Black Tantra – What You Should Know

Black tantra is a lesser known sub-division of ancient tantra. Its rather ominous name derives from the fact that black tantra always concludes with orgasm and ejaculation in order to awaken consciousness, whereas tantra and its practices oppose any loss of sexual energy and favor spiritual pursuits (tantra sadhana).

Black tantra is about altering mental reality through a series of techniques, and it involves an advanced form of mental projection. As your tantra teacher will inform you, scriptures such as the ‘Virat Kaula Sutras’ state that the pursuit of orgasmic release can sometimes trigger cravings and suffering. In other words, black tantra may sometimes lead people further away from enlightenment rather than bringing them to it.

To prolong sexual intercourse with the sole objective of enjoying physical pleasure, without regard to achieving higher awareness, may lead one astray. The proper role of this offshoot of the ancient art is to help those who have fallen in this trap by engaging their subconscious creative power, which can be accessed during sexual arousal and eventually lead them to tantric ’samadhi’.

Some people erroneously consider the sexual side of tantra as ‘black tantra’. This is an example of the wide-spread ignorance surrounding the art of tantra, resulting in the general rejection of this esoteric variant as dangerous and unusable.

The art of tantra, which has been passed down from one tantra teacher to another in the ‘hands-on’ oral tradition, admonishes that we must never use energy to manipulate others. Rather, a practitioner should seek to experience an expansion of his or her higher consciousness, and to recognize the interconnectedness of existence.

Under the tutelage of an accomplished tantra teacher, the student learns to conserve and sublimate sexual energies. This is in stark contrast to black tantra, where the sexual energies are allowed to spill through into orgasm.

‘Rati Rahasyam’ states that tantra awakens consciousness to the absence of our desires, while black tantra awakens consciousness to our inner-most desires. In other words, this path can put one on a slippery slope towards ignorance, as it concludes with orgasm/ejaculation in order to awaken consciousness. However, it must not be seen as an aberrant offshoot of the original discipline. Rather, it worthwhile viewing it as a means to engage in profound love-making rites with deities via meditation. After years of such advanced practice, we begin to experience siddhis or supernatural powers that can help us on our journey to samadhi – or spiritual realization.

What emerges is that the practice of tantra or any of its variants without proper tutelage from a qualified tantra master can lead to much distress. There are no shortcuts, and every variant has its place in the overall scheme of things. However, only an accomplished tantra master can chart the journey for you for optimum spiritual benefit.

Acharya Subhojit Dasgupta is a Tantra Teacher with an in-depth knowledge of traditional Indian sciences and Sanskrit literature. Visit his tantra online guide to read more about Black Tantra, learn tantra exercises and tantric techniques from this young Tantra Master.

Tantra Yoga – Benefits and Prerequisites For Practice

Tantra Yoga is a much talked-about term, but what is it and what does it take to practice tantra yoga? Quite simply, it is a set of tantra exercises that harnesses extremely potent power for spiritual regeneration.

Because of this power, it lies at the fundaments of ancient tantra practice.Tantra yoga lays special emphasis on the development of the powers latent in our six chakras, from Muladhara to Ajna. It should be clarified here that tantra yoga is not concerned with sexuality, but with creative force and transmuting the energy of this force into higher channels.

This revered and highly efficacious form of tantra practice involves deep meditation, in which the student of tantra sits calmly and purifies the mind and heart of wayward thoughts and desires.Tantra yoga is a ritual path, and is often grossly misunderstood and wrongly practiced. The fact is that its practitioners must have purity, humility, devotion, courage, dedication to their tantra teacher, a deep understanding of cosmic love, faithfulness, contentment, dispassion, non-covetousness and honesty. This form of yoga is a process that can unfold one’s spiritual nature through the constant worship of the energy within, collectively known as Shakti.

Practiced diligently under the guidance of an accomplished tantra master, it brings about an awakening of the self.Tantra yoga does not limit itself to a particular branch of study – rather, it incorporates in it diverse elements which are linked by a unifying rule of Tantra Dharma. It aims to bring about consciousness in all states of human life – the conscious state, the waking state and the dream state. It is a path and practice that teaches the methods and ways by which we can discard intolerance, ignorance, selfishness and the animal instinct that lives in all of us.Tantra believes teaches us that the primary driving force behind the Universe isnothing but desire, and that desires are very natural for a soul residing in a human body.

