Should You Use Performance Enhancement Drugs During Tantra Sex?

The issue of Viagra use in context with tantra sex is one which crops up in most of my initial tantra lessons with new students. This is not surprising. It would appear that most men above 40 (and often much younger ones) have turned to Viagra or its equivalents in order to enhance libido and sexual performance.

Also, most couples seeking out a tantra teacher are unaware of the fact that the tantric arts are not just about sex. Such discussions are therefore inevitable.

As a tantra teacher, I do not take a moralistic stance on sexual performance enhancement drugs and aphrodisiacs. Suffice it to say that once you have progressed sufficiently in your tantra instructions, you will find them unnecessary.

This may not sound realistic, since many men depend almost exclusively on these drugs when it comes to sexual performance. However, the fact is that students of ancient tantra simply have no need for such ‘modern’ pharmaceutical interventions. To understand how this is possible, it is important to understand why drugs such as Viagra are being used in the first place.

Most of the time, there are no physical justifications for their use. Most men use these drugs because of psychological underpinnings. They believe that they cannot ‘rise to the occasion’ unless they avail of such artificial boosters.

Also, they have found that as long as sexual desire exists, they are able to use these performance-enhancing drugs regardless of who their partners are, or how they feel about them. However, the fact is that as long as there is a sufficient level of bonding, cherishing and trust between two physically healthy partners, no such interventions are required at all.

Such a level of love and trust can only exist between a man and woman who have learned to connect to each other at a spiritual level – a worshipful level.

Tantra sex takes place in a worshipful setting of mutual reverence and connectedness. Once a couple has learned to achieve these with the help of a genuine tantric master, all inhibitions and feelings of ineptness and inadequacy fall away. Love now exists in its natural state, and at a much higher level than ever before. Moreover, the regular practice of tantra meditation and tantric exercises hone body and mind to a hitherto unthought-of level of fitness.

I will not denounce the use of drugs such as sildenafil or tadalafil by men who have never been introduced to the tantric way of life. However, I assure them that once they integrate the precepts and practices of ancient tantra into their lives, they will never need such artificial help again.

Acharya Subhojit Dasgupta is a Tantra Teacher with deep knowledge of traditional Indian sciences. Visit his tantra online guide for Tantra Lessons from this young Tantra Master.

Understanding The Chakras For Tantra Practice

When practicing tantra, understanding the chakras and what each of them represents is very important. The chakras are basically the centres of core energies that direct everything we do in our lives. A tantra master must help his students understand the significance of each of these centres and how they come into play in the course of tantra instructions and practice.

The chakras are aligned along the spinal column, and the kundalini energy that you so often hear of flows along and between them. When you look at a chakra chart, you will see that each chakra are defined by a specific symbol and colour.

Every chakra is also the seat of certain drives or responses within our bodies. In the life of an uninitiated person, the flow of energy invariably gets road-blocked at one of the chakras, leading to strife in relationships and a disrupted inner and also physical existence.

The first is the Muladhara chakra, located at the perineum in the pelvic area. Depicted in red, it represents all our basic physical drives and quests for nourishment, shelter and overall security. When this centre is clear and grounded, we are able to take care of all our basic needs and are basically stable in the physical realm.

The second is the Svadhishthana chakra, located in the genitals. No prizes for guessing that it is the centre of the human sexual drive. Given the colour orange, it is responsible for procreation and the continuance of our race, but also for the bliss we derive from sexual union. With sufficient tantra practice under a qualified tantra teacher, this chakra – which is often subverted and blocked by insecurities and wrong impressions – opens up and becomes clear. This leads to more balanced emotions.

The third is the Manapura chakra and is situated in the navel. Assigned the colour yellow, this is the centre of power and energy and is also closely linked with how long we survive in the physical realm. From this centre comes self-confidence to achieve things, to progress and to attain independence in most things.

The fourth is called Anahata chakra, and is seated in the heart. From here emanates everything that is normally understood as ‘heart-felt’ – generosity, love, empathy for others and worshipfulness. Given the colour green, this chakra can be blocked by negative impressions, experiences and conditioning. When this happens, we tend to live small, superficial and selfish lives and are prone to die soon of diseases of the heart. In the course of your tantra instructions, your tantra teacher will guide you in specific tantric techniques that will open up this centre and align it with all the others.

