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.

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