A reader from Pennsylvania asks:

Do I need to be in a lineage in order to be a spiritual teacher?

True lineage is a river of vidya shakti, or wisdom energy, being transmitted from the Divine Mother to teachers and on to students through time. Like the sustaining waters of Ma Ganga coursing down Shiva’s locks of hair to those in need, lineage is a supreme blessing. Those who sense her life, compassion and immense intelligence are eager to jump in Her waters. (more…)

A question from Germany:

I know you are not a neo-tantra teacher, but you don’t talk about sex at all! Isn’t sex a part of Tantra, even traditional Tantra?

All expressions of human life are part of traditional Tantra, including sex. I haven’t talked about sex much on Jaya Kula because, oddly enough, no one has ever asked me to!

Tantra offers two basic approaches to sex: one is through the life science of Ayurveda and the other is through ritual worship. (more…)

My Tibetan roommates were having a lively discussion the other day about theory and spiritual practice. “Theory,” of course, is View.

The question revolved around the value of practices such as prostrations and mantra. Are they worthwhile in and of themselves, or do you need to first know the theory or world view of the tradition in which you are practicing before you begin? (more…)

Today is Lord Ganesha’s birthday. We can celebrate and seek Ganesha’s favor in his role as the Lord of Obstacles, remembering that he is both the activity of grace in removing obstacles and equally the grace to be discovered in our encounter with obstacles. (more…)