The fifth is the Vishuddha chakra, located in the throat and assigned the colour violet. It is from here that we speak the truths we have learned. When this centre is blocked, we can actually feel it as a physical sensation commonly known as a lump in the throat. In such a situation, we are afraid to speak because we are not certain of what we know. Tantric practice opens up this chakra because what we have suspected or known only intellectually becomes experiential truth backed by full conviction.

The sixth is named Ajna chakra and is seated in the pineal gland. Often called the ‘third eye’, this is the seat of spiritual awakening, growth and self-realization. Given the colour of light blue, this is the seat of our intuition, meditation and self-awareness.

The seventh is called Sahasrara chakra and is located in our cranium. It is the seat of mindfulness and knowledge of the workings of the world and the worlds beyond. In the most spiritually advanced people, this chakra is an empty space that is open to the secrets of the cosmos. Represented by a golden white colour, this is the nexus of enlightenment and supreme consciousness.

As you learn tantra from your tantra teacher, these chakras become unblocked and allow spiritual energy and awareness to flow without obstruction. It cannot happen overnight and requires much practice, but it is possible for every genuine seeker to attain perfectly aligned and connected chakras, which is a pre-requisite to spiritual progress.

Acharya Subhojit Dasgupta is a Tantra Teacher with deep knowledge of traditional Indian sciences. Visit his tantra online guide for Tantra Lessons from this young Tantra Master.

Enhance Your Tantra Experience With Aromatherapy

One of the most important aspects of tantra practice is setting an optimal atmosphere for worship meditation. In India, diffused fragrance us a traditional mainstay of most spiritual activity, and not without reason. The human mind responds to olfactory inputs in different ways, and can therefore be conditioned into a worshipful state by such means.

There are various ways in which you can use your olfactory senses to tone your mind and enhance your overall experience in tantra sessions. One of these is the use of aromatherapy. Apart from setting the right kind of spiritual mood during tantra exercises, aromatherapy is a time-honored means to achieve overall healing of the mind and body. As a tantra teacher, I especially advocate its use in tantra meditation.

Aromatherapy in the form of aromatherapy candles or diffused essential oils is a wonderful source of nourishment for your mind, body and spirit. The oils used are completely organic and contain no chemical additives. The healing effect begins on inhaling the fragrance – the olfactory nerves are activated and stimulated, after which they transmit healing messages directly to the brain.

Apart from being an excellent way to establish the right kind of atmosphere for tantra meditation, aromatherapy can also heal various physical ills. This is because they have antibacterial, antibiotic and antiviral properties.  The application or inhalation of certain natural essential oils can have a profound healing effect.

For instance, eucalyptus alleviate the symptoms of colds and offers relief to those who suffer from any kind of allergy. Geranium is wonderful for relieving stress, especially just before their periods. Lavender-scented aromatherapy candles are perfect for reducing anxiety and depression. In my tantra for couples sessions, I usually employ rosewood-scented aromatherapy candles because their pleasant, woodsy aroma creates an atmosphere of overall wellbeing.

One of the most powerful aroma therapy elements for tantra practice is basil oil, since it helps in sharpening concentration and also combats depression. Tea tree oil is an antifungal agent when applied locally and its smell also has an immensely healing effect. Similarly, lavender oil has a calming and relaxing effect.

No tantric master will claim that the use of aromatherapy is some kind of miracle cure for all ills – it is not. However, it certainly is extremely useful when it is used in tantra sessions.  As for the aphrodisiac qualities of certain aromatherapy elements – sandalwood oil, jasmine and rose are said to have a profound effect on the human libido.

This is, of course, highly subjective and while it may work for some, it may not for others. However, it is certainly true that the erotic aspects of tantra are fundamentally based on worship and therefore hot-wired into its spiritual elements. Since aromatherapy is a powerful tool for establishing a worshipful atmosphere, no tantra teacher can dismiss this aspect altogether.

Acharya Subhojit Dasgupta is Tantra Teacher with deep knowledge of traditional Indian sciences. Visit his tantra online guide for Tantra Lessons from this young Tantra Master.