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The Inner Alchemy
of Sacred Tantra - By Robert Frey, MA
If one listens to some theoretical physicists these days,
there is more than a hint of an inevitable intersection
of science and spirituality. First Quantum Physics, and
now Unified Field Theory and String Theory are attempting
to understand and describe a universe where absolutely everything
is connected in some still incomprehensible way. As a student
and practitioner of Tantra this is sounding quite familiar.
The ancient Tantric and Taoist masters devoted lifetimes
to exploring this same essential territory.
Taoism shares its roots with Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture,
5 Element Theory, and the philosophy of the interplay of
Yin and Yang. Because Chinese Acupuncture has become increasingly
familiar to Westerners, so too has this theory and application
of Yin and Yang. It's not uncommon for people to describe
everyday events in terms of Yin and Yang; nor is it unusual
to read references to the balancing or harmonizing of these
polar opposites in order to bring health and harmony to
daily life. What is still more rare is to find cogent references
to the Tantric version of the interplay of cosmic, pervasive
duality. Ancient authentic Tantric cosmology and philosophy
held a view somewhat similar to Taoism; the differences,
however, are significant and noteworthy.
Whereas the harmonizing of Yin and Yang was often for Taoists
a practical, lifestyle process of alchemy based on balancing
the effects of external elements such as temperature, food,
herbs, dampness versus dryness, etc. in order to create
health, longevity, and inner peace, the alchemical process
pursued by Tantric masters was primarily internal and its
intent was highly spiritual. True Tantra was known to be
a deep, profoundly intent path of sacred inner alchemy.
This level of Tantra is rarely understood or appreciated
in a modern culture whose primary fascination is with the
sexual practices of Tantra, usually taken out of (the spiritual,
primary) context.
Regardless of how irreverent or superficial modern co-opting
is of the spiritual terms; the true nature of life as originally
described still underlies all. And although many may overlook
the depth, it continues to have profound value. Despite
hookers who describe their work as Tantra, morose heavy
metal bands with names like Nirvana, erotic dancers calling
themselves Shaktis, sexual massage daikinis, etc., the ultimate
truth remains, and the ancient teachings of the masters
are as beneficial to humanity as ever.
Let us then examine more deeply this Sacred Tantra path
of inner alchemy.
Shakti is the energetic field of being out of which all
form is created - the raw materials, so to speak, that sustain
all life in form, for life cannot exist without energy.
Thus, Shakti is related to the Earth and on a much broader,
universal scale, to the Divine Mother, the Divine Feminine,
the all nurturing, all sustaining, and creative nature of
God. In addition to nurturing and containing, the nature
of Shakti is to respond and to embrace. It would be more
appropriate to say that God loves and takes care of all
Her children.
Shiva is the formless void, the unlimited conscious field
of being out of which all intelligence arises. Einstein
formulated the dynamic presence of all-pervasive energy.
Now the more spiritual theoretical physicists are postulating
and attempting to describe our universe as filled and unified
by all-pervasive consciousness. By studying the activity
of atoms and sub-atomic particles they have discovered that
everything is conscious and connected in some conscious
way. The wisdom of the ancient Tantric yogis is being verified
by science.
What does all this mean to us and does it have any practical
relevance to our daily lives and to our relationships, etc.?
Here is where I believe the brilliance of the Tantric masters
lies; they offered a path that is light years beyond the
physicists. Recently, there was a meeting of a dozen or
so famous Western scientists and doctors with a few high
Tibetan lamas and Buddhist teachers. There also happened
to be a few Tibetans there including families. After several
days of meetings and theoretical and philosophical discussions
a twelve-year old Tibetan girl asked to address the Westerners.
She basically gently said, "In our culture we seek
to understand ourselves, and out of that understanding all
of life becomes understood and we can be at peace with life.
You people seem to know a lot about the world but know very
little if anything about yourselves." She smiled shyly
and sat down. The famous were, of course, humbled.
The Tantric masters, Hindu, Buddhist, or Tibetan, understood
that the essential alchemy must take place within in order
to be experienced in relationship to the world and others,
and thus the techniques and methods of inner alchemy have
been at the core of their teachings. As stated above, the
alchemical process is the embodiment and integration of
the descending heavenly consciousness (Shiva) with the rising
earthly energy.
How might this be accomplished? Among the primary tools
is attention to and mastery of the breath, integrating the
Yang in-breath (usually ascending) with the Yin out-breath
(usually descending). The in-breath is activating, stimulating,
initiating, moving energy (up from the earth or down from
the heavens), and it brings awareness to the energy and
form. Conversely the out-breath is relaxing, releasing,
responding, surrendering, dispersing and embracing energy
(as it descends from heaven or rises from earth), and it
brings energy to the consciousness and awareness. A student
of Sacred Tantra becomes acutely aware of the subtle yet
powerful differences and complementary contributions of
the inhale and exhale.
To effectively and reliably bring in the consciousness
requires a cultivation of sustained, focused awareness and
an ability to tune into levels of higher thought and guidance.
To effectively and reliably bring in the energy requires
cultivation of energy pathways that have capacity for increased
quantity and quality of energy. Focus requires a quiet,
undistracted, non-distractible mind that generally necessitates
some form of meditation. Cultivation of energy pathways
also requires focus. As one visualizes, imagines, or places
awareness on energetic flow within, the amount of energy
increases and the quality changes, dependant upon one's
thoughts.
The longer and more capably one focuses on energy within,
the greater the effect. Thus a synergy is needed in order
to place attention on both consciousness and energy. The
ancient Tantric yogis and masters understood this and consequently
developed what I call "energy meditations" wherein
the meditative state is generated by focusing attention
on the desired energy flow. For example, imagining energy
flowing up and down a "central channel" along
the front of the spine, or imagining energy of a particular
color, quality, and amount in the chakras (energy/nerve
plexi) along the spine. In subsequent articles I will further
describe these energy meditations.
Ironically, our true nature and that of all life, according
to Tantra, is to embody waves of consciousness and energy,
activating and embracing each other, so the energy meditations
are a determined practice directed towards returning to
and enhancing our true nature. When we are in balance, and
Shiva consciousness and Shakti energy are integrated, there
will be continuous inner alchemy - a natural, effortless,
endless, pulse-like weaving of stillness/quiet/being with
action/expression/doing.
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About
Cynthia
Cynthia Lamborne is a leader in the field of
sacred sexuality and Tantra. Her background and training
includes: comprehensive study with several Tantric Masters;
extensive travel in Egypt, India and Nepal; 30 years of
training and experience with thousands of men and women
as an intimacy coach and workshop facilitator; and teaching
Transcendental Meditation for 10 years.
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