Материал: Snote

be put into the flames, with the intention of feeding the gods. Taking a small amount of each foodstuff, it should be offered to the fire while intoning the Mantra "SWAHA." This ritual oblation serves to separate the mind from greed, selfishness, and attachment.

The participants prepare themselves in the same way as described previously for the Secret Rite. Sweet-smelling incense is suitable for burning, and if possible there should be some soft, sensual music. We recommend natural rhythmic music rather than highly verbal, aggressive tunes, or rock and roll, and have found Indian sitar, tabla, vina, or similar sounds most appropriate. The fundamental frequency of all Hindu sacred music is between seven and eight cycles per second. This is identical to the resonant frequency of the earth's globe, to the frequency of the Kundalini when activated, and to human brain waves when in a state of deep meditation. In Tantric ecstasy, the whole body resonates at this frequency.

The couple sit together, with the woman on the left side. After the initial preparation, the food and wine should be empowered by encircling it with burning incense sticks, then, after offering a part to the fire, the participants share the remainder. Tantric texts admonish not to debase this holy rite into an excuse for feasting and. orgying, but to respect it for what it is: a unique opportunity to identify and merge with the different elements and life-forms partaken as sacraments in the ritual.

First the wine is drunk, not for intoxication, but for the delight and stimulation of body and mind. Meditate on the wine as an Elixir, an Ambrosia of the gods, symbolic of the primordial fire out of which all life emerged and by which all existence is ultimately reduced. Each may offer the drink to the other, transferring it from mouth to mouth.

Next, while meditating on the animal world, the participants consume the meat, symbolic of the air element, without which we would all immediately die. This is followed by fish, symbolic of the water element and evocative of the aquatic realm of life. Then the cereal grains or fruit are shared, the couple all the while remembering that our bodies are largely dependent on the vegetable kingdom and the earth element. After this ritualized acknowledgment of the elements, the couple should make love with passion.

Love-making symbolizes the element of space, which is all-pervasive and undefinable. Space is inherent in all the other elements. Tantras equate the element of space with the ecstatic blissful feeling of love-making, stating that "space touches all the other elements." Practically this means that love-making should

Tantric painting of Kundalini as a goddess. At her feet are shown sacrificial offerings, food, and drink. From a Rajasthani miniature painting of the eighteenth century.

Symbolic diagram of the Rite of the Five Essentials. At the center is a depiction of a transcendental goddess, the idealization of Shakti. The five petals making up a lotus shape show sexual union (Maithuna), the eating of special meat (Mamsa), the drinking of wine (Madya), the eating of fish (Matsya), and a man making a gesture of controlling his vitality (Mudra). From a Rajasthani painting of the nineteenth century.

I follow the cult wherein there is

enjoyment of wine, fish, flesh,

grains, and woman. In the Goddess I seek refuge. To the line of Gurus, I am devoted. I am Shiva, the terrific, the transcendental! She is Shakti, the sensual, the liberator.

RUDRA YAMALA TANTRA

He should eat meat and fish, drink wine or milk, and partake of intoxicants with concentrated

mind. When he has satisfied his partner and himself, the Yogi and Yogini should then make love with passion. Transforming the five poisons into Elixirs, they should reach out into the great beyond.

This powerful practice is by far the best; it can produce Liberation within a very short time.

CHANDAMAHAROSANA TANTRA

Ritual love-making involves enjoyment of all the sensual pleasures in the belief that liberation naturally comes to those whose physical desires are fully satisfied. A Rajasthani miniature painting, circa 1800.

Ritual love-making should be free from inhibition or restraint. From a contemporary photograph.

be exalted as an uplifting all-pervasive experience and not "grounded" to a worldly level. The Hevajra Tantra declares, "By passion this world is bound, by passion, too, it is released. When passion courses through the blood, it brings with it the nature of Bliss, which is ultimately resolved into the space element. The world is prevaded by Bliss, which pervades and is pervaded."

The Rite of the Five Essentials is most effective when performed as a sacrament, linking the partaking of each of the ingredients with a higher goal. Thus, the cereal grains (Mudra) symbolize the earth element and detachment from worldliness, fish (Matsya) symbolizes the water element and control of breath, wine (Madya) symbolizes the fire element and purification of senses

and mind leading to the inner secretion of nectar (Soma: the hormones from the pineal gland), meat (Mamsa) symbolizes the air element and control of sound (both speech and subtle Mantric sound), and sexual union (Maithuna) symbolizes the space element and the correct use of sexual energy.

