In India, Nepal, Tibet, China, and Japan, sexuality has long been regarded as both an art and a science worthy of detailed study and practice. Indeed, the Eastern view is that no learning is complete without a thorough knowledge of the sexual principles underlying all existence. Eastern metaphysical traditions make use of the mystery of sexuality as a means to the transcendental experience of Unity. The feeling of Oneness, achieved during or following the sexual act, is the most universally accessible mystical experience.

The sexual secrets revealed in this blog are the legacy of several converging traditions. These secrets are mentioned or implied in the early magical texts of the ancient Egyptians and in the mystical writings of the Hebrews, Greeks, and Arabs. A study of the alchemical books of medieval Europe reveals a continuation of this tradition and experience, often taking the form of inspired romantic or mystical poetry, generally couched in allegory. Arabian songs and writings on the theme of love are replete with sexual elements which can best be understood by tracing in them the influences of the East. It is evident that all Occidental teachings of transcendence through actual or allegorical eroticism find their origin in the Orient.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

TANTRIC LOVE-POSTURE

Tantric love-posture for channeling and circulating the energies of ecstasy.

Monday, June 4, 2012

APHRODISIACS

"The use of aphrodisiacs should be learned from a study of the science of medicine, from the religious texts, from those who are learned in the art of magic, and from confidential relatives. No means should be tried that are doubtful in their effects, or that are likely to cause injury to the body, that involve causing the death of animals, and that bring a person into contact with impure things."
- KAMA SUTRA

Many aphrodisiacs are listed in Eastern sexological works. Some of them have merely a placebo effect, but others are actually effective on the physical level. Many foods can be prepared in such a way as to release vitalizing forces. Healthy food and a natural lifestyle are by far the most  effective aphrodisiacs. Fresh air, water, and fire all have the power to stimulate sexuality, as does the harmonious contact of the senses with objects of enjoyment. An often quoted Oriental saying is, "The most natural aphrodisiac for a man is a beautiful woman, passionately asking to be enjoyed."

Fasting can have an aphrodisiacal effect on the body, provided it is practiced in moderation. Yoga and breathing exercises can greatly help to stimulate the natural vitality of the body; if these are combined with meditation, so that the mind is freed of anxiety, then there will rarely be any need for physical aphrodisiacs. A healthy mind and a creative imagination together produce a "climate" in which all things are possible.
A noble couple in a version of the Indrani
Position with various aphrodisiacs by
their side. A Rajasthani miniature
painting, circa 1800.
Aphrodisiacs are normally included as topics in works pertaining to the Art of Love. Generally it is taught that a substance that resembles the sexual organs is likely to act as an aphrodisiac if correctly prepared. This concept is known as the Doctrine of Signatures and evolved from the observation that herbs, plants, or other substances with a particular appearance, color, shape, or smell were effective in curing ailments linked by similar characteristics. An example of this is the Indian mango, which resembles the kidneys in shape and is an effective natural cure for some cases of kidney disease.

Correct preparation is very important when using any aphrodisiac. A specialized branch of Indian medicine is devoted to this study. Aphrodisiacs may be broadly categorized under three main headings: the animal, the vegetable, and the mineral. These categories are kept separate or combined to produce the whole range of aphrodisiacs that are suited to the condition and temperament of the individual.

Animal substances include eggs (of various birds), different kinds of milk (but especially goat milk), wild fowl, sparrows, peacocks, the flesh of vigorous animals, mussels, oysters, sea horses, fish eggs (caviar), especially vigorous fish (salmon), and animal parts such as deer horn, musk pods, ambergris from whales, rhinoceros horn, and a whole range of animal sex organs. For these products to be effective, they must come from animals in the wild, hunted in the right season, and when the animals are in good health.

