A Tantra meditation for friends and couples.
Tantra meditations represent the path of togetherness. Yoga-style meditations represent the path of aloneness. Yoga-style meditations include vipassana, zazen — any technique done alone and by oneself. Tantric meditations invite the company of a partner. One’s partner for meditation can be another person or, in a broader sense, Existence itself. Tantra uses the life-energy derived from connecting with others as a help for going deep within. Tantra is rooted in Life. In Tantra, everyday ordinary experiences can be used as a support in meditation. Because Tantra is devotional by nature, even the act of love can be a meditation.Tantra has its source in ancient India. It is described in the ancient texts, “The Vigyan Bhairav Tantra”: discourses given by the Lord Shiva to his consort (lover) Parvati. It is said that all meditation techniques can trace their roots to the one-hundred-and-eight techniques found in these scriptures.
The technique and music for this meditation was many years in the making. The initial idea came from an exercise good friends Anjee and Habib of Denmark shared on a beach in Corfu with participants from a weeklong meditation retreat with the band. We had no music to accompany the breathing, only the gentle sound of the sea caressing the beach. Over the years since, we experimented with different techniques for the various stages and also different kinds of music. Last summer, Chandira and I realized the stages had finally crystalized, so in a short tour-gap after the RISK Summer Festival, we took a few days to record the music. It is a lovely meditation to enjoy with a partner or alone. I am happy to share this new addition to the Stepping Stone Series.
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Stage One (ten minutes)
Sit comfortably across from a partner. Both of you close your eyes. Bring your arms and hands up to the chest area and slightly spread them, palms facing each other. When the music starts, imagine your heart radiating golden light towards each other. Use your arms and hands to help support this exercise and if small movements happen, allow them. As the feeling intensifies, imagine the rays of light extending through, and expanding beyond, your partner, reaching far into the Universe.
Stage Two (ten minutes)
Come close to your partner. Open your legs and place them either under or over your partner’s legs, both of you making sure you are totally comfortable and sitting relaxed and close. Comfort is key. Place your left palm on your heart and your partner will do the same (their left hand on their own heart). With your right hand, place it over your partner’s hand (the one touching your heart) and your partner does the same (their right hand over your left hand on your heart). Then, start breathing together. Just breathe and relax into the music..
Stage Three (ten minutes)
Come even closer and softly embrace each other. Relax in each other’s arms and touch. Both of you begin swaying to the music, gently, allowing your energies to merge and melt. Be sensitive.
Stage Four (fifteen minutes)
Relax on your backs and let go into silence. (you can both simply fall backwards, legs still entwined, after you move your cushions aside. It is ok to stay connected in the silent stage.)
There are three bells at the end of the meditation.
* if doing without a partner:
Stage One – Same as with a partner.
Stage Two – Fold hands in the namaste gesture in front of the heart. Start breathing, in through the nose, out through the mouth.
Stage Three – Cross arms over the chest, with hands on the shoulders, and slight bow the head. This is known as the Sufi Embrace. Gently sway to the music.
Stage Four – Relax lying down on one’s back and let go into silence.
There are three bells at the end of the meditation.