Question asked by Daniel
Dear Pastors,
Recently I have encountered an internal obstacle that has unfortunately planted a seed of doubt in my mind about the way of Vajrayana. I encountered by chance online discussions and websites that have brought up the topic of couple practice, that is practice with a consort by some monastics in the Tibetan Tradition. Even controversies like Sogyal Rinpoche's have been used as examples by some to argue how Vajrayana seem to tolerate or even at times deviate from what the Buddha had originally taught. Having only begun to learn about the Dharma, I am very distraught and confused right now on what to really think anymore. I am hoping you can please help me illuminate these issues more in hopes of clearing my internal obstacles.
Thank you so much.
Sincerely yours,
Dear Daniel,
I understand your predicament and will try to answer your question as best as I can. Sexual yoga is a quick path that can help the practitioner to realise emptiness. These special techniques are not practised in all Tibetan traditions. According to a high lama, one has to be almost a Buddha to practise it. So, without understanding this type of practice, do not criticise it or the people who practise it. If one wishes to take up this practice, one must check out the lama whether he is genuine or not. There are cases of exploitation. In fact, real tantric relationships are very rare. To have such a relationship, there must be no feeling of lust. Usually these tantric liaisons are practised by a highly realised male yogi and female yogini. A prerequisite of such a practice is that one should be able to protect oneself from the fault of seminal emission. According to the Kalachakra Tantra, such emission is damaging to the practice. There are books by the 14th Dalai Lama that you can read to develop understanding of the practice: “How to Practice, Way to a Meaningful Life”; “The Good Heart”; and “Sleeping,Dreaming and Dying”.
Since you are new in Dharma, you should concentrate on the preliminary practices to develop faith, as well as collect merits and wisdom. In Vajrayana Buddhism, your foundation must be very strong. As a beginner, you need to focus on improving your knowledge through studying, understanding and practice. I hope I have cleared your doubts. To be a good practitioner, you must not have doubts which are a hindrance to spiritual development.