Vegetable aphrodisiacs are even more numerous, and their preparation requires even more care. Among those included in traditional Eastern works are: ginger root, fennel, ginseng root, mushrooms, black beans, particular kinds of onions, gourds, carrots, wild asparagus, wild rhubarb, figs, licorice, almonds, pistachio nuts, pine kernels, sesame seeds, cinnamon bark, nutmeg, saffron, black pepper, raisins, walnuts, honey (from particular flowers), glutinous millet, tree bark, orange seeds, aconite root, opium husks, damiana, datura, marijuana, as well as fortified "wines" made from grapes, pomegranates, wild flowers, and herbs. As is the case with animal substances, these should be of high quality and gathered in the correct season.
Marijuana; the secretions from the female
plant have strong aphrodisiacal properties.
Mineral aphrodisiacs listed in Eastern medical works include mineral pitch ("Shilajeet"), stalactites, mercury, sulphur, mica, arsenic, conch shell, cowries, pearls, calcinated gold, silver, copper, iron, amber, coral, emerald, sapphire, ruby, and diamond. The preparation of mineral aphrodisiacs is extremely complex and a science in itself, known in India as Rasayana.
The ginseng root has long been valued as
a powerful aphrodisiac.
Ginseng has been used for thousands of years for its regenerative and aphrodisiac properties. Recently it has been tested by Western science and shown to have a real effect. The red ginseng root gives the best results, but it should not be taken continually. A forty-day course of ginseng extract (or powdered root), followed by three months without its use, is a typical prescription that works in most cases. The exact dose is determined according to the strength of the individual root and the physical condition of the person.

An aphrodisiac tea can be made from a combination of select spices and dried ginseng root. Equal amounts of cinnamon bark and green cardamom should be pounded together with pestle and mortar. An amount of fresh ginger root equal to their combined volume should be added and crushed. Then about nine black peppercorns, two or three cloves, some ground nutmeg (not too much), and a pinch of saffron should be added. The whole mixture should then be boiled gently for nine minutes. When the decoction is complete, it should be strained and a tea should be made from it in the normal way, but with the addition of crushed ginseng root. The tea should be allowed to stand for some time and can be served either hot or cold, with or without milk. Honey can be added as a pleasant and stimulative sweetener.
In the Orient deer's antlers are valued for
their aphrodisiacal properties
There are many aphrodisiacs that can be applied directly to the sexual organs. They are effective mainly through their heating or cooling qualities. Sandalwood oil mixed with a little crushed ginger and cinnamon is one of the most effective of these recipes. Oil of cloves diluted with a base oil, or camphor and oil in combination, can produce invigorating results. However, considerable care should be taken in using such preparations. Particularly dangerous are aphrodisiacs that work through irritation of the sex organs: "Spanish fly" or cantharides, the powder of blister beetles or insects, has been recorded as causing many casualties by this means.  

It is worth repeating that a healthy lifestyle is the most consistent of all aphrodisiacs. It really is preferable not to have to rely on external aids for a satisfactory sex life. Then the use of aphrodisiacs on very special occasions can make a real difference.


There is a limit to what aphrodisiacal ointments can do. At the most they can stretch one's endurance for a bit. If you apply an aphrodisiac to a naturally powerful instrument, it is as if a gifted and well-prepared candidate should take a ginseng stimulant just before his examination. He will feel doubly fresh and alert, and his dissertation will pour out on its own accord. On the other hand, a lover whose implement is naturally feeble will no more be fortified by aphrodisiacs or ointments than an ignorant and untalented candidate would be helped by drugs, even if he consumes whole pounds of ginseng before his examination."
- JOU PU TUAN



Source:
Sexual Secrets - Alchemy of Ecstasy

ANAL SEX

The anus has a beauty and sensitivity of its own. No part of the human body should be considered unclean. It is an Eastern custom to wash the anus with cold water as part of the daily ablutions. Tantra teaches control of the anal sphincter muscles, indicating that sexual energy can be conserved in this way. When this muscle is contracted, the sexual center is stimulated and the sex glands produce hormones. Anal intercourse is not recommended by Tantric teachers because, among other things, it tends to stretch and weaken the sphincter muscles, producing energy loss.

Anal penetration disturbs the balance of vital forces in the body. The downward moving vital principle, one of the five Prana vitalities, is reversed. This can create digestive problems, leading to constipation, irregularity, and, ultimately, cancer of the rectum.

