The Mystery of the Tantras

Springing from the more esoteric traditions of Mayhayana Buddhism, the Tantric rituals embodied the principle that enlightenment was indeed possible within a single lifetime. While many Buddhist practices eschewed the physical delights of life and embraced a more ascetic interpretation of the “Eightfold Path,” the Tantric tradition held that sensual delights could also lead to one to enlightenment. Female figures gained new prominence as vehicles for transformation and refinement of spiritual energies.

The concept of the sacred spiritual consort was superimposed over the image of the female Dakini, and  it was held, for the first time, that a woman could attain the same level of spiritual enlightenment as the Buddha. These powerful and transforming concepts have been preserved in Tantric traditions to this day. In “Taklamakan” the character Nala is initiated to the Tantric Rites in the scene “Whisper of Night.”

Wikipedia discusses the broad spectrum tantric ritual and symbolism: “Secret ritual may include any or all of the elements of ordinary ritual, either directly or substituted, along with other sensate rites and themes such as a feast (representing food, or sustenance), coitus (representing sexuality and procreation), the charnel grounds (representing death and transition) and defecation, urination and vomiting (representing waste, renewal, and fecundity).”

They go on to define the sexual element of the practice in these terms: “Sexual rites of Vama Marga may have emerged from early Hindu Tantra as a practical means of catalyzing biochemical transformations in the body to facilitate heightened states of awareness.[27] These constitute a vital offering to Tantric deities. Sexual rites may have also evolved from clan initiation ceremonies involving transactions of sexual fluids. Here the male initiate is inseminated or ensanguinated with the sexual emissions of the female consort, sometimes admixed with the semen of the guru. The Tantrika is thus transformed into a son of the clan (kulaputra) through the grace of his consort. The clan fluid (kuladravya) or clan nectar (kulamrita) is conceived as flowing naturally from her womb. Later developments in the rite emphasize the primacy of bliss and divine union, which replace the more bodily connotations of earlier forms. Although popularly equated with Tantra in its entirety in the West, such sexual rites were historically practiced by a minority of sects. For many practicing lineages, these maithuna practices progressed into psychological symbolism.[27]

When enacted as enjoined by the Tantras, the ritual culminates in a sublime experience of infinite awareness for both participants. Tantric texts specify that sex has three distinct and separate purposes—procreation, pleasure, and liberation. Those seeking liberation eschew frictional orgasm for a higher form of ecstasy, as the couple participating in the ritual lock in a static embrace. Several sexual rituals are recommended and practiced. These involve elaborate and meticulous preparatory and purificatory rites.”

The Dhalu Relics

One of the great mysteries and myths of Buddhism lies in the fate of the physical remains of the most exalted one himself, the Buddha. After his death in the 5th Century B.C., the Buddha’s remains were said to have been divided between ten powerful kings and princes, who enshrined them in great stupas to preserve them for veneration and worship into future generations. The powerful Indian King Asoka was said to have broken into the stupas to further disseminate the remains of the Buddha in 84,000 shrines throughout the world. Many of these relics invariably found their way into places and circles of power, such as the imperial courts of the Han and T’ang emperors.

Elaborate public ceremonies were held to consecrate and revere these reputed relics of the Buddha. Among the most curious was the “Finger Bone Veneration” ceremony held at regular 30 year intervals and on other occasions when the T’ang Emperors needed to bolster their flagging power or influence. Thus religion was used as much as a political prop as anything else, though undoubtedly, many who lived in the time of this story had great faith and genuine reverence for these traditions.

Taklamakan explores the mystery surrounding some of these events, and also touches on the practice of secreting these holy relics, the western equivilaents of the “Holy Grail” of the”Shroud of Turin,” in the ancient and venerable Buddhist religion. The old societies of priests, monks and their Guru Masters served in many ways as guardians and custodians of the sacred power places, shrines, stupas and holy relics. No story of this time would be complete without presenting some aspect of this tradition and history. The religious elements in the story are perhaps even more important than the political struggle.

Dhalu relic veneration ceremony