By Elodia Thallon

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Now that the dividing wall has come down the second half of the camp begins with one of the most special spiritual exercises for the couple – couple asanas. This variation of the usual practice of individual yoga asanas, is a genius way to spiritualise the couple relationship, bringing new levels of depth and understanding between the two people.

When we do asanas, we put ourselves in resonance – we tune into a certain vibrational frequency – with universal aspects which through this resonance process then become amplified in our own being. By doing this with another person, especially one with whom we have an intimate and loving relationship, we amplify these aspects within our being even more, while at the same time bringing us closer to the one we love, and closer to God.

In last year’s summer Tantra Camp Mihai began to reveal the principles of Tantra. The Tantric path is made up of principles combined with experience and now for the first time in this school, these principles have been synthesized and they have found their debut here in Denmark. At this point in the camp it’s time to deepen our approach to the Tantric path together, through the comprehensive approach provided by these principles. Introducing this next chapter, Mihai told us that these principles “form a genuine net upon which the supreme consciousness manifests, forming the entire creation. They are not some parallel lines, each one showing one line, but they interact with one another forming a kind of intricate labyrinth of connections in which the limited being gets lost while at the same time they constitute a way to get free from these limits.”

The first principle for this camp is the principle of awareness. As Mihai already indicated in the opening lecture when he gave the three fundamental ways to identify with Shiva, awareness is one of the keys on the Tantric path, and one which we should have all been practicing fervently these days! Mihai introduces the first principle, stating, “There is no yoga which is superior to the state of awareness, being aware of the divine principle which exists in everything, is the supreme freedom.” We trick ourselves into believing we are awake, but due to the excessive use of the inferior mind we actually live in a kind of mental prison which brings us suffering and keeps us in a delusional state. However, when we truly awaken, emerging from the dream-like state we usually indulge in, we begin to become aware. This state of awareness is characterized by an intensive state of lucidity in which we live life in the present moment, with all our consciousness present in every action, functioning above the tendencies of the inferior mind. He says that “in order to wake up we need to be aware in those moments when we are awake and to imprint those moments on our memory. To stop the sleep of the consciousness we need to pierce the impression we already have by consciously focusing.” By being aware, we can gain control of all the resonances we have in every moment and this is why Tantra insists on the development of this awareness, by awakening the supramental level of our being through practicing certain techniques such as yoga asanas. The tantric adept has mastered control over all the energies, over all the resonances and as a result has freed him/herself from the bonds of ignorance. By being attentive and heart-full at the same time we can realize an almost complete state of awakening, but for this we must act without delay! For it is when we sleep that we delay our actions and when we are awake we act immediately. Through spontaneous, immediate action we disconnect the automatic mind, meaning we cut off the autopilot and start to live life consciously.

The principle of superior control reveals to us the secrets of energy control, from the exterior perspective – when we are outside the phenomenon. By being conscious of a phenomenon it implies that we step back from it and through this principle we can understand this. This principle indicates the practical way in which this power of consciousness over a certain phenomenon or manifestation can be obtained. Mihai tell us that superior control is “obtained through a spontaneous state of detachment from the phenomenon, lifting our point of view to a superior level from where we can truly have control.” It has exceptional importance in the spiritual practice, giving the orientation and the efficiency of the practice. An important aspect is that the presence of effort in the act of control limits the control ability to the ability of making the effort. So, superior control also means effortless control, meaning that by being in a detached state and being relaxed we can have this control without making extra effort, in fact the more detached and relaxed we are, the more easy it is to have superior control.

As these principles are all interconnected, part of the web that makes up Tantra, the principle of reality’s efficiency is closely connected with the principle of awareness. Reality’s efficiency is about being aware of the reality in which we are. “Being aware of this reality is not only the consequence of awakening, but is the condition for evolution,” Mihai explains. Tantra states that we should always start the journey where we are and the first rule of this is to know where we are. Unfortunately, most people have created an imaginary world in which they choose to live, they “create a surrogate reality, covering the walls of their prison cell with the snapshots of an imaginary reality,” therefore they cannot possibly know where they really are in a given moment! We have to stop and take our heads out of the sand and connect with the transformative power of reality – to actually live in The Reality. A very good way to tune into the reality is through the magic act of transfiguration, in which we perceive everything in its essence, in its true divine nature.