As an organ of excretion, the anus and rectal passage always contain traces of bacterial waste. A person is in danger of infection through anal insertion and can also suffer severe tissue damage or soreness. If normal sex is engaged in afterward, the dangerous possibility exists that bacteria will be transferred from the anus to the innermost parts of the Yoni of woman.

In ancient India, anal sex with a woman was called lower union. It was not considered normal. Some medical works mention it briefly, claiming it sometimes has the effect of an enema and at other times causes constipation. The Chinese tradition takes a similar position, and though anal sex with women was practiced on occasion, it was uncommon until the period of Moslem influence.
Arabian couple practicing anal sex
in imitation of animals. From a
Persian miniature painting of the
nineteenth century.
Anal sex with another man, or sodomy, has already been dealt with in the section on homosexuality. It was an essential ingredient of Moslem culture, despite the fact that Muhammad condemned the practice. Christianity always linked the Devil to anality, and he was commonly depicted as showing his behind. One of the accusations leveled by the Church against the Knights Templar was that they had "anal knowledge of each other."

During a public inquiry into the un-Christian activities of the Templars, it was asserted that a member of the mystic society, after having been made a prisoner by the Turks, had introduced anal-oriented practices into the cult.
Arabian couple practicing anal sex. From a
Persian miniature painting, early
nineteenth century.
Anal sex is increasingly common today, partly because of the lack of understanding of its ramifications and partly because of the contemporary tendency to do everything that was once considered taboo. It is natural for someone who desires to become sexually liberated to explore the possibilities of new types of experience. A definite "no" is a closed door, which can block the inner potential for self-knowledge. If anal sex is considered relevant to a heterosexual relationship, it is the responsibility of the man to understand the physiological and psychological nature of this practice. A man should never demand this kind of surrendering from a woman.

A premeditated act and a spontaneous one have very different psychic effects and penetration can happen in a totally organic way, almost by mistake. In such circumstances, pleasure can be experienced by both partners because of mutual openness.

At the location similar to the prostate gland in men, women have a similar but smaller gland, the cervix, the "flower" of the uterus. A thin membrane separates it from the anal passage. Conceivably an unusual placement of the cervix may be a physiological reason why certain women prefer anal to vaginal sex. We mention here an interesting extract from a Ming dynasty erotic novel, which introduces this aspect of heterosexual sex rather beautifully:

"Porphyry loved one form of sport above all others. After joining with the man in various modes of love-making, she desired him to pluck the flower of her bottom, while she herself touched the innermost flower of her womb with her delicate fingers. He told her, therefore, to raise herself on hands and legs, like a horse, and then he thrust himself into the flower of her posterior. She, reaching down with her hands, played with the heart of her other flower."

Some women find it necessary to offer every bodily orifice to their lovers as a symbol of their complete surrender and commitment. This desire, however, should not be exploited by a man. A preference for regular practice of anal intercourse indicates the desire for domination and power over the partner and perhaps the inability to love. According to the Yogic medical viewpoint, the body of woman has three main openings: the mouth, the anus, and the Yoni. Among these, the mouth is created for things to enter in and for sounds to come out, the anus is for excretions to come out. 

Anal sex can be frightening, painful, and degrading for a woman. The "surrendering" aspect and the fear factor are intimately linked. Surrendering induces a sense of timelessness and fear releases strong emotional feelings. These factors together produce psychological and physiological changes; fear releases particular body secretions, can "put the ego in its place," and can even induce the Kundalini-energy to enter and rise up the Central Pathway. But putting another person in a state of fear is a grave Karmic responsibility and not something to be taken lightly. Though no act is inherently "right" or "wrong," the mental attitude and quality of consciousness must be considered before endorsing anal sex as a new variation of  lovemaking. The majority of women do not enjoy this practice, and those who are addicted to it may well have cause for regret later on in life. Enjoyment of anal sex may be brief, but the effects are lasting. Rather than turning to anal sex to add variation to one's love life, it is far better to perfect the techniques of transcendence. Tantra offers numerous exciting ways to stimulate and explore sexuality without the need for anal sex. The Yoni offers every facility for self-liberation.  

