By God

March, 2016 by Stuart Sovatsky

Contemporary issues of interest and concern to transpersonal psychology have antecedents in the 1920s–1940s in the work of Meher Baba in India. He helped inspire the work of R.D. Laing in the 1960s (1964 with Esterson, 1965, 1970), predates the work of Sannella (1977/1987), Perry (1974), and the Grofs (1989, 1990) on ‘‘spiritual emergence,’’ and foreshadowed Wilber’s ‘‘pre-trans fallacy’’ (Wilber, 1980a, 1980b, 1995). read more

The Asta Matrikas: Mandalic Mothers of Bhaktapur, Nepal Part 1

February, 2016 by Laura Amazzone

The Matrikas are a collective of seven or eight goddesses, whose paradoxical natures express the interrelationship between the cyclical nature of women’s bodies and perennial earth based rituals.They are Mother Goddesses, yet not restricted to the procreative implication of motherhood. The Matrikas are aspects of the Great Goddess in her full power and work together in collective form. read more

The Flowering of Freedom: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Part Two

January, 2016 by Richard Miller

Dr. Miller has translated several classical Indian texts from Sanskrit into English. In the last issue we published a seminal text of Advaita Vedanta - Drg-Drsya-Viveka: An Inquiry into the Nature of the Seer and the Seen. We now bring you part two of Richard's translation of Patañjali's Yoga Sutras four part series along with his rich insights and incisive commentary. read more

The Role of Yoga in Bengali Shaktism

February, 2016 by June McDaniel

The love of deities may be passionate or obedient, wide-ranging or focused, ordered or wild. As Friedhelm Hardy has shown, there is intellectual bhakti which emphasizes loyalty and obedience, and there is ecstatic, emotional bhakti which is overwhelming and intoxicating. read more

The Tantric Age: A comparison of Shaiva and Buddhist Tantra

February, 2016 by Christopher Wallis

The main thesis of this paper is that in the medieval period, Tantric Buddhism (mantranaya, vajrayāna) and Tantric Śaivism (mantramārga) were conterminous, coeval, and co-functional. In fact, I believe the evidence supports the notion that these two were co-functional and conterminous to roughly the same degree as Śaivism was with Brahmanism (vaidika-dharma), circa the 10th century CE, thereby belying the notion that the latter two can be considered two branches of a single “Hinduism” in that period. read more

Transforming Life through Tantra: Chapter 3 of Tantra Unveiled

February, 2016 by Shantara Khalsa

I am blessed to say that I write this from direct personal experience, rather than from anyone else’s perspective or from within the flavored context of religious scriptures and writings. Tantra was given to me totally in the raw, there was no buffer of dialogue or organization and that is how I see it remaining as an eternal mystical path. read more

How Deepest Tantra Saves the World: Part 3

December, 2015 by Dr. Stuart Sovatsky

In this issue of Sutra Journal, Dr. Stuart Sovatsky concludes a discussion on the nature and the impact of the Scientia Sexualis, the sex-desire-centric ‘liberated sexuality’ based in Freudian theories and supported by modern birth control methods, which has also appropriated Indic Ars Eroticas of Kundalini-Tantra and Hatha Yoga in Scientia modes of ‘neo-tantra’ and ‘neo-yoga’. read more

Who are the Nagas? - A Journey into Embodied Awareness

October, 2015 by Virochana Khalsa

A Naga is a subtle elemental entity with a predominance of watery, somewhat spacious essence who resides primarily within the subtle dimensions of our earth. In such kingdoms reside individuals ranging from relative beginners to masters of almost incomprehensible development expressing through all levels of creation in an enlightened continuum. ... and here we come back to my earlier statement of Nagas having a predominance towards the water element. read more

Notes on the Sensuality of Sensation

January, 2016 by Godfrey Devereux

Sex is perhaps the most problematic of all human activities. The sex drive is a powerful, natural and necessary force of nature: it creates sexual appetite as a matter of course. It cannot be healthily denied. Rather, it must be embraced and navigated consciously. Yet so deep is it in us that it is not easy to recognise and express its simple, natural place in the overwhelming complexity of our modern lives. read more

Articles on Tantra

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