Tantra - an ancient form of contemporary spirituality
Tantra may be the oldest form of ‘practical spirituality' which employed meditation, visualization, toning and breath processes now found in many popular forms of self- help and schools of religion. Some scholars suggest that earliest forms of Tantra were matriarchal in nature, placing emphasis on mankind's embodiment of the Goddess energies, a blend of spirituality and practical, ‘earthy' mysticism - studies which have been recently become popular.

Like many of today's metaphysical movements such as Unity, Religious Science, Divine Science, etc...., Tantra provides students with practical and simple ways for awakening to the divine Presence, always present in every moment, everyone and everything.

No dogma to accept
Tantra offers a quest for Truth, inviting students to explore their own, unique experience of the divinity within. It suggests that every moment is a prayer, an offering to God, with no confining creed or dogma.

A playful quest
In helping students move out of absent-hearted living (being absent in awareness with our heart-felt connection to the Truth of our being), Tantra suggests many ways of playfully exploring the divine Presence, honoring the gifts of joy and pleasure God has given us, so that every hug, every embrace and kiss may be a prayer, a sacrament offered to our Beloved Creator.

From an Eastern understanding of metaphysics, there is only one marriage that has ever taken place - the union of God and God. In India, the male deity (Shiva) is often shown with his beloved consort (Shakti). When these two expressions of divinity meet, passion flies between them. But this passion is always in the form of playfulness, for God knows in reality that male and female are one. There is only one purpose behind the division of God into two sexes, and that is the joy of sexual union.

Tantra History
Belived to be some 4,000 years old, this ancient form of practical mysticism provided couples with rituals and practices to explore the divine in day to day living without recourse to many ‘holy comings and goings.' Other authorities date Tantra with more recent origins, acknowledging that forms of Tantra are found in Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, Egyptian and Mayan cultures.
Posted on 5/29/2001+

Tantra Principles

God created sexual pleasure as a power source for attaining enlightenment (unity consciousness).

Sexual pleasure can be used to enhance every part of our life, including intimate relationships, with the ability to dramatically enrich family life, career, and community experience.

It is the same divine, orgasmic passion which creates universes, babies, and enables us to fulfill our soul purpose.

While Tantra has recently been trivialized by over emphasis on the many sexual techniques, at its heart, Tantra offers simple processes by which couples may explore together the depths of meditative connection with Spirit within, reaping true pleasure and rewards that only Spirit can provide.

Prayerful Sexuality incorporates the understanding that in prayer we may ask for and receive specific guidance regarding the highest purpose of our sexuality, and receive how we might best fulfill that purpose through conscious relationship in practical, everyday ways.

The Power of Combined Consciousness
Prayerful Sexuality recognizes the value of the power of combined consciousness (prayer and meditation are usually more profound, deeper and intense when shared with others). Developing a daily practice of prayerful sexuality with your partner quickly brings greater passion, deeper intimacy, more intense pleasure, and a richer sense of oneness with each other and with God. It's a practical way of applying Jesus' teaching, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matt. 18:20) When we join with our partner in the name or intention of bringing forth more of our Christ self, it's as though the realms of Spirit are more deliciously available to us.

Of benefit to all
Applying Jesus' statement, "If I be lifted up, I draw all men unto me." (Jn.12:32), we can correctly imply that as we lift our experience of sexuality and intimate relationship to it's highest purpose, we manifest a quickening effect on all relationship, everywhere.
Posted on 5/29/2001+