"Away with sodomy, and all will perfect be; For making-love, use a woman's parts, By far they are the best. Two males beneath the clothes, Are greater trouble than they're worth."
- SHAYKH NAFZAWI



Source:
Sexual Secrets - Alchemy of Ecstasy

BROTHERHOOD OF MAN

There is a natural feeling of brotherhood between men. Authentic commitment and love can exist between men without any need for sexual contact. Tantra tells of the need for feelings of brotherhood, as such feelings help men to share their problems and shared experiences lead to understanding. 

Nothing binds men more effectively than shared participation in dynamic, fiery types of activity. In the past, men hunted, worked, and made war together and many brotherhoods were created as part of these activities. Nowadays there is a decreasing emphasis on physical activity, though men still participate in aggressive sports and cooperate in business activities. However, it seems that there are fewer opportunities for a man to externalize or transform sexual energy on a physical level.

Freud's term libido refers to emotional cravings that prompt any specific human (and especially sexual) activity. The libido is the sex drive, the "fire coursing through the blood." Throughout history it has had the power to bind men. When the potent fire of Kundalini-energy is  untransmuted, it is externalized as aggression. Sex and aggression often manifest themselves in the formation of brotherhoods between men. Many primitive people use sexual bonds between men to establish commitment and reinforce reliability. This is done through rites of initiation, sometimes centered around group or selective homosexual activity. Among the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico, for example, initiation rites revolve around masturbation of a single selected male who is held in great honor. Circumcision rites of some African tribes are closely linked to concepts of brotherhood.

The result of strenuous physical exertion is always watery; perspiration pours from all parts of the body. Love-making also produces watery secretions. The symbolism of fire and water permeates occult traditions and is an integral part of rites of initiation leading to the establishment of brotherhoods. Even war has the potential for the exchange of fire and water: fiery aggression creates sweat, blood, and, often enough, tears. Wars often evolve from the need to express aggression externally. When the libido of men is high and is not channeled through transcendental sex practices, men create excuses to go to war. Emotional cravings have to be expressed; they cannot be bottled up forever. In the past, many brotherhoods were formed around shared participation in battle, the real causes of which were often forgotten. Islam is one of the more recent cultures that revolves around the desire to externalize sexual energy. The brotherhood of Islam lost track of the original emotional, mystic craving of its principal prophet, Muhammad. Over the course of history its women came to bear the burden. Though the brotherhood created by Islam transformed the face of the globe, it is still unable to recognize the sexual basis of its own phenomenon. Islam can only cease to be a religion of force and evolve into a truly transcendental experience if it breaks away from its long-established custom of relegating women to a subservient role.

Tantric brotherhood implies shared beliefs and shared emotional longings. The desire to be liberated from the endless round of births and deaths, to be freed from suffering and the fear of death, is the germinal requirement for true Tantric brotherhood in this Dark Age of materialism. Shared participation in Hatha Yoga, Tantric meditation, and ritual can lay the ground for a Tantric brotherhood, working as an all-powerful transformative energy in the New Age.


"There is a brotherhood of Tantrics waiting to be brought to life. This brotherhood will awaken as the end of the Kali Age approaches. Recognizing the potent Female Principle of life, the Brotherhood of Tantra will transform this polluted world. Then at the ecstatic moment when one Age transforms into the next, those faithful followers of the selfless path will reach their goal."
- KAULA TANTRA

Sunday, June 3, 2012

MASTURBATION (Self-Gratification)

A solitary woman fondles her Jade
Gateway. Shunga painting on paper,
Meiji, Japan, circa late eighteenth
century.
Until recently, open discussion of masturbation was taboo. Masturbation was referred to euphemistically as self-abuse, playing with oneself, the solitary vice, or self-gratification. Many are the children who have endured lectures about the "sinful dangers" of this practice. Such warnings, at an early and impressionable age, often cause neuroses later on in life.

The atmosphere of "sin" or "guilt" surrounding the act of masturbation can produce a kind of vicarious thrill or rush, rather like that felt in committing a punishable crime. Fear can be immediately stimulating, but its long-term effect is debilitating.