While practicing this rite, the Kundalini should be visualized as an ascending wave of

pure energy, undulating like the body of a snake, or a sensuous, beautifully red-colored woman, the embodiment of eroticism. The Kundalini rises up to partake of the Tantric feast, passing through the psychic centers and illuminating them with her primordial en-

ergy. R e a c h i n g the head center, the

Kundalini Shakti tastes the nectar of bliss. Satisfied, she empowers the couple with her limitless wisdom-energy and confers psychic protection.

The Mahanirvana Tantra states, "Fish, meat, cereal grains, roots, fruit, and anything suitable that is ritually offered up to the higher realms together with wine are all known as ingredients of worship. Let each person take up his or her own cup and meditate on the Kundalini. She is Pure Energy and she reaches from the sexual center to the tip of the tongue. When the Kundalini is excited, she rises up and reaches the head center. Bliss issues from the meeting of Kundalini with the Moon of Full Consciousness."

The Rite of the Five Essentials is most effective when it is performed "heroically," without fear; emotions direct the flow of Kundalini. Kundalini Yoga is an aggressive spiritualism that does not allow human weakness to gain control. Traditionally this rite is performed as an act of confrontation with one's innermost fears, as a means of tran-

scending them. Performed with care and insight, the Rite of the Five Essentials reestablishes contact with the motive powers of evolution, which then can be drawn upon to perfect both spirit and soul.

The Lord and Lady of Secrets in Tantric union. This exalted mystic form of the couple is an idealization of the qualities necessary for the spiritualization of sexual love. The lotus, sword, wheel, and flaming jewel symbolize the ascent of sexual energy, the need to surrender personal ego to higher Wisdom, the inevitable cycles of Karma, and the shining ideal of attainment. From a Tibetan painting of the midseventeenth century.

Tantric painting illustrating the ascent of sexual energy through the Subtle Centers (Chakras). A Yogi is depicted as a fivefaced Shiva seated in lotus posture, with the elephant-headed Ganesha (symbolic of sexuality) on his lap. The hands make mystic gestures of Yogic control; above, a goddess covers the eyes of the Yogi to indicate that an inner transformation is taking place. From a Kangra miniature painting of the early eighteenth century.

Taoist ritual love-posture. Seated positions allow ecstasy to be much prolonged. From a Chinese painting of the late Yuan period (1280-1367).

and his time to ejaculation is short, but in subsequent unions on the same day, the reverse is the case. With the woman it is the contrary, for at the first her passion will be weak and her time until orgasm long, but on other occasions of love-making on the same day, her passion will become more intense and her time until orgasm very short.

KAMA SUTRA

While in close sexual embrace, meditation is both natural and empowered with primordial energy. From an East Indian painting of the nineteenth century.

union for some time. This allows for the mu - tual exchange of subtle energies and the absorption of vital juices, which revitalize them. This is the time when the couple can come to know each other better in a non-verbal, mystical way. Having shared an ecstatic experience, they have much to digest. Meditation is completely natural when lying in close embrace, the Lingam within the Yoni.

After the intense physical exertion of lovemaking and the release of orgasm, the body finds itself in a unique state of relaxation. This state is highly conducive to meditation and mutual absorption. Lying together, immo - bile, limbs entwined, the sexual organs remaining in union, the couple can experience a complete blending of their separate identities. Use this time to focus the mind with a Mantra and allow the waves of ecstasy to continue flowing.

Try to avoid sudden entry without foreplay. The ancient texts insist that the partners' bodies need to become gradually harmonized; otherwise complications can develop, especially in the case of older people. Sexual union affects all organs of the body. Correctly accomplished, it is truly invigorating, but if abused, it leads to debilitation.

Avoid jumping up immediately after orgasm and rushing off to the bathroom for a bath, douche, or shower. Lie together and savor the touch, taste, smell, and sight of each

Foreplay should be mutual to create total harmonization of mood and bodily elements. From a Japanese print in the style of Shusui, mid-eighteenth century.

other. Try to consciously blend your sexual secretions and absorb their full potency. Caress each other, play, talk, laugh, or meditate, and you will suddenly feel ready for another shared ecstasy. Above all, try to permeate the experience of sex with love; bring out love from the depths of your being and offer it to your partner. In the Temple of Love there is no before or after, only the Eternal Now.

Correct love-making should not culminate in total physical exhaustion. From a Japanese print of the mideighteenth century.

Try to empower the partner with intuitive initiation. Allow spontaneous feelings to be expressed by ritual acts of endearment. From a contemporary photograph.

Mutual foreplay. From a Japanese painted scroll of the Tosa school, circa late sixteenth century.