Book Reviews

Publishers interested in reviews of books relating to tantrik topics or to Indian spirituality generally, should
send email to this address.
Tantra: The Path of Ecstasy
By Georg Feuerstein
Shambhala Books, 1998 (ISBN 1-57062-304X) $15.95
Georg Feuerstein is a respected author of a number of works on esoteric traditions of India and here attempts a guide
to a notoriously difficult subject.
Tantra is so difficult because of the number of different traditions, the multitude of various texts, many of which
remain untranslated, and the subject matter itself, which has many pitfalls for the unwary student.
This book, however, is written by someone with an understanding of the subject matter, and is organised in a way
which gradually draws the reader into the essentials of tantra, including the often neglected ritual aspect, including
mantra, yantra, mudra and nyasa.
Feuerstein draws on a number of texts, some translated and others not, to explain the essentials of the tantrik
tradition. He relies particularly heavily on the Kularnava Tantra (available in an English translation) which is, we
feel, one of the more accessible of the texts.
The author stresses the importance of initiation and of the guru, and also spends some time examining those forms
of tantra which have sprung up in the Western World.
"Many are attracted to Neo-Tantrism because it promises sexual excitement or fulfillment while clothing purely
genital impulses or neurotic emotional needs in an aura of spiritualityToday translations of several major Tantras
are readily available in book form, and many formerly secret practices are now, in the language of the texts, 'like
common harlots'. This gives would-be Tantrics the opportunity to concoct their own idiosyncratic ceremonies and
philosophies, which they can then promote as Tantra." (Tantra, page 271).
While Feuerstein warns that some tantrik practices are dangerous in the wrong hands, we feel that in many ways the
tradition protects itself. There is, undoubtedly, a great number of groups and individuals peddling "tantra" as a way
to greater sexual enjoyment - for example, some of the links to these pages are from hard porn sites - but the written
tantras themselves were (and are) intended for the "in groups" and supplemented with oral information from the
yogis and yoginis in the groups.
In passing, it could be noted that tantra in India suffers from its association with sexuality. So much so, that the term
tantrik taints the people it is applied to. But some of this is due to the Western colonisation of India. A quick look at
a Sanskrit-English dictionary demonstrates the sensuality of the language, while the temples of Khajuraho show that
shame, guilt and modesty played little part in the civilisation of Bharata.
Feuerstein's book mostly succeeds in navigating a difficult subject. This is a well-written guide to a complex area
and easily accessible to the layman. It is probably too late to dissociate this powerful and rich spiritual tradition from
neo-Tantra. But now that even the Pope has decided that Indian spiritual traditions are worth examining, this book
will go some way to redress the balance. Recommended.
Reviewed by Michael Magee October 1998 (c)

Artwork is Jan Bailey, 1996-2006. Translations are Mike Magee 1996-2006. Comments
to mike.magee@btinternet.com
Home Page