During the last several years, there has been a tendency to bring sexual matters out into the open. Masturbation has emerged as a topic that people are willing to discuss. An analysis of popular sex-oriented magazines indicates a groundswell of interest in this particular aspect of sexuality. The once "solitary vice" has been elevated into a "therapy," a "variation of love-making" and an important part of the repertoire of sexually liberated lovers. What do Eastern teachings have to say about this volatile subject?
Sexual fantasy or dream, depicted as
arising from the throat region. From a
Japanese print of the eighteenth century.
First of all, a clear distinction is drawn between male and female masturbation. Second, mutual masturbation between a man and a woman is not considered masturbation per se. Since it is not looked on as an end in itself, it is categorized as foreplay. A different view is taken of mutual masturbation between two men or two women. We shall examine each of these situations thoroughly.

Both Taoist and Tantric teachings agree that "semen is a man's most precious possession." It is not to be carelessly wasted. The medical texts state that ejaculation of this vital essence by a male who has not yet reached maturity is potentially detrimental to his health, since important body elements are dispersed. The Charaka Samhita says, "If a young boy, whose body elements are not yet fully formed, practices masturbation, he is liable to lose vitality. If he continues to do so, then his body will become weakened and his internal organs damaged. This is particularly true up to the age of sixteen years, by which time the male body is completely formed."

Masturbation involves the physical, emotional, and mental aspects of an individual. If practiced as a solitary exercise, the breath and imagination perform a major role. Though self-gratification can be momentarily stimulating, there is no long-term benefit to a man. His physical reserves become depleted without an opportunity for replenishment; that is, there is no opportunity for "compensating" by absorbing vital fluids or energies from a partner. Any ecstasies are short-lived without the support of a shared experience and an exchange of energies. Solitary sexual practices produce a particular kind of psychic field that remains fixed within the sensation realm of the sexual center, without either ascent or transformation of the raw creative energy.
"Semen gets diminished by old age, anxiety, diseases, strain of labor, fasting, excessive sexual intercourse, and masturbation. By wasting, fear, suspicion, grief, seeing deformities of others, by lack of response in a woman, by not bestowing sufficient thought on the subject of sex, and by abstention from sex, a man is rendered incapable of mating." [CHARAKA SAMHITA]
Many factors may stimulate the desire for masturbation. As the sexual center becomes activated, a young boy is inclined to explore his sexuality by playing with his Lingam; in this way, he becomes familiar with the workings of his body. This form of sexual exploration is harmless, provided the urge to ejaculate can be controlled. Auto erotism without ejaculation can help a young man gain control of his sexual energy and introduce an awareness of the interrelationship of breath, thought, and the emission of semen. This helps strengthen sexual confidence, which is a major ingredient of a healthful sex life. Familiarization with the stages of arousal prior to ejaculation can teach a man how to gain control of his sexuality; he is then adequately prepared for transcendental heterosexual experiences in the Taoist or Tantric tradition. Retention of breath and visualization of the sex energy circulating and nourishing the body are the key to the control of ejaculation.

Eastern teachings unanimously advise against the practice of male masturbation with ejaculation. The texts advise that a man living segregated from women should practice Yogic postures, breathing, and meditation, so as to internally transform his sexual energy. The Yoga head stand, deep breathing, visualization of the Subtle Body, and repetition of Mantras all help the male sublimate his sexual energy.

The medical treatises cite instances when masturbation with ejaculation is condoned. For instance, an unhealthy diet can create "devitalized" semen, which cannot be successfully sublimated. If sublimation is not possible, then it is better to ejaculate than to "hoard morbidified life-essence." Another medical reason for ejaculation is if the Subtle Pathways of the body have become "blocked"; a symptom of this is extreme lethargy. The Taoist and Tantric view is that only lustrous, healthy semen is fit for internalization, and that this is built up by Yogic diet and lifestyle.

