How practical is consort practice for the majority?

[Malcolm]

But that conduct wasn't even real. It was just a vision seen by some people. Others saw other things (lamps, etc.).

Kirt

You can beleive whatever you like, Kirt.

He was also hanging out with prostitutes in bars before he got bounced from the monastery.

N

[wayland]

Is it merely a case of imagination and visualization?

Jñ̄ānamudra is a visualized consort.

Thanks Namdrol,
I had a look around, as I seem to recall having read about a manifested consort. I found the following:

The four types of Karmamudrās

Karma Mudrā A maiden possessing the physical attributes of a woman, for dull yogis.
Jñāna Mudrā A maiden created through the power of one's visualization, for middling yogis.
Mahā Mudrā The images within one's own mind spontaneously arise as various consorts, for sharp yogis.
Samaya Mudrā The mudra experienced as a result of accomplishing the former three.

These are usually termed the 'four handseals' with only the last one called mahamudra. There are various lists, usually some combination of the following: Action Mudra (Karmamudra), Wisdom Mudra (Jnanamudra), Phenomena Mudra (Dharmamudra), Pledge Mudra (Samayamudra), and Great Mudra(Mahamudra). Action mudra is a woman, phenomena mudra is all appearance, commitment or pledge mudra is tummo, wisdom mudra is the meditation deity, and non-duality is the great mudra.

Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/six-yogas- ... z1imz5TVsB

In this list the kind of thing I mean is described as a Mahā Mudrā. Would this also include a consort which appears to the yogi during the dream state?

Namaste

[Lhug-Pa]

He was also hanging out with prostitutes in bars before he got bounced from the monastery.

Like Jesus.

Wayland, I've heard of the possibility of achieving the privilege of a Dakini being ones consort. Perhaps even in the physical dimension, or maybe during Dream Yoga. Of course in the latter situation especially, it's possible, even likely, that we could take our own subjective mental projections to be an actual Dakini; such a case resulting in mental-masturbation rather than high level consort practice (that is if we're not objectively visualizing as in Jnanamudra) So better not to fantasize (a reminder to myself more than anything). Although there's nothing necessarily wrong with enquiring about these things. Thanks for posting that perspective on the Five Mudras by the way.

[Jikan]

i for one, am struggling in my practice - perhaps we could devote a subforum to tantric wanking with tips and advice from more experienced practitioners?

[Virgo]

Yes, in Tibet. Tibetans were very prudish about sexuality.

N

People need to just be natural. I'm surprised about this.

Kevin

[Virgo]

For example, in my area, people are not prude at all. But we are kind of backwoods country people mixed with a little bit of suburbia in some places. I wasn't really raised this way but I've been here since I was twenty or so. People ain't prude here at all. They are very, very natural about who they are. It's a good thing. And people accept each other for who they are. But I think most of America is like this. I'm not really sure though.

Kevin

[wayland]

Wayland, I've heard of the possibility of achieving the privilege of a Dakini being ones consort. Perhaps even in the physical dimension, or maybe during Dream Yoga.

Cheers Lhug-Pa, I'd heard of this too. Great if it ever happens.

Of course in the latter situation especially, it's possible, even likely, that we could take our own subjective mental projections to be an actual Dakini; such a case resulting in mental-masturbation rather than high level consort practice (that is if we're not objectively visualizing as in Jnanamudra)

The dream state is an interesting scenario as we are not actively conjuring up like with visualization. Arguably it's still all in the mind but some dreaming is very powerful. It kind of begs the question, where does objective reality and mental projection cross over.

Namaste

[Tsering927]

“All highest yoga tantras, with different degrees of emphasis, teach that reliance on the method of union with a qualified consort is an indispensable step in the path to realization.”

The Treasury of Knowledge
Book Six, Part Four:
Systems of Buddhist Tantra
Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye
Trans. Elio Guarisco and Ingrid McLeod

What does union mean? Can a realized yogi – ordained or not – call the mind of his or her consort (human or non-human), through mantra and visualization, and enter into union? Does the human consort have to be there in physical form? I think ordained pratitioners do enter into and practice union with human consorts, but I don’t think that the human being is physically present, and the experience of union arises according to his or her realization – maybe they see the Lama as the Deity, or maybe they develop the same attachment that would arise in a purely physical relationship. I think that is what is meant by “qualified consort” – someone who isn’t lost in ordinary attachment. I think mind-consorts are both human and non-human and most of the Mahasiddha activity was mind activity. In Tibetan and Indian cultures, I think they see and experience each others mind. I mean their visualizations are a shared experience.

