White Tantra

When they hear the word 'tantra', most people think of sex. Actually, White Tantra is distinct from Red Tantra, which uses energy for sexual purposes, and Black Tantra, which uses energy for the manipulation of others. White Tantra uses what's known as the 'diagonal' energy to cut through subconscious blocks and dissolve deeply-held patterns that may have been holding one back for a lifetime. The idea is that our subconscious releases thousands of thoughts per blink of an eye. These thoughts, if unchecked, manifest in our emotions and physical bodies, often negatively, impeding our quest for greater consciousness. White Tantra, particularly if done over a period of time, enables us to clear the subconscious and increase awareness in a very powerful and immediate way. It has been used for thousands of years and is related to the technology of Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan, who brought this to the West in the late 1960's.

It was just over a year ago that I attended my first White Tantra meditation. This event occurs only once a year in the U.K. I was required to attend as part of my qualification as a Kundalini Yoga teacher, and was more than a little apprehensive. I'd heard stories about how intense and challenging the meditations were, requiring one to maintain arm postures for extended periods. In Kundalini Yoga, which I'm now qualified to teach, meditations usually consist of a hand position, called a mudra, a mantra (sound vibration, recited mentally or aloud) and an eye focus (for example, focusing on the third eye point).

Key to White Tantra is the fact that the meditations are done in pairs (not gender-specific), sitting opposite a partner. It is this aspect that activates the 'diagonal energy'. Some of the meditations involve maintaining eye contact, with all the challenges and rewards that can present, while others are done with the eyes closed. There are 6 to 8 meditations done on a White Tantra day, and each can last between 31 and 62 minutes. For someone who had only meditated for an hour at the most (and that very seldom), this was a formidable prospect! Fortunately there were breaks in between, which were very sociable and a chance to connect with old friends and new ones. The energy of Yogi Bhajan, who is the Mahan Tantric (Tantric Master), was present in the form of the video's he made while he was still in his physical body, and the event was facilitated by a yogi who had trained with Yogi Bhajan.

On the day itself I had the beginnings of a bad cold and was a little sleep deprived, so was far from my best. But as I've found in the past, often it is at those workshops where I'm under the weather, that I'm more able to surrender to the experience - possibly because I'm less 'in my mind' and more in my physical body. Back pain (normal for me when in an unsupported sitting position) turned out to be my biggest challenge. I found it difficult to meditate without resisting or 'suffering' with this discomfort. I don't know if I managed it, but in the week after the workshop I became aware of feeling a profound weight dropped from my mind. Part of me thought 'how long will this last?' but I noticed myself being more present in my physical body, more in tune with my own energy, and most importantly, not rushing as I tend to do habitually. This is highly significant for me because my rushing causes me a lot of stress and spills over into everything in my life. I became aware of a feeling of joy, enthusiasm and intense 'in-the-moment-ness', the kind of feeling where the very simple things are very gratifying, without having to run after anything. Due to my cold I spent a few days in bed which allowed me to integrate what I had experienced and to ease back gradually into normal life. I also had a huge crisis point in my relationship, with issues I had been suppressing, coming to a head and thus allowing me to deal with them. After that, my relationship moved onto a new level.

So whether or not you are experienced in yoga and meditation, when next White Tantra comes your way, I'd suggest you give it a try. It's usually in London in January, and in countries such as the U .S., Spain, France, Italy, and many others around the year. The Kundalini Yoga website for events worldwide is www.3ho.org.