Unconditional Love and Tantra
I began this work, this way of walking the path
of Tantra, with an overwhelming urge to express unconditional
love to those who have forgotten what it is – to those who
have not experienced it, those who do not allow it into their
lives.
In thinking of this, my need to express this love and
to shower it upon others, I wondered if it ran contrary to
some of the teachings of Tantra. In particular the teachings
of this school, the Advait School of Tantra, has a view of
the Dakini as she who “throws stones”. Swami Rahasya teaches
in stories and riddle which provocatively lead the listener
into awareness by constantly, consistently, challenging the
foundations of one’s beliefs.
This is what the Dakini does
in her work: she challenges the seeker to confront his shadow,
to shake down into the depths of his being and drag up that
which hides there, to awaken that which sleeps, to open that
which is sealed, to collect, to connect, to gather the soul-bones
and breath life into them.
In the doing of this, showing
the Seeker the way to soul through sacred sexuality, some
Dakinis may, at first, “throw stones”. When she does this
she is asking: “How badly do you want this?”. She may appear
capricious, wilful, wayward and obstinate – she can be many
things, and all of the things – she represents that from
which the Seeker is running.
She mirrors your shadow-self
in the ways in which she offends, repels or chases away.
The Seeker comes back for more, his thirst for soul leading
him through those experiences which he perceives as dirty,
dry and difficult. Then the Dakini can begin the work of
showing, opening, connecting body, mind, emotions and spirit...
How does unconditional love fit into this, I wondered? Perhaps
in this way: the unconditional love that I express has its
tenderness and warmth, but, as everything in this existence,
it has its polarities. It is a love offered completely and
relentlessly, with an intensity that many a Seeker finds
uncomfortable, sometimes impossible, to face. It is uncompromising,
accepting nothing less than complete surrender to truth.
In the absence of a game, the Seeker is forced to give up
his game plan; a space is created where there are no rules
or requirements; strategy and manoeuvring are obsolete.
This
love has an implacable availability which forces confrontation
with perceived desire by offering no resistance. In the blazing
light of this love, the landscape is bleak: the rocks of
denial are thrown into sharp relief in a desert dotted with
excuses; cacti of conscience, watered by piety and pity,
drop their thorns to prick the soles of the feet; and everywhere
lie the bones of regret, the skeletons of betrayal, the remnants
of what might have been.
This, then, is part of what I do.
In the offering of this unconditional love, I ask the Seeker
to drop all pretence, to receive in his truth and naked soul-beauty,
to release the story and dance with me in the wildish ways
of the stars.
I daresay Swami Rahasya would agree that the
Tantric way is being honoured.
Shekina Moondancer