A man who is not having sex may find that sexual pressures build up to the point where physical release is advisable. It is certainly unnatural for a young man to suppress his sexuality; if he cannot find release through the Yogic disciplines of sublimation and transformation, or through heterosexual contact, then masturbation with ejaculation is the final resort. In the ancient world, men married early and the Act of Love was cultivated almost from the onset of puberty. Masturbation was therefore unnecessary. The physical symptoms normally associated with "growing up," such as pimples, boils, and skin eruptions, are an indication of sex energy striving for release. The alchemical view of this is that the vital "mercuric" energy (the semen) is polarized into a "sulphurous" substance that the body rejects through the skin. For those who are unable to practice the Yogic teachings of sublimation and transformation, or who are unwilling to radically change their lifestyle, heterosexual love-making with emission of semen is far better than release through masturbation. If sex with a woman is not possible and sublimation is impracticable, then masturbation with ejaculation may be necessary. It should not become a habit, however. Healthy semen contains vital nutrients, trace elements, amino acids, and vitamins in purified form. Sperm should never be carelessly discarded because it is the living essence, containing all the physical and spiritual attributes of man.

Ejaculated sperm can live outside the body for quite some time. It should not be treated disdainfully. Tantras state that sperm should be honored; there is a psycho-physical link between a man and his sperm long after ejaculation. The Kaulavali Tantra advises that"sperm ejaculated through masturbation should be positively endowed by one's mental attitude to it. Sperm should be ritually returned to the elements of its origin, or used for a magical purpose such as the empowering of amulets." The term "elements of its origin" means the earth, water, fire, or air. Ancient pagan customs such as the scattering of semen on fields, under trees, into waters, or into the sacrificial fire, or of rubbing preparations mixed with semen onto the body, echo this view.
Chart showing the stages leading to male orgasm.
There is a steep increase in sexual excitement during
early foreplay, which levels off and then rises as
ejaculation is approached.
Chart showing the stages leading to female
orgasm. Excitement is steady, rising to a peak
during climax, and creating a series of peak
experience waves over subsequent orgasms.
The eastern teachings regard female masturbation as a phenomenon totally different in its effects from male masturbation with ejaculation. The primary difference is woman's "unlimited supply of Yin-essence" as compared to man's finite Yang-essence. The female body is replenished and its vital elements balanced after the completion of each lunar cycle. In the course of a month, a woman is revitalized and nourished by her natural harmony with the forces of the moon.

 Woman embodies all the senses in their exalted form and narcissism is natural to her. The Nine Spirits of Woman are nourished by the release of erotic energy through the female body. Auto erotism in woman increases the flow of Yin-essence and helps her gain control over sexual reflexes. Women have many effective methods of self-gratification; for example, simple rocking movements stimulate the sexual center. Some women can reach orgasm by gently caressing parts of their body, the breasts and Yoni in particular. Deep rhythmic breathing can bring a woman to orgasm, as can erotic fantasy. The Yoni is the gateway to her Temple; masturbation is a way for woman to nourish her own eroticism and learn to please the deities that dwell within her.
"The male is moved by the life-force of the female, and his Jade Stalk is excited to action. The woman is moved by the life-force of the man, and the liquid of her Secret Cavern begins to flow.These are the arousals caused by the natural qualities of the male and female forces of the cosmos. They are something that cannot be duplicated by human Will alone." [ISHIMPO]
Once the Yin-essence is awakened in the body of woman, it needs appeasement. A woman requires longer than a man to become sexually excited; yet once stimulated, she can have many orgasms in succession. The mental attitude is most important. Bliss waves can be built up within the body of woman, carrying her Transcendental Spirit to new heights. The peaks of ecstasy are more easily scaled in the body of woman than in man. The chart above illustrates the multiple orgasmic nature of woman and shows a comparison with male orgasm.

Solitary satisfaction for a woman does not require the introduction of a Lingam substitute into the Yoni. Ancient Indian texts suggest that natural organic substances such as fruits and vegetables are better than fabricated substitutes; one text recommends the stalk of a plant, which, when soaked in hot water, swells up and takes on agreeable warmth and texture. In China and Japan a variety of sexual aids were developed for female self-gratification. We describe these fully in the section entitled "Sexual Aids."

