Full Circle

October 2006

Hilton's Story

Chapter 16  Madurai

Madurai, the largest city in the State of Tamilnadu, is located on the banks of the river Vaigai. Famous for fragrant jasmine flowers it is where Lord Shiva performed the sixty-four wonders called Thiruvilaiyadais. The city was built to celebrate the Shiva linga in a forest of Kadamba trees and when Lord Shiva came there nectar dripped from his matted locks and hence the name Madurai from the word madhu meaning honey. The city prospered in the time when Greece was the centre of the civilized world. It is now famous for festivals and pleasure and exemplifies the Tantric desire for wonder and ecstasy.

The bus stopped at the Taj Garden Retreat hotel and a grateful group of pilgrims emerged into the sweet smelling air as Bob directed the unloading of bags and room assignments. They would stay here for the next three busy days visiting the spectacular Meenakshi Sundareswarar twin temples and other places in this bustling city.

That evening the group met for a drink in the bar and chatted about their expectations. The talk was about Tantra and everyone agreed that they wanted to experience more of the positive energy of Tantric meditation. After awhile some of them drifted out for a walk through the hotel gardens to watch the moon rise over the river. The humid night air was filled with mystery and romance and Kay and Hilton walked along the streets through the throngs of people hustling about their business. They were greeted by the curious mixture of Indian, Tamil and British culture displayed on signs, in the architecture and products in shop windows. As they passed a corner street urchins appeared with hands out and Hilton started to reach into his pocket but then held back fearful that it wouldn’t take long to be swarmed if they gave the appearance of overt generosity. Kay turned to retreat to the hotel and told him that they should practice their meditation. Possibly, just possibly, they could induce the kundalini again tonight.

As Hilton concentrated on his breathing his lingam brushed ever so slightly against Kay’s yoni. Immediately a spark ran up his spine and a momentary warm glow of kundalini flowed up his spine but it stopped when contact with Kay was broken. He was very confused and slipped out of the meditative state. Kay had also jumped as if shocked by their contact. Their hearts were beating rapidly as they looked into each other’s eyes questioning their experience. Hilton felt his heart expand inside his chest with a feeling of oneness with Kay. He had never felt this way for another person in his life. She had a look of rapture that must indicate a similar feeling and when they spoke she described exactly what Hilton was feeling.

“Something strange is happening, my darling,” Hilton managed to say. “ Is there something in India that is taking control of us? It feels wonderful. I love you so much I can’t say it.”

She could only answer that she loved him more than anything she had ever known.

The next morning dawned bright and clear. Birds sang noisily in the trees and shrubs of the hotel grounds as Hilton rolled out of bed. Kay groaned quietly and rose gracefully. They were to visit the Meenakshi Temple not far from the hotel. It is one of the biggest temples in India with two sanctuaries; one dedicated to Shiva and the other to Mother Meenakshi, his wife and is a place where people come to meditate. There are twelve massive gateways into the temple site and a golden lotus pond to the left of the Meenakshi Shrine. Inside is a hall with a thousand pillars each with a carved figure and many pillars produce a different musical note when struck. The site is an architectural and engineering marvel from the 16^th century.

It took awhile for everyone to get into the bus but when they arrived they were awestruck by the gateway that reached upwards for sixty metres covered with carved figures scrambling over each other to reach the top. This was one of four main entrance gates all of equal size and intricacy. The grandeur and beauty of the buildings inside the walls was equally amazing. Many sites throughout India have a central linga in honour of Shiva and Bob pointed the gateway towers are a form of linga. The linga is a sign of the power of Shiva representing the lingam that is part of the male anatomy. It is not related only to Tantra but is a generally accepted object of worship.

Bob directed them to a small courtyard where an old yogi guru practicing yogic meditation was waiting. As they approached he looked up and his mouth formed a grin as he recognized Bob and Jess. He waved them over and signalled them to sit. Low stone benches were available for people who had difficulty with the lotus position. Bob and Jess paid homage and sat one on each side of the old man. Bob then introduced each member of the group and explained that this guru, whose was called Sariputa, had instructed them on their last visit to Madurai. He then begged Sariputa to give Tantra instruction to this group of pilgrims and offered alms as a token of goodwill. This guru had a very good, if singsong, command of English and agreed to instruct the pilgrims from America.

As he spoke images of ancient times appeared in the minds of his listeners. The stories of Lord Shiva and the Mother Goddess flowed easily from his lips as he painted the background of Tantric thought and practice. Then he held up his hand and said it was time to meditate. He wanted the pilgrims to meditate and with specific instruction to concentrate on the Muladhara Chakra situated at the base of the spine. They must breath deeply through their noses and feel the air move in and out and enjoy the smell of the flowers. The meditation period began and before long everyone’s mind cleared and became quiet. When Sariputa signalled meditation was over many of the group regretted returning to the mundane or samsara world. They were all amazed at how easily they attained the quiet mind of deep meditation and wondered if there was a special power in this courtyard of the Temple. Hilton and Kay both felt it deeply and began to suspect that India itself was the power.

Sariputa then spoke about the seven Chakras and named then from the base of the spine as Muladhara, then Swadhisthana at the sexual area, Maniputa behind the navel, Anahata near the heart, Vishuddha in the throat, Ajna between the eyes and Sahasrara, the crown. Everyone already knew about the Chakras but then he explained the flow of energy on the three pathways called pingala, susumna and ida. Susumna is the spinal column and all the Chakras are attached to it while pingala and ida follow the lymphatic system to the left and to the right of the body ending at the nostrils. They begin in the Muladhara Chakra and carry energy throughout the body. Susumna carries the energy of kundalini.

