The Readers Blog is a group blog, a collection of provocative, passionate people who represent a broad geographical, professional, personal and vocational range. New bloggers from other places and other points of view will join the conversation from time to time. Here, we invite them all to share their perspectives and opinions on the issues that matter to them most. And we invite you to respond. Let the dialogue begin!
Tantra might be my new religion ... same goes for you
I had a great experience yesterday. I went to a one day retreat where we did mostly tantric yoga exercises. Your thought; “that’s sex, right?” My thought; “More like sex between your and the others soul”. It’s about celebrating life and learning to open up to and love people just because they are people. You don’t need to really know them, don’t even need to know their names and you can still feel a strong love and openness for them (when you do tantric exercises together).
The exercises that we did can seem weird at first. But don’t worry; you don’t take of your clothes and there’s no nipple biting (as far as I have seen). The big advantage of this weirdness is that you are more or less forced to look at your thoughts and feelings when you are in a vulnerable situation, so close to a person you don’t know. You get all kinds of negative ideas about the other person, yourself and the situation, even if one of your usual values is respecting (and loving) all people you can see all the prejudices you’re still stuck with and live with in daily life. It took me a few hours to let go of those thoughts. Thank god we started at 10 in the morning and ended at 3 that night, I had plenty of time to realize and change important things.
It’s an amazing feeling when you are in an exercise (man and woman together), are able to feel unconditional love for that person and be open and hug and touch each other intensely. For me this day helped me establish something, put into practice and materialize what’s been on my mind for a long time: love all of life.
Today was interesting, having some intense moments, seeing certain stuff clearer. When I visited my mother in law, who is very easy to love, I was forced to watch Brazilian TV, which isn’t easy to love. Especially Fustão, who I always regarded as hugely annoying and with a total lack of talent. I looked at him and tried to not feel resistance against him, and for the first time … I wanted to give him a hug.
Yesterday I saw and felt more things than I can recall or write about now (you wouldn’t want to read a 10 page blog entry). I want to get to know more about Tantra and practice it more. I promise to keep you updated. My advice to you is to go out there and try it, forget the books and the theories, as the wise Nike says; “just do it!”
What sounds wonderful about the session is the effects ("love all of life"), rather than the actual session itself. If opening to one person, in whatever way that may be, leads to such realisation, then it may be an opportunity for people to transform if all other avenues have failed!
And not forgetting that yoga in all forms is intended to be a way to 'connect with' the Oneness of Life, i.e. to realise that none of us is separate from each other or anything else in reality, and to recognise the illusion of separation. I practised hatha yoga many years ago, but unfortunately misunderstood that vital part. I might find myself becoming rather tangled up and/or seriously injured if I tried it again right now!
And as with everything we do, if done with love and for no other reason than for itself, all actions will reflect this in any results it may produce. So, as Saint Augustine said: 'Love and do what you will', as it will always be the best thing to do for everyone and everything!
posted by adamgilliland on 10/ 8/2007 6:53 pm