Mutual masturbation and love-play.
A Chinese painting of the
nineteenth century.
The importance of the mental attitude toward masturbation cannot be overstressed. Guilt must not enter the exploration of this form of sexuality. Remember to circulate and dedicate the energy to a higher purpose than mere sensualism. Offer your pleasure to Lord Shiva, visualized in the mind's eye. Offer the Bliss-waves of orgasm to feed the gods and goddesses within the body. Mentally resolve a desire for transformation and spiritualization. Let the sex energy ascend to the sublime. This strengthens the Subtle Body at the same time that it vitalizes the physical body.

Fantasy is an important element of masturbation. Perverse fantasies can damage the psyche and induce complex psychological problems. Positive creative fantasy should be cultivated during masturbation; a woman can visualize Shiva the Yogic ideal, or hold in mind a "view" of herself making love with an idealization of her Lover-archetype. 
Chinese lady using an artificial Lingam affixed to her foot.
From a Chinese print of the Ming dynasty.
Traditionally in Japan and China, a wife would have a replica of her husband's Lingam made of tortoise shell, horn, or wood, with his name beautifully inscribed on it. Such an object was greatly cared for and kept in a specially made box. The woman used this object, known as Harigata, for masturbation or for sex with co-wives of the household, the principal wife taking the male role. Thus during the prolonged absence of the husband, a means of self-satisfaction was available that incorporated his actual form. If you insert anything into the Yoni, first "empower" it by meditating upon it as the ever-erect Shiva Lingam, the cosmic symbol of transcendence. Mutual masturbation between women can be used to potentize the vital essence. Sexuality is enhanced, provided the mental attitude is nourishing rather than vampiristic. When the Yin-essence is circulated and exchanged between women, there is a doubling of potency, a feminization that manifests itself throughout the body. The women involved become more generous, selfless, and compassionate, and their bodies take on enhanced female qualities. Between women there is a natural intimacy, a sharing of innermost feelings, rarely found among men. Taoist texts state that when women share, their "complexion becomes very clear, shining like the full moon, and their eyes sparkle brightly." A Tantric saying declares, "Soft things become softer when brought together, as in women; hard things blunt each other, as with men."

Mutual masturbation between boys or men is associated with initiation rites in certain primitive tribal societies. These rites of initiation are believed efficacious in establishing patriarchal unity. Aggression is commonly played out, accompanied by forceful verbalization or chanting. A Karmic bond, or sense of sharing, is brought about. In various African tribes mutual masturbation is allowed between boys as part of their puberty rites. However, it is condemned after adolescence. Secret societies are sometimes founded around masturbatory rites celebrating the power of death. None of the higher Eastern mystic teachings requires such an activity, since the real transcendental bond is with the female force, the Shakti, which is considered paramount. Though it is true that instances of mutual masturbation between males occur in the context of magical occultism, these are of a very low order and are associated with black-magic rites performed for selfish rather than transcendental ends.

What has been referred to as mutual masturbation in a heterosexual situation is not really masturbation at all, but foreplay, leading up to penetration and mutual orgasm. Often is it linked to oral sex, in which case the emission of vital essence should be absorbed by the partner's mouth. When the male Yang-essence is absorbed within the body of a woman, it is transformed into Yin. When the female Yin-essence is absorbed by the man, it is transformed into potentized Yang. Mutual masturbation in a heterosexual context is one of the most important ways of harmonizing mood and body essences. 

Various modern so-called Tantric works deal almost exclusively with learning to prolong orgasm through disciplined masturbation. The idea is to masturbate until reaching the moment of orgasm, and then exercise self-control by "holding back." Ancient Tantric texts do not in any way support this view. Orgasm control is best achieved within the context of a couple, as part of the Battle of Love. Breathing exercises, Yoga postures, and meditation all serve to transcend the limitations of an overabundance of sexuality, without the need to cultivate masturbation as an outlet.

