TANTRA DEFINATIONS                                       TANTRA23.TXT
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       To: alt.magick.tyagi
       From: namdrol@aol.com (Namdrol)
       Subject: Re: Tantra and Sex Magick
       Quoting: cyronwode@aol.com (Cyronwode) 

       Just a word of caution, here, to anyone who is at all ignorant about
       this subject. The term "tantra" as used in this newsgroup has at least
       THREE different definitions, depending on who is posting. 

       1) Hindu sexual religious practices

       2) Tibetan Bhuddist sexual religious practices

      3) Spiritual sexual practices not associated with ANY religion. 

      Actaully, number two is rather incorrect. The word tantra is defined in
      the Guhyasaja tantra, among others, as continuity, (Tibetan, rgyud),
      and refers to the continuity of mind, practice etc.

      In Ati-yoga (Dzogchen), union practice is dispensed with altogether.
      Futher in those systems where union practice is important, it is done
      (if at all) only after the student has trained for a considerable time in
      non-sexual creation and complation stage practices.
      So actually Tibetan Tantra has very little to do with sex, until one
      advances beyond certain stage.