Prof. Sunita Singh-Sengupta
ISJS
Series of 3 seminars on
Integrating Modern Science and Spirituality for Social Wellness:
A Challenge of 21st Century
Seminar "A"
Consciousness and Knowledge: Scientific and Spiritual Perspectives
Delhi
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Session III: 17.00-17.30
Abstract:
Self Mastery for Developing Intra - Psychic Health: Insights from Indian Tantra System
All of us want to enjoy life; there is no doubt about it. However, this enjoyment or bhoga is generally looked down upon or denounced or renounced as it binds or restricts the self, keeps it chained to the objects of the world. The Tantra affirms that bhoga recoils on us because here we are not free to enjoy but are at the mercy of the things of enjoyment over which we have no control. “bhoga na bhukta vayameva bhuktah” meaning thereby we have not been able to enjoy the objects of enjoyment, instead we have been eaten up or devoured or enjoyed by them. Hence, the aim of Tantra is to make our enjoyment free and absolute by establishing a complete mastery over the objects or forces of Nature. In the absence of mastery we have allowed ourselves to be chained by pasa or fetters, through which we have been turned into pasus (beasts or slaves). The tantras are, therefore, in search of power and their approach is known commonly sakti-sadhana. The author in her present paper will discuss the internal mechanisms to remain healthy that have been mentioned in Indian Vedic and Buddhist scriptures.