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Great-Bliss-Tantric-Sex-and-the-Path-to-Inner-Awakening

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Introduction<br />

“It is said in <strong>the</strong> supreme Tantras that of all offerings, <strong>the</strong> best is sexual yoga.”<br />

- Five visiting ḍākinīs <strong>to</strong> Milarepa<br />

While most of <strong>the</strong> world’s spiritual paths are traveled alone, sexual yoga is a path that loving<br />

couples can follow joyously <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r. <strong>Sex</strong>ual yoga (maithuna yoga, or karmamudrā – lit. Action<br />

consort or seal) is <strong>the</strong> union of sexual bliss with <strong>the</strong> bliss of ultimate reality. In <strong>the</strong>se practices,<br />

you are sealed in bliss by <strong>the</strong> erotic power of you <strong>and</strong> your lover <strong>to</strong> attain inner awakening.<br />

<strong>Sex</strong>ual yoga is <strong>the</strong> third practice of <strong>the</strong> Four Yogas, <strong>and</strong> by far <strong>the</strong> most important. The first two<br />

yogas support it, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> fourth is <strong>the</strong> result of it. In particular, sexual yoga super-empowers<br />

subtle energy yoga by bringing <strong>the</strong> winds strongly in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> central channel at <strong>the</strong> heart cakra,<br />

allowing you <strong>to</strong> attain union with <strong>the</strong> Clear Light, resulting in enlightenment. <strong>Sex</strong>ual yoga is<br />

ideally practiced in a way that is integrated with <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r three yogas. Among <strong>the</strong> siddhas,<br />

sexual yoga is universally considered necessary for attaining <strong>the</strong> final state of nonduality.<br />

Kṛiṣṇācārya writes that sexual bliss “is <strong>the</strong> cause for <strong>the</strong> manifestation of Mahāmudrā.” And <strong>the</strong><br />

Caṇḍamahāroṣaṇa Tantra praises <strong>the</strong> power of sexual yoga, saying “By this repeated practice,<br />

<strong>Great</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> is attained.” When practiced for <strong>the</strong> benefit of o<strong>the</strong>r beings, it becomes a gift <strong>to</strong> all.<br />

On <strong>the</strong> physical level, <strong>the</strong> lovemaking practices of Buddhist sexual yoga are drawn from ancient<br />

Indian texts such as The Kāma Sūtra. These texts give extensive instructions on sexual pleasure,<br />

but only <strong>the</strong> Tantras explain how <strong>to</strong> transform sex in<strong>to</strong> a higher spiritual experience.<br />

Philosophy<br />

“If he joins <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> vajra <strong>and</strong> lotus, I will give him enlightenment.”<br />

- The Goddess Vajrayoginī, Caṇḍamahāroṣaṇa Tantra<br />

<strong>Sex</strong>ual Yoga Transforms <strong>Sex</strong>ual <strong>Bliss</strong> in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bliss</strong> of Ultimate Reality<br />

The Secret of Tantra<br />

<strong>Sex</strong>uality does not originate in your body, but emanates from <strong>the</strong> infinite field of pure primordial<br />

consciousness. It is an essential quality of ultimate reality, <strong>and</strong> permeates appearances with its<br />

rich, exultant power. The secret of Tantra is that by underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>the</strong> power of sex, it becomes<br />

<strong>the</strong> greatest <strong>to</strong>ol in <strong>the</strong> universe for enlightenment.<br />

<strong>Sex</strong>ual yoga harnesses <strong>the</strong> blissful power of sex for liberation. A classic axiom reveals that<br />

through <strong>Tantric</strong> practice, “Passion is used <strong>to</strong> destroy passion” - but this point is quite often<br />

misunders<strong>to</strong>od. It is not that you indulge in defiled, lustful passions <strong>to</strong> tire yourself of <strong>the</strong>m so<br />

you can attain a passionless state. Instead, you generate <strong>the</strong> pure passion of sexual desire <strong>to</strong><br />

destroy defiled, craving desires so that pure passion can run free. According <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Tantras, it is<br />

through sexual yoga that buddhahood is attained. The buddhas are intensely erotic, <strong>and</strong> sexual<br />

yoga emulates <strong>the</strong>ir indissolvable unity of wisdom <strong>and</strong> erotic power. <strong>Sex</strong>ual yoga is enjoyable on<br />

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