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FACE TO FACE | EASTERN HORIZON 35

scriptures, albeit written down later, And, if Tantra can bring us to Tantra is about much more than
that record this. Let’s remember buddhahood quickly so that we sex, but sex, as a human activity,
that Buddha lived in a culture where can help others to be happy and an important one and one of the
teachings were almost exclusively not suffer, does it matter what principal causes of any of us being
spoken and remembered, and that specific words Buddha used 2500 here, is also related to Tantra. In
none of Buddha’s teachings were years ago? In the Tibetan Buddhist higher stages of Tantra, sexuality
written down until hundreds of tradition many have reached can be a means to wisdom. For me,
years after he died. In addition, enlightenment since Buddha’s time this is mainly theoretical. I once
it’s likely that Tantric teachings, and have continued his teachings in asked Jamspal, “When can I practice
because they were closely held, many settings with diverse students Tantra with a consort?” His answer:
wouldn’t have been written down with differing needs. And, finally, “When you are Buddha!”
for an even longer period of time. let’s remember that what the Heart
Sutra tells us to consider: Is there Another common conception
There’s plenty written support even a Buddha in the overdone way is that Tantra is a shortcut to
for the existence of Tantric-type we usually think of everything? enlightenment, and thus it
practices in Buddha’s time in many bypasses ethical discipline and
scriptures, even going back to the A most common conception is meditation practice. Can you
early Vedic tradition. I explored that Tantra is all about sex. Is elaborate whether this is the case?
this in my dissertation, Interpreting it correct to say that the use of
the Vajra Rosary: Truth and Method sexual symbolism is meant to Ethical discipline is a key grounding
Meets Wisdom and Method. More represent the union of wisdom for any human activity, including the
fundamentally, Tantra is based on and compassion, or emptiness Dharma and the Tantra. How can
the human body and mind, and and form – and not physical sex? you meditate if you’re feeling guilty
those existed long before writing about something you’ve done or
was invented and longer before we Yes, in California it’s all about sex. scheming to get something?
started to think of ourselves merely Just kidding.
as computers as we’re starting to Through many lifetimes, even
do today. Though it’s difficult to Buddha’s genius was also expressed Buddha had to perfect his ethics
document and prove what Buddha in how he could teach people and discipline, much of which
actually said, at least in an historical with different needs at the same is discussed in the Jataka Tales.
and scientific way, why wouldn’t time, which is also why Jesus Buddha started his journey to
Śākyamuni, the seeker par excellence taught in parables. This is why enlightenment in hell! He was a

who left his home to wander for the teachings and practices of steer pulling a heavy load and being
many years, studying with many Tantra are multi-level; as we say in beaten by his devilish overseers but
teachers in India, where ascetic and academia, polyvalent. So the yab then he felt a twinge of compassion
other Tantric-like and yogic practices yum depictions of deities in union for the steer next to him, and, with
were common, have explored them? represent wisdom and compassion, that instant of feeling for another, he
wisdom and bliss, emptiness and started his journey to enlightenment.
Also, given Buddha’s emphasis form, and much more, depending According to the Tantric versions
on upāya, skillful means, during on what the practitioner can take in. of Buddha’s journey, through ethics
his forty-five year teaching career, When you’re climbing up a ladder, and practice he reached what he
during which he undoubtedly taught you have to have all the rungs, but thought was enlightenment, but
students of a “passionate” nature, it is the most important one is the one then the sky filled with buddhas and
not too hard to imagine that he would you can see in front of you. they said, “Not yet,” and brought him
have made use of a Tantric-type to a female wisdom buddha who
approach on appropriate occasions. took him the rest of the way. But