Tantra yoga brings physical and mental cleansing through Pranayama (tantra breathing exercises) the visualization of energized energy vortexes (yantra) and deities, the repetition of mantras (energized sounds/words) etc. It is a holistic means of studying of the macrocosm from microcosmic point of view.When a student of tantra practices tantra yoga under a tantra teacher, he or she will soon be able to identify a wide range of factors that impact our thoughts and feelings. Regular practice of this most basic – and yet most powerful – manifestation of ancient tantra inculcates the contentedness, concentration and focus which are needed to release our consciousness from its inherent limitations.

In short – tantra states that desires are natural, and tantra yoga provides practical means and devices to reprogram our minds and desires so that they serve us, rather than the other way round.

Acharya Subhojit Dasgupta is a Tantra Teacher with an in-depth knowledge of traditional Indian sciences and Sanskrit literature. Visit his tantra online guide to read more about Tantra Yoga, learn tantra exercises and tantric techniques from this young Tantra Master.

Why Angelina Jolie is the Occidental Tantra Goddess

Angelina Jolie – a tantra goddess? Yes. In the truest tradition of tantra, her name itself conjures up visions of unbridled energy, untamed and yet powerful. The mention of Angelina Jolie is synonymous with passion, and none can ignore it. Every man would want her, and every woman secretly wants to be like her.

Long before Angelina Jolie stormed the world with her highly acclaimed role in the American television film Gia (1998), her smouldering sexuality, devilishly beautiful eyes and sensuous bee-stung lips had become bywords of sensuality. She infuses the power of sexuality in everything that she does.

Yes. To an experienced Tantra teacher,  Angelina Jolie is indeed the quintessential tantra goddess. She is clearly the defining part of any relationship that she may be in. The world has a wild and unstable image of her, but it can never pigeon-hole her. She is at once wild, untamed, sexual, nurturing, compassionate, loving, uncompromising, home-bound, nomadic, dominatrix – all rolled into one.

These are aspects of the image that she shows to the world, but her tantra vibrations are hard to conceal. Such vibrations drive us to our destinies whether we know it or not; whether we acknowledge them or not. Here is a woman who is highly aware of her inner self, of the Goddess within her, but a ’self’ that is not completely known to herself and certainly not to the world. The ‘real’ Angelina Jolie – the divine feminine behind the woman of the world – is one of those rare people who allow their inner divinity to come out.

All persons have myriad facets to their personalities, but few give expression to all. She does – and that is what makes her powerful, memorable and a celebration of feminine tantra energy. She is not a mere woman, but one totally unafraid to follow her mind and heart. She exudes class even as she blatantly tongues her lover, making the act shocking but not cheap. A Tantra teacher can see that sexuality is inherent in her, and not a put-on. She may wear it on her sleeve, but she does not take it too seriously. It is second nature to her, not something that she is self-conscious about.

For Angelina Jolie, being sexy is as natural as being a mother, and she proves it as she continues to expand her multi-cultural family. She has shattered the stereotype of the sexual female – she is sexy and yet beyond sexiness, diving passionately into humanitarian work and imbibing it in her life.

In Brad Pitt, Angelina found what was missing in all her previous relationships. Unlike the men she had previously dated, Brad is not a macho, overtly sexual presence in her life. He has a comparatively soft aura and understated sexual energy. For once, a tantra goddess finds an energy that complements hers completely.

Her driving need to have a large family that embraces various cultures stems from the void in her heart created by her estrangement with her father. The lack of a strong father figure in her life led to a dangerously close relationship with her brother. Since that relationship would never have been accepted by society, Angelina Jolie was always left hungering for more. She did all that she could to get Brad away from his previous wife, Jennifer Aniston, and even today will not allow him to keep any relation with her. Her need for a good father for her children drew her to Brad, who always wanted children (while Jennifer never did).

If Angelina Jolie is a woman who shows what can be possible with even a half-realization of one’s true self, then her life is also proof of the follies one can commit if that realization is not complete. Tantra condemns taboo relationships within the family, but a proper understanding and complete realization of ancient tantra leads to a highly fulfilling life that not only holds adventure, but an all-embracing goodness.

Angelina Jolie is surely moving in that direction, but needs a deeper understanding of herself. Nevertheless, the tantra goddess in her can never be denied. Tantra aims to make a goddess out of every woman, especially one who is highly aware of her inner self, of the Goddess within her…..

