Note: For the complete lessons, with additions, see the AYP Easy Lessons for Ecstatic Living Books.

Lesson 18 - Q&A – Enlightenment with and without orgasm?

From: Yogani
Date: Sat Mar 13, 2004 10:25pm

New Members: It is recommended you read from the beginning of this tantra yoga archive, as previous lessons are prerequisite to this one. The first lesson is, "What is tantra yoga?"

Q: Your Q&A section is very educative. Thanks for the same. I have a question. For a woman who has never had a sexual experience, I mean if she does not know what is Orgasm, is it possible to raise kundalaini? If so, what will be best way? Please answer my question. Thank you

A: Thank you for writing and sharing.

Orgasm is not a prerequisite for raising kundalini, or for enlightenment. On the contrary, it can be an obstacle due to the obsession many people develop about it, and the resulting loss of vitality that comes from too much nontantric sexual activity. So, maybe you have an advantage. This is assuming you are not seriously repressed about your sexual energy, because it must come up into the nervous system for enlightenment stages 2 (ecstasy) & 3 (unity) to be reached. You will recall from the main group lessons that stage 1 is permanent inner silence ("the witness").

So, an opening for sexual (kundalini) energy needs to happen at some point - not down, but up. This has its own kind of ecstatic reverie that fills the whole body. How can this be accomplished? It can be done with meditation alone, but it will take a long time. Meditation is best for establishing enlightenment stage 1 - unshakable silent pure bliss consciousness. If spinal breathing is added, the entire sushumna will be enlivened with prana from root to third eye, and this stimulates the awakening of kundalini much more than meditation alone. By definition, kundalini is prana awakening in the spinal nerve and then throughout the nervous system, coming up from the vast storehouse of prana in the pelvic region. To speed it up more, targeted physical practices (and kumbhaka - breath retention) can be added as discussed extensively in the main group lessons. As mentioned two lessons ago in the tantra group, siddhasana is the most directly stimulative sitting tantric practice.

So, all this you can do without external sexual activity or orgasm, though you will probably have some strange new sensations in your pelvic area and upward as your yoga advances. It is inevitable. When strong love feelings come, you can direct them to your spiritual ideal, rather than into a sexual channel, and redouble your bhakti for doing practices. You can have a wildly passionate love affair with God, and remain celibate all the way though, if this is your preference. Many great yoginis and yogis in history have gone this route.

How far you go in taking on practices is a function of your inclinations. Maybe the direct stimulation of siddhasana is not for you. Maybe you are not inclined to do some of the other targeted practices either. If that is the case, it is okay. With meditation and spinal breathing alone, the whole job can be done. Even meditation alone can take us very far over the long run. It is up to you - how fast you want to go, and how much ecstatic energy you want to get moving in your nervous system. It can be a pretty crazy life having a fast rising kundalini, and it is not for everyone. Slow and easy may be better for some. We don't always have a choice. Kundalini can develop a mind of her own. When she takes over, we end up in a partnership.

No matter what the inner experiences may be, everyone is free to go at their own speed with advanced yoga practices. That goes for everything, including tantric sexual methods. The most important thing is that we understand the natural abilities inherent in our nervous system, and then choose whatever methods for stimulating these abilities we feel are appropriate for us. Even another path altogether is okay. In that case, just regard all these lessons as "food for thought."

Don't worry, not being sexually active is not a disadvantage. You can do it your own way. It is your choice how you will travel home. As you explore the various methods that stimulate your nervous system to purify and open, you will find your balance in practices.

The guru is in you.

Note:  For detailed instructions on the methods of tantra in relation to the broad scope of yoga practices and the enlightenment process, see the AYP Tantra book.

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