Tantra Yoga: Why sexuality?

By Dinu Roman

Why sexuality?

In the act of lovemaking the couple embodies the dyadic wholeness of the Supreme. TANTRIC sexual union resonates with the very foundational energies of the Universe: it captures, magnifies and re-directs the essential Cosmic Power of Life. It is therefore not by chance that sexual intercourse brings the most intense emotional experience that the human being can have while in the flesh. Therefore TANTRA uses it predominantly to create that overwhelming unifying energy. The erotic impulse stirs up the KUNDALINI energy so that it can rise, through the subtle duct of power along the spine, to the highest center of power above the head. This process renders the adept immortal:

"Loss of semen is loss of power. Exposure to sexual stimulation arouses this power; controlled the power is like steam in a boiler, no longer random."

"The YOGIN who can protect his BINDU (semen), overcomes death; because death comes by discharging BINDU, and life is prolonged by its preservation." 

HATHA YOGA PRADIPIKA, III, 87

"BINDU is under the control of the mind, and life is dependent on BINDU. Hence, Mind and BINDU should be protected by any means." 

HATHA YOGA PRADIPIKA, III, 89

In this vision, intercourse becomes a genuine cosmic process at the level of the unified microcosms of the couple, who tries to reproduce the cosmic union of SHIVA and SHAKTI, i.e. of Consciousness and Energy.

"In YAMALA or VIRA-YOGINI tradition [Tantric schools], there is physical union (SAMGHATTA) between VIRA (the male) and YOGINI (the female). The purpose is only to stimulate NITYA-ANANDA (the eternal beatitude) by means of the contact of the sex organs. This contact gives intense delight [for the body and spirit]. 

A text by ABHINAVAGUPTA

In this sacred act a savant analogy intervenes where physical postures (ASANAS), gestures (MUDRAS), colors, sounds (MANTRAS), musical rhythms and perfumes blend to create a paradisiacal environment. Thus, intercourse serves a purpose much superior to that of sensuality. This precise analogical correspondence leads to a profound intermixing between the level of the chaotic multiplicity in which we live and the Unique Macrocosmic Reality. Through frantic super-sensual fusion of the subtle complementary principles, man and woman realize the alchemical sublimation of the sexual energy. This phenomenon, which leads to a gradual liberation from the painful limitations of Space and Time that restrain terrestrial life, propels man and woman towards the cosmic ecstasy (SAMADHI).

A double purpose

As stated before, ejaculation, identified with the sudden loss of this propelling spiritual power, is completely contrary to the attainment of beatific bliss. The violent explosion of ejaculation and of correspondent female orgasmic discharge acts at inner levels as a harmful release of vital subtle fluids and represents a serious loss of power, making it impossible to use the purified sexual energy (OJAS). Therefore the spiritual ascension is immediately stopped. This is why all TANTRIC treatises put forth the necessity for man and woman to control and even completely eliminate ejaculation. Here, the purpose is double: to retain seminal fluid (conserve energy and achieve higher states of sexual pleasure, enabling the man to fully satisfy his woman and himself) and to transmute its energy (acquire magical power and achieve expanded levels of consciousness). The effect is cumulative.

Breath, thought and semen

For this purpose, at peak moments, the couple's attention must be focused to simultaneously control the breathing (by making it calm and relaxed), the mind (by focusing it upon a unique object) and the semen (through rhythmically contracting and relaxing the pelvic floor muscles). This procedure acts simultaneously upon the three basic levels of the human being -- the physical, the emotional and the mental -- creating a perfect harmony between them. Thus, sexual intercourse becomes a genuine love meditation.

"Stay with the fire of the beginning"

The most recent conclusions of modern sexology agree with traditional TANTRIC teachings. Sexual therapists are starting to encourage couples to focus more on the process of lovemaking rather than on the end result, i.e. ejaculation. A TANTRIC treatise says:

"Stay with the (erotic) fire of the beginning and avoid the poison of the end."

The satisfaction found in this way is incomparably greater than having an ejaculatory orgasm. The most revolutionary conclusion of the sexual researchers is that man doesn't need to ejaculate at all when making love to a woman. The fundamental error couples make, due to ignorance and bad habit, is to believe that ejaculation and orgasm is one and the same thing and that ejaculating is the peak pleasure for a man and woman. There is nothing more false.

Courtesy to NATHA (Nordic centre of Spiritual Development) in Danmark

For more articles by Dinu Roman, please visit http://www.natha.dk