The Tantric Way Art, Science, Ritual by Ajit Mookerjee and Madhu Khanna.pdf

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The life-affirming philosophy of tantra and its applica-

tion to everyday life have created wide and enthusiastic

interest in the West in the past decade. The Tantric Way is

a practical guide to the creative mystery of this religious

and mystical system to achieve awareness.

Derived from the essential tenets of Indian thought,

tantra was nourished by radically different, even heretical,

sources. It embraces the fullest acceptance of physical

desires; it regards man as the embodiment of universal

forces; it accepts the natural world. Contemplation must

be active, and includes the use of meditative tools, group

rituals, rhythmic breathing, and sexual union. Nor does it

rule out the use of drugs to reach an expanded and

creative awareness. The sexual component of tantra has

long been misunderstood, obscured by the distaste of

nineteenth-century scholars and the secrecy of the

initiates; The Tantric Way explains the symbolism behind

the forthright language of the texts and the erotic

postures of tantric art.

The book is fully illustrated with paintings, drawings,

and diagrams. The illustrations serve to explain and

instruct, but the compelling work produced by tantric

artists will also have strong visual appeal to the Western

eye educated by Klee, Kandinsky, Mondrian, Rothko, and

Noland.

Ajit Mookerjee, author of Yoga Art (NYGS, 1975), is an

outstanding expert on tantric art and an important

collector, and his deep knowledge of the West makes him

an ideal interpreter. Madhu Khanna is a distinguished

scholar of Eastern and Western philosophies.

ON THE COVER: A gouache painting from a series illustrating the rise of Kundalini through

the psyche: the fish symbolizes its most primitive form, the lotus its most subtle and complex.

Rajasthan. c. 18th century.

18 color, 130 black and white illustrations,

80 line drawings

New York Graphic Society

11 Beacon Street, Boston 02108

Printed in England

THE

TANTRIC WAY

Art • Science • Ritual

AJIT MOOKERJEE AND

MADHU KHANNA

NEW YORK GRAPHIC SOCIETY

BOSTON

Frontispiece: Manuscript leaf

illustrating cosmic form of Krishna

with appropriate symbols.

Rajasthan, c. 19 th century. Ink

and colour on paper.

transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,

including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and

retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

International Standard Book Number: 0-8212-0704-0 cloth

International Standard Book Number: 0-8212-0705-9 paper

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 76-49738

First published in England by Thames and Hudson Ltd

First United States edition

New York Graphic Society books are published by

Little, Brown and Company

Printed in England

Color plates printed in the Netherlands

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