Acharya Subhojit Dasgupta is a Tantra Teacher with an in-depth knowledge of traditional Indian sciences and Sanskrit literature. Visit his tantra online guide to read about Tantra Goddess, learn tantra exercises and tantric techniques from this young Tantra Master.

Tantra Massage: Much More Than a Sexual Technique

Ancient tantric scriptures refer to tantra massage as a method of bonding between two spiritually aware beings. A massage is a lot more than just a sexual technique meant to prolong pleasure. It is epitomized by Shiva and Shakti, the quintessential tantra God and Goddess.

Even for an accomplished master, tantra massage is hard to describe verbally, which has led to many of the misconceptions surrounding it. Those who do understand it have a deep comprehension of humanity, human nature and natural human motivations and desires.

A regular tantra massage can be useful in alleviating frustrations and uncertainties, and can lead to higher levels of self esteem. It is also a perfect way for men, women and couples to find higher knowledge of energy transmutation for the purpose of spiritual and emotional advancement. And finally, yes – it DOES release stress and enhance / prolong passion and pleasure.

Your master will tell you that tantra massage is a primary step in the quest for deeper sexual and spiritual meaning and realisation. It sparks off a true lust for life and freedom and teaches us how to separate super-orgasm from ejaculation. By the means of this tantra technique, one can experience the energy of super-orgasm throughout the body and mind.

Since sex and sexual activities are something that we can all relate to (after all, these represent very inherent energy) experiencing the pleasure and energy of super-orgasm would motivate us a lot more towards realizing ourselves. All of us need a modicum of tangible pleasure in our spiritual quest to keep us motivated.

When performed in the prescribed way, tantra massage is a beautiful celebration of all aspects of our humanity and represents the bliss of a heightened state of arousal. By its use, we can increase awareness of ourselves, our desires and our motivations.

Given its spiritual benefits and higher levels of consciousness, this tantra technique was essentially developed so that we can realize our inner wisdom and develop stronger, more fulfilling relationships. However, it must only be practiced under expert supervision by a tantra master – the fallout of amateurish practice can be quite negative, since the fullest potential cannot be achieved.

Acharya Subhojit Dasgupta is a Tantra Teacher with an in-depth knowledge of traditional Indian sciences and Sanskrit literature. Visit his tantra online guide to read more about Tantra Massage, learn tantra exercises and tantric techniques from this young Tantra Master.

Tantra Meditation To Re-Establish Inner Connection

Tantra meditation can help bring us back in touch with ourselves – and with what truly matters in our lives. The art of tantra is all about transcending the superfluous and reconnecting with our elemental core. Never has there been a greater need to practice tantra mediation than today…

Mankind has strayed far from the elements that ancient Tantra upholds as holy and paramount. We are chronically obsessed with the development and acquisition of sleeker cell phones, smaller Ipods, faster Internet connections and smarter refrigerators. The human race continuously strives to improve its own situation better – unfortunately, in the constant search for something that is smaller, bigger, faster and jazzier, we have forgotten how to appreciate what we already have, or rather, had – the soul connection.

Is sitting in America and video-chat with friends or relatives in India real connection? We have adopted a false ideal – that of instant gratification, money, mechanical partying and mechanical loving. We think we are making things easier, but something as basic is being lost. We are experiencing a slow degradation of the soul. Bodies come together, but a tantra master will point out that this conjoining is incomplete to the point of unwholesomeness. Minds exchange ideas, but there is no common meeting ground of the spirit. Ideas, thoughts and emotions remain disjointed, dry and bereft of true life.

Those who learn tantra must choose not to be blind to the fact that relationships are at their worst point ever, and that the soul-to-soul connection –the very crux of interactions – is being steadily eroded. While the most basic tantra lessons lie ignored by the wayside, relationship fixers, marriage counsellors and lawyers mint money from the disconnect.

No one recognizes this as a serious problem. We are contend with coping as best as we can, either by ourselves or by paying for services that are ultimately useless. Modern science does not acknowledge a mind-body-soul connection and treats bodily ailments in isolation, cutting off its connection to the soul and mind. However, ancient tantra hold the key to this problem – a problem that arises when we lose the connection with our mind and thereby fail to connect with others. When you practice tantra meditation, you open the portal to your soul.