I don’t know if I wrote that very well, but I think we get stuck on one view of union practice, and it may not always be experienced that way by all cultures.

[Malcolm]

Does the human consort have to be there in physical form?

If you are practicing karmamudra, yes. If not, then you are practicing jñānamudra with an imaginary consort and your hand. You need to get an erection (or if you are female, aroused) somehow and develop physical pleasure. Otherwise the solo practice does not work and is just intellectual exercise not grounded in the bliss of the body.

N

[Caz]

Tantric wanking ?
Isnt this why its not ment to be disscussed openly to prevent fits of giggles ?

It is a skillful means meant to make Buddhism appealing to teen football hooligans.

[wayland]

Does the human consort have to be there in physical form?

If you are practicing karmamudra, yes. If not, then you are practicing jñānamudra with an imaginary consort and your hand. You need to get an erection (or if you are female, aroused) somehow and develop physical pleasure. Otherwise the solo practice does not work and is just intellectual exercise not grounded in the bliss of the body.

N

Hi Namdrol,
Is it possible to attain the degree of absorption required to draw the prana into the central channel whilst doing this? I'd always assumed the bliss generated by visualization would be of a more internalized, subtle kind.
Namaste

[Tsering927]

What we have to define here is “actual.” What “actual” means in mundane conceptuality and what “actual” refers to in Vajrayana meditation may be different. Ordained Lamas enter into union with actual consorts, but he or she isn’t physically present --- however, mundane sexual bliss is experienced by a consort who has ordinary attachment. However, if he or she understands the visualization – the generation and the completion phases of deity practice, the experience of union is drawn into his or her practice.

Even married Lamas usually rely on a “mind-consort” that may or may not be his or her “actual” marriage partner. How many married Rinpoches don’t have children?

For the practice of deity yoga, practitioners rely on the mind. The physical sensations are similar to actual sexual union and the experience varies according to the level of realization of the Lama and his or her consort.

My point is that they are not in union in bed – usually, even married practitioners enter into union through meditation – through the power of calling the mind of the consort through visualization and mantra. In this case, they don’t need to be in the same room, the same house, the same country or even in the same realm – as in the case of non-human consorts. We need to redefine or expand upon the term “actual” consort according to a Vajrayana perspective.

[Malcolm]

My point is that they are not in union in bed

Of course they are -- this idea is a total fantasy, I am sorry to say.

N

[Lhug-Pa]

Cheers Wayland

Regarding your last question asked in the post you addressed to me, my view thus far is simply that that's something we have to discover for ourselves based on our own study and meditation.

[Lhug-Pa]

Does the human consort have to be there in physical form?

If you are practicing karmamudra, yes. If not, then you are practicing jñānamudra with an imaginary consort and your hand. You need to get an erection (or if you are female, aroused) somehow and develop physical pleasure. Otherwise the solo practice does not work and is just intellectual exercise not grounded in the bliss of the body.

Are there any books in English explaining this practice?

It does sound similar to one version of Vajroli Mudra (not the urethra probing version) that combines Pranayama and a massage of sorts.

What you describe here could be very dangerous (even more-so than Karmamudra) without proper guidance, as it could easily degenerate into masturbation.

Anyway, I'd say that Karmamudra (physical union) is (properly understood) a lot more important for Tantrayana than many think.

[deff]

masturbation is very dangerous?

[Lhug-Pa]

That was already covered on the first page of this thread, Deff.

[Malcolm]

masturbation is very dangerous?

Some people apparently think so -- they might go blind or grow hair on their palms.

[Lhug-Pa]

Easy with the straw-men now.

[wayland]

Does the human consort have to be there in physical form?

If you are practicing karmamudra, yes. If not, then you are practicing jñānamudra with an imaginary consort and your hand. You need to get an erection (or if you are female, aroused) somehow and develop physical pleasure. Otherwise the solo practice does not work and is just intellectual exercise not grounded in the bliss of the body.

Are there any books in English explaining this practice?

Good question. I wouldn't mind reading up on it myself, as I've never encountered this angle on jñānamudra practice before.

Some great replies on this thread btw. I haven't had time to respond and thank everyone for their contribution but I have read and re-read the replies with gratitude. My thanks to all.