"Do not expel your semen needlessly. Do not expel your semen forcefully, as if dashing something down from the heights. You'll upset the five main bodily organs, injure the life-energy  channels, and give rise to every kind of ailment as a consequence." [ISHIMPO]

Monday, May 21, 2012

NINE (9) MOVEMENTS OF THE MAN

The Kama Sutra enumerates nine distinct categories of male sexual movements during love-making. This ninefold division, along with the tradition of Nine Kinds of Sexual Union (according to sexual sizes), is a constant feature of metaphysical systemization (see "The Yang Number" for a detailed description of the subtle meaning of the number nine and its multiples). The Nine Movements of the Man are:
MOVING FORWARD
The Lingam is moved forward, directly into the Yoni.

CHURNING
The Lingam is held by the hand and turned and churned around in the Yoni.

PIERCING
The Yoni is lowered, and the upper part of it is then struck with the Lingam.

RUBBING
This is the same action as Piercing, done to the lower part of the Yoni.

GIVING A BLOW
The Lingam is removed some distance from the Yoni and then brought back to forcibly strike it. This is known as Giving a Blow.

BLOW OF A B O AR
This is when only one part of the Yoni is rubbed by the Lingam.

SPORTING OF A SPARROW
This is when the Lingam is deep in the Yoni and is moved up and down repeatedly, without being taken out. This takes place at the approach to climax and should be a playful movement.

PRESSING
This is when the Lingam is inside the Yoni and is pressed deep within.

TOGETHER PRESSING
This is when the man and woman press the Lingam and Yoni alternately, without any withdrawal. It creates a rapid climax.

When a woman is acting the part of a man, she can enact his nine movements. The classical texts state that a man should always make a point of pressing or focusing on those parts of her body on which she turns her eye. A man should learn from the actions and sounds of a woman during love-making so that he becomes aware of her disposition and the way she best likes to be enjoyed. The Kama Sutra states that when a woman is enjoying lovemaking, she shows increased willingness to join the Lingam and Yoni as close together as possible.

Taoist texts list ten different ways for a woman to act during love-making. We enumerate these in the section entitled "Secrets of the Plain Girl," under the subhead "Ten Ways of Moving." This type of categorization is  helpful, since it indicates the order in which passion is physically manifested. Tantric texts attach great significance to stages of sexual excitement, seeing them as reflections of a greater cosmology, the order of the evolution of universes. The Hevajra Tantra, for example, states, "From the union of Lingam and Yoni, the earth element arises out of contact with the quality of hardness. From the flow of secretions, the water element is evoked by the friction of love-making. The air element arises from the movements of lovers approaching ecstasy, and the space element corresponds to the all-pervading Bliss."


"One of the man's chief duties is to learn to withhold himself as much as possible and at the same time to hasten the enjoyment of his partner. The desires of the woman are cooler and slower to rouse than those of the man; she is not easily satisfied by a single act of lovemaking. Her slower excitement demands prolonged embraces, and if these are denied her, then she often feels irritated. By the second love-act the passions of a woman become thoroughly aroused and she has a full orgasm; then she can be said to be contented. This  state of  affairs is reversed in the case of a man, who approaches the first act burning with love-heat, which cools during the second, often leaving him languid and disinclined for a third."
ANANGA RANGA

NINE (9) KINDS OF SEXUAL UNION

Hindu love manuals explain how to use positions to adjust for genital size. Here, by leaning back and opening wide, the woman's Yoni more easily accommodates her lover's Lingam. From a miniature painting in the collection of the King of Nepal, circa 1830.
The combinations of sizes of male and female sexual organs produce nine different possibilities or kinds of union. As the Kama Sutra declares, "There are three equal unions between persons of corresponding dimensions, and there are six unequal unions when the dimensions of the sex organs do not correspond. This makes nine in total."
As we shall see later, the number nine has a special esoteric significance. It occurs in the Nine Apertures of the Body and in several important metaphysical concepts. Though the classification of sexual sizes is a difficult topic to generalize about, there seems to be a great deal of wisdom in the ancient Indian system. The Kama Sutra states, "In Equal Unions, there are never any problems. In Unequal Unions, positions should be used which create balance."


"When the proportions of both lovers are alike and equal, then satisfaction is easy to achieve. The greatest happiness consists in the correspondence of dimensions. Discomfort increases with the ratio of difference."
ANANGA RANGA