Tantra, the Way of Action - A Practical Guide to its Teachings and Techniques (Paperback, New of i> Tantra for We ed.)

EASTERN PHILOSOPHY / OCCULTISM Tantra has been defined as a "mystical philosophy" and as an unorthodox branch of Buddhism, Hindism, and Jainism, It has also been described as an occult technique concerned primarily with polarity and sexual practices. Although each of these definations contains an element of truth, none of them is complete. While Tantra has mystical, philosophical, and religious aspects, it is, above all, a technique of action--a path of physical, mental, and spiritual disciplines incorporating meditation, yoga, and scramental worship. Its sole purpose is the transformation or spiritual rebirth of the individual into a new existence and an enlightened state of consciousness. In Tantra: The Way of Action, Francis King provides a complete theoretical and practical guide to the Tantric path of liberation. Topics covered include esoteric physiology, Qabalism, pleasure and pain, power and passivity, right-hand and left-hand Tantra, and the arousal of the Kundalini serpent power. Following the spirit rather than the letter of the tradition, King maintains that Tantric techniques are universal processes. As such, they transcend the limitations of specific faith or dogma and are adaptable to Western culture and lifestyle. A highly regarded authority on magic, mysticism, and religion, FRANCIS KING offers a view of Tantra that is at once contemporary, scholarly, and accessible to the Western reader. He is the author of Techniques of High Magic, as well as several other works on mysticism and ritual.