I recently had the opportunity to share some insights about tantra for an online periodical. Tantra is not my area of expertise; however, I believe there are many commonalities between tantra and the RPM as described below all which point to a healthy, robust approach to our sexuality.
1. What is tantra? Is it a spiritual practice? What does Tantra mean in Sanskrit? Among the meanings for tantra in Sanskrit is ‘weaving together’ or ‘the expansion of consciousness’ achieved through practicing meditation, yoga, solo and paired sex. Tantra is a path to enlightenment, a holistic development of the mind, body, and senses through breathwork, massage, and slow sexual stimulation.
2. How can you practice tantric masturbation? Does meditation tie in? Meditation, calming of the mind, focusing of the breath set the stage for mindfully delving into tantric style masturbation which involves exploring erogenous zones of the body and slowly massaging the genitals to cultivate and circulate sexual energy throughout the body(sensate focus) without necessarily reaching full body orgasm, known as ‘edging orgasms’. Through tantric masturbation, the practitioner is reaping the benefits of stimulation of the endocrine and nervous systems; increasing vigor, stamina, and vitality; and cultivating self-love and confidence.
3. How does conscious breathing tie into this type of self-intimacy? How does this enhance your pleasure? By practicing Tantric masturbation, breathing is more expansive and deeper which relaxes smooth muscles and increases blood flow responsible for the swelling of the clitoris, labia, and penis. Conscious breathing also enhances our sensate focus and awareness of the sensations of arousal and euphoria.
4. What’s the goal of tantra? Is there a goal? Tantra is a discipline designed to expand consciousness, to enrich awareness and appreciation of self and others, to create deeper bonds and understanding with a partner, and is ultimately conducive to self-transformation and self-realization.
Greetings Dr. K.,
Your answers to the 4 questions related to tantra practices reflect your intuitive practical wisdom. Each answer integrates your own awareness of conscious breathing, calming the mind, circulating of sexual energy throughout the body, stimulating the endocrine system, increasing vitality and cultivating self-love and confidence. Your work with RPM conveys the expansive generosity that self-love practices can have for our intimate partners and even our inner circle of friends and associates.
We know that emotions are contagious. If yawning, smiling, and laughing are contagious we know that pleasure is positively contagious as well. When we desire so much to “make” our partner feel good we may inadvertently bring pressure to our partner who simply needs to relax and allow it.
There is so much literature available on how to please your woman or how to please your man. While the intention of these authors is well-intended and practical ideas can be experienced, the practical tips can leave couples disappointed and frustrated. We so much want to experience sympathetic joy and pleasure. If our partner feels pleasure than we can feel pleasure too. It’s completely natural to want this.
What if we also continue bringing the life-force sexual energy cultivated in our RPM practices to our partner. The RPM practice can be solo or paired and in either case the vibrational energy can naturally flow into the energy sphere of our partner. A wise person once stated that the best thing you can bring to another person is your own happiness. What if we bring our RPM life-living giving energy to our partners in a space where they can simply relax and savor the joy and pleasure with us. Erotic energy is cultivated in relaxed states of freedom, it’s never forced, it’s simply cultivated and allowed to freely expand. So yes indeed, I see an overlap between RPM and tantra. Dr. Kolbe, your expertise in RPM fuels your expertise in the tantra space.
Thank you again for your caring, compassion, and courage to change the world for the better.
Journey well,
C