Here in the picturesque Danish countryside, transfiguration happens spontaneously. The idyllic landscape, reminds me of the spiritually fulfilling experience I had recently amongst the natural wonders of Bornholm. At certain moments in the day, particularly sunrise and sunset, this country is bathed in a heavenly light which awakens such a state of serenity and contentment inside of me. The beauty in these moments almost overwhelms me, bringing me closer to my divine nature. I realize how happy I am to be alive.

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By Michael Storm Jensen

Waking up this morning at a leisurely hour to do couple asanas was a welcome break from the disciplined vira routine. People were more relaxed and the atmosphere in the dining area was now filled with a more obvious flirting than the silent one we had just come out of. Doing the couple asanas that first day was intense and also an experience that grounded me into the spirit of the camp. It was also quite odd to see that there was no wall in the middle of the room, separating the men from the women. I can see how quickly I can establish a comfort zone. Where to sit and who to eat with becomes quickly a habit. It is like the bat that gets used to how the furniture is arranged in the room and flies through on autopilot. Then that is what there was - no awareness, only autopilot.

Later in the evening there was a massage lecture by some of the teachers, Ulrik and Daniela. It was very exciting to get some insight into the mysteries of tantric massage. Just being there in the room  and ready to participate in giving pleasure to someone else was like witnessing divine grace for me. I had the utmost respect for the shape of Shakti lay before my eyes. At first I didn’t dare to be firm in my stroke since I perceived something refined and sensuous in Shaktis shape. But quickly after it dawned on me that massage has to be firm and gentle also. Perceiving through the heart using my body and hands as an extension of the hearts intelligence is a challenge. Everyone (almost) can knead a loaf of bread, but to feel and perceive the tissue and muscles of shakti is something quite different .

On Saturday, after a hectic day of work I finally stood in the Brahmarandra spiral. Holding hands with so many people signifies the possibility of a harmonious brotherhood of man-kind. We were opening the channels of God to come through to this earth. That day standing in that unified filed of intent and surrender I just enjoyed being present and to experience the latent power that is always within our reach as long as we keep our minds open. I had the experience of mentally thinking a thought and then in the next moment what happened to me was that I was having that same experience in my body. That showed me how powerful my thoughts can be. It was a little more mysterious. I was in my mind casually experiencing a stream of thought; stream which I normally would deem as chattering of the mind, but when I started to mold the thought and mentally imagine my Sahashrara opening up, it really opened up quite strongly to the point where I got shivers and spasms in my body and then I was filled with a peace and inner harmony.

After the spiral followed the party, beginning first with some shows. Some of the participants in the camp did some performances and, my God, it was beautiful. Here are these girls that I casually interact with on a daily basis in normal situations over lunch or in the common areas and the next thing these beings transform themselves into magical creatures of grace and rare sensuality. I admire their courage in how they give of themselves in the performance. They are very open and I sense a radiance of their inner nature that is on fire in the moment of doing an act. Their movements and their gestures become not a matter of physical maneuvering, but a matter of seeing their inner nature or essence playfully manifesting in a room of curious onlookers. I remember the sense of delight and also the sense of seeing persons who were far more talented than me making me feel humble to be in their presence.

The dancing started after midnight and usually I am a little shy on the dance floor, but that night I let go and participated and joined the flirting on the floor. I danced intensely and let go of my rigid habits of mechanical movements and flowed into the soup of dancers that makes that chaotic twirling of people move in irrational patterns. I remember dancing with this one sweet shakti who just molded my movements into a coherent rhythm with the music. I felt like the dance floor had given me a second chance. I really felt like dancing all night, and went to sleep at 3 o'clock, to be ready to wake up the next morning for a new day of spiritual practice.

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