In this context, here are two simple Tantra meditation techniques:

1) Watching-The-Breath Tantra Meditation:

Pay close attention to your breath for a few minutes. Relax, close your eyes and focus on inhaling and exhaling slowly and comfortably. In this tantra breathing technique, you must breathe through your nose, involve the diaphragm and allow oxygen all the way to the inner core of your lungs. Visualize a energy-cord from the bottom of your feet to the main energy-cord attached to your spine.

If your mind starts wandering during this tantra exercise, re-focus your attention on breathing in and out. Keep doing this for 10 minutes without a break, and you will feel energy well up within yourself. This energy will draw only those people who love and appreciate you.

2) Zero-Mind Tantra Meditation:

Visualize a garbage dump and empty all thoughts your mind conjures up into it. Sit still in a tantric cross-legged position and let your mind go silent. The root cause of disconnect within ourselves stems from negative foreign energy being stuck in the body. When this virulent energy overshadows your real energy, it results in inner disconnect and disharmony.

A word of caution: Tantra influences mind, body and soul simultaneously. One must therefore practice tantra only under the vigilant guidance of an experienced tantra teacher. Amateur instructions or unguided practice will not yield in any benefits.

Acharya Subhojit Dasgupta is a Tantra Teacher with an in-depth knowledge of traditional Indian sciences and Sanskrit literature. Visit his tantra online guide to read about tantra meditation, learn tantra exercises and tantric techniques from this young Tantra Master.

Tantra For Women – An Exercise To Awaken Sensuality

A tragic fact is that the gender with the greatest potential for mind-blowing sexual pleasure, the ultimate erotic tantra experience, usually settles for much less.

As a tantra teacher, I condemn the excessive cultural emphasis placed on a man’s virility, and on the fact that a man’s orgasm is essential for procreation. Ancient tantra has always recognized that women, whose sexual satisfaction has ironically been downplayed for years, are the ones who are capable of multiple orgasms.

Women across cultures have been settling for bland, unsatisfying sex or no sex at all. They are unaware of the latent tantra goddess within, and therefore miss out on or ignore the very thing that could give them what all woman crave:

•    More intimacy and closeness
•    Their partner’s undivided attention, both within and beyond the bedroom
•    Overall life satisfaction
•    Confidence in their erotic appeal and attractiveness
•    Confidence in a secure, happy relationship

Even for women who report a general sense of satisfaction with sex, the ancient art of tantra can open up a whole world of pleasure beyond what they normally experience.

Tantra scriptures believe that sexual satisfaction is vital for strong emotional bonds. Both men and women experience deeper feelings of love and attachment when they share exquisite sexual pleasure and powerful desire.

I give below an esoteric tantra technique known as ‘Shakti ambuddhi paddati’. This ancient technique is designed to increase a woman’s sensual receptiveness and sensitivity to physical and emotional stimulation – in short, to awaken the tantra goddess within her and make her an active, eager and excited partner.

This tantra exercise also acts as a subconscious sexual ‘tonic’ in that it helps balance hormones, create proper sexual function and increase libido in women. This particular exercise for women must be done at night, preferably between 1 to 4 am (the specific time is related to the breathing cycle).

•    Lie on your back with your arms along your sides and relax.
•    Exhale, then inhale deeply, relaxing all the muscles in your body
•    Slowly exhale as you squeeze your 1st and 2nd chakras and the adjoining muscles, trying to pull your energy as deeply inward as you can. Do not strain while squeezing – this tantra exercise is not meant to be exhausting
•    After exhaling, relax your 1st and 2nd chakra muscles for 10 minutes
•    Repeat the inhaling and exhaling as you squeeze 1st and 2nd chakra muscles 10-15 times slowly
•    Relax, then repeat the exercise if you feel comfortable

Tantra for women influences mind, body and soul simultaneously and is best practiced under the careful guidance and supervision of an experienced tantra teacher. Amateur instructions or attempts to self-practice tantra will not result in optimum benefits. It requires the expert guidance and supervision of a qualified tantra master to get the most out of such techniques, and to prevent possible physical and emotional harm.

Acharya Subhojit Dasgupta is a Tantra Teacher with an in-depth knowledge of traditional Indian sciences and Sanskrit literature. Visit his tantra online guide to read about tantra for women, learn tantra exercises and tantric techniques from this young Tantra Master.