Tantra and Feminine Mysticism

January 1992

     Ba'ba', would you like to say something more about Tantra and Feminine mysticism?

     I will speak on Tantra and Feminine Mysticism. This topic is a vast subject that was well explored in ancient schools of mysticism. But this knowledge has been primarily lost with the passing of the ages. Now, in this 20th century much of this knowledge  no longer exists. That is why there is some need for discussion of this topic.
     Today many people think that Tantra is equivalent to sexual practice. This is not the case.  Many other think that Tantra is obscure and foreign. But Tantra is not obscure, nor is it sexual. Tantra is a science of transmutation, it is a practical application of scientific principles for the transmutation of conscious awareness. Therefore, Tantra is a practical science. It is not esoteric and obscure. It is a practical science, designed to work with basic human tendencies and to direct those tendencies towards the Supreme Entity.  It does not require high learning, nor does it require leaving the world.

     Tantra is best suited for those who are willing to confront themselves and who sincerely long for the loving arms of the Supreme.  Now, for women the practices of Tantra, the practical application is somewhat different than for men. Why is this? It is because hormonal differences influence the psychology of a person as well as the biology. Now, let us say a man wishes to apply Tantra in his daily life, to become a true sadhaka, to merge his mind with that of the Supreme. He must do sadhana. He must practice on a regular basis. He must recognize his shortcomings and strive to surrender his all at the feet of Parama Purusa. But, when his mind turns to Parama Purusa, it does so with a certain masculine vigor; he seeks his Lord with body and mind influenced by masculine hormones and masculine psychology. Therefore, the psychology of his practices must be suited to his temperament.  Likewise, if a woman seeks the grace of Parama Purusa, she must do so with the temperament and physiology given to her.

     In Tantra, all worldly thoughts, all worldly involvement's, all basic psychic propensities are systematically transmuted through proper ideation and proper practices. If a person has a lust for food, that lust cannot be stopped, it cannot be cut off. If this is done, it will only show its head again and in a still more obstinate desire. Therefore, the way of Tantra is not to chop the desire, to cut it out like a cancer, but to transform a cruder desire into a more subtle one. So, let us say, a person is craving a food, this passion for eating should be gradually transformed. The sadhaka may think, 'oh Lord, you are coming in the form of food. When I am desiring food, I am desiring you. When I am passionate for food, I am passionate for you. Only I have become confused and I am thinking you are food,  when you are all around me.'  Like this, the desire for food is transmuted into desire for Parama Purusa. When enjoying the food, man thinks, 'I am enjoying Parama Purusa how fortunate I am, he has come as this good food,' so now each time a craving for good food arises, the man thinks of Parama Purusa.  He does not want  food but Parama Purusa. Soon he will forget about the food altogether, as his mind gets fixed on Parama Purusa.   So like this he does not suppress desire or attachment but transmutes the crude to the subtle. For this purpose, all of Tantra has been developed.

     There are so many schools and so many practices, but in essence, Tantra is a simple science given by that Supreme Entity for the education and development of his sons and his daughters.

     Now, if a lady wants to learn Tantra, she must do spiritual practice. She must maintain spiritual discipline and she must develop devotion. It is through devotion that the Supreme Entity has the greatest attracting force. A woman's physiology and her psychology predispose her to the devotional sentiment, it is her strength. A woman wanting to practice Tantra should utilize this for her spiritual development. Her desires for relationship and attachment should be directed like the hungry man's passion for food. She should utilize her femininity to bring her towards Divinity.  Then she will grasp the essence of Tantra.  All traits, all propensities of the human mind must be metamorphosed into spiritual ideation upon the Supreme. All basic tendencies must be systematically transformed. Nothing should be denied or repressed. It should be properly directed towards the Divine.  The techniques for doing this constitute the practices of Tantra.  Do you understand?"