Niten shares his journey into Tantra, from a slow approach to life, to the Indian marketplace to learning from and now teaching with, Sarita.
I guess I’d already tasted Tantra long before I even heard the word. I remember my parents complaining that I was “too slow”, whatever I was doing. At college, I heard the same from teachers. “You are too slow, can you please hurry up!” As I see it now, I was actually trying to “feel” rather than doing things in a mechanical way. Of course, I was never very efficient, but I truly blossomed in those moments when I could have plenty of time to feel through and become one with the experience.
It was only when I met Sarita and Geho at the age of 26 that I could validate these earlier experiences as being of spiritual value. Diving into Tantric methods seemed to me like regaining my original face and innocence, as nature intended. The way Sarita and Geho worked could be challenging at times but the essence was always the same: re-discovering my true nature.
My interest in Tantra continued to deepen when reading the fascinating story of Saraha, a Buddhist scholar and consultant of the King who left everything behind to be initiated by a woman in the market place. They lived on a crematory ground, or burning “ghats”, where bodies were burnt. Only when you can celebrate life amidst death can you be truly happy! Those words really struck me as I was living in Varanasi, India, at the time, just few yards away from the “burning ghats”. I remember sitting in front of dead bodies burning and being enveloped by a deep, peaceful silence, as if time totally stopped!
Living in India for almost 10 years allowed me to take my time and bring full awareness to my actions. My daily routine in the market place became my school. And shoe makers, rickshaw drivers, “chai walas” (tea stalls), silversmiths and so on, became my masters.
I could watch such people for hours, totally mesmerized by the enormous amount of love, devotion and totality they’d bring into their work. When I participated in my first Tantra courses later on, I would re-call the same qualities that I have experienced while living in India.
To me, the four key words to a sincere Tantric approach to life are: love, awareness, devotion and totality.
Bringing love into our actions immediately changes the quality and the final outcome. Love is like our “soul signature” carved onto every little thing we do in our daily life.
Awareness and totality are like two wings of the same bird, one leads inevitably to the other and vice versa.
To be total means not to be pre-occupied by the end result. Rather, one is so absorbed in the moment that no past, no future exists, only a crystal clear, pure, sense of awareness.
Devotion is like our intimate conversation with existence itself, allowing a sense of deep gratitude to be shared from our deepest core. And for no other reason other than the pure joy to be alive!
I’ve had the privilege to grow on the Tantric path with Sarita as my master. After 14 years of being by her side, imbibing from her wisdom, learning from her life experience and assisting her on numerous courses, I have witnessed a radical transformation within myself.
Two years ago, Sarita and I started to facilitate courses together. Leading groups is for me a deeper way to continue to learn about Tantra as well as having a platform to transmit my insights and life experience.
The beauty of witnessing participants embracing their process from pain/hurt to bliss/ecstasy is always very touching and it confirms one thing that has always been my inner mantra: “in the end, everyone wants to love and to be loved.”
With gratitude and growing happiness,
Niten x
Niten is sharing his Tantric path with his beloved Santoshi, who embodies the essential, feminine principle.
Together, they offer groups throughout Europe and the world as Tantra Spirit.
Niten is also a raw food adept and is currently conducting raw food workshops and retreats in the UK.
Picture of the Mumbai market copyright Isageum 2008
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