When he finished discussing the Chakras he called for another period of meditation and instructed everyone to concentrate on the Swadhisthana Chakra and again to breath as before. As their minds became quiet some people felt a warming of their lingam or yoni, particularly the ones who were able to concentrate most fully. Strangely, if their concentration faded the warm sexual feeling went away abruptly. When the meditation was over Jack asked Sariputa about the sexual feeling that flowed through their chakras. He said it was the energy of kundalini, the power of Shiva and the snake.

Bob paid homage to Sariputa and gave alms as they got up to leave the courtyard. He agreed to receive them again the next day and by now everyone was very hungry and began to look for a place to eat. Chakras are fine when the stomach isn’t growling.

Bob suggested they disperse and look at whatever they wanted separately but to meet at the hotel for dinner at six o’clock. Kay and Hilton joined with Jack Giorgno and his wife Pat to walk through the hall with a thousand columns. The carvings and statues on the columns depicted Gods and Goddesses in so many forms including elephants, warriors, monsters and figures with six and more arms each holding different objects. Jack and Hilton agreed it would take a lifetime to understand the significance of these things in the Hindu and Tamil religious orders but the hall was breathtaking and a marvel to experience. Outside the Lotus Pond shimmered in the afternoon sunlight and the Shrine to the Goddess Meenakshi created more wonders to see. Jack had visited the great cathedrals of Europe many of which were built about the same period as this temple. What, he wondered, was the human condition that allowed the creation of such beautiful architecture in so many different areas of the world when today it is difficult to build anything of lasting beauty or ornate design anywhere. Has humankind progressed or has it regressed in its cultural development? They discussed the question as they walked back to the hotel but came to no answer.

The next morning the group went straight to the courtyard where their guru was already deep in meditation. He finally acknowledged them and bade them to sit. Bob and Jess paid homage as before and placed alms in his begging bowl. He began his talk with a question asking to no one in particular “who are you?” and “what is love?” He then explained that Trantric meditation was a means to truly answer these questions. He said that he understood that many westerners believed that Tantra involved sex and was practiced to maximize sexual pleasure. “The truth is”, he said, “that it uses sexual energy to achieve the ultimate spiritual freedom”.

All religious practices in the east including Hinduism, Buddhism, Janism and Zen try to achieve the ultimate spiritual freedom and release from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth by becoming enlightened using various techniques including yoga and meditation. An ancient yoga master is recorded to have said “For the sage, everything in this world is suffering and pain” and Buddha said “Everything is pain, everything is ephemeral in the samsara world.” Fortunately, this universal pain does not lead to a pessimistic philosophy but has a positive value stimulating the aspiration to reach the state of ultimate freedom and the aim of every spiritual path is to achieve freedom from suffering. Tantra does this by a gradual expansion of the field of consciousness that involves a profound purification of the body, the aura and the mind. It is said that the physical and subtle bodies of a Tantric practitioner are pure as a diamond and bright as lightning.

When Sariputa stopped talking someone asked how Tantra became popular with the common people and doesn’t have a hierarchical structure of Brahmins, monks and so on like Hinduism and Buddhism.

Sariputa looked up as if gazing back into the depths of time and said that Tantra rose as a protest to the structure of organized Buddhism nearly fifteen hundred years ago when Mahayana Buddhism enjoyed its period of great philosophical and intellectual influence. The Tantric Buddhists believed that self-mastery was to be tested amidst family life, the marketplace and the town. They believed that desire, passion and ecstasy should be embraced on the religious path. The Tantric revolution gained popular and royal support and eventually became part of monastic universities patronized and attended by both Hindus and Buddhists. In the meantime wandering lay gurus carried the message to the people who adapted it to their old practices, symbols and deities. In this way Tantra influenced Buddhism and Hinduism at the lay level but the monastic priests, monks and nuns remained cloistered in their traditional ancient practices of celibacy and personal enlightenment.

Tantra is not a religion as the other religions. It does not require adherents to give up their original faith including Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism or Islam. It is a spiritual philosophy for achieving a goal, not in the isolation of a monk but as a participant with others and particularly with a partner just as Shiva and Shatki are partners. The use of yoga, meditation and sexual energy are combined to achieve pleasure, liberation and enlightenment perhaps leading to Buddhist Nirvana.

Sariputa stopped and indicated that the pilgrims should meditate upon his words. He reminded them of the breathing exercise, the proper posture and to focus again on the Muladhara Chakra to ensure these thoughts are firmly rooted.

After meditation he spoke again saying that the answer to his question “what is love?” is very profound. It is not the bliss of romantic love as practiced in western culture but is understood to be a total empathetic identification of one person with the innermost being of the other in harmony with the infinite. Such a condition can only be realized when the two people are totally united by their kundalini energy. “The other question”, he said, “I will leave with you. You may meet another guru more knowledgeable than I who will help you to answer the question “who are you”. In the meantime meditate on the interpretation of love and perhaps you will achieve it”.

Sariputa signalled the session was over and the pilgrims took their leave after paying homage and giving thanks for his instruction. Bob suggested that they should go to another area of the temple and meditate. Hilton and Kay spoke quietly and Hilton told her that he thought he might understand the concept of love. He said that in some of their moments of private meditation he could feel like he was becoming one with her.

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