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.A word now as to Symbolism, which exists in all religions in varying degrees.The Tantra Shastra is extraordinarily full of it in all its kinds -- form, color, language, number, action.The subject is a highly interesting but very lengthy one.I can only make two remarks with regard to it here.Red is a favorite color in the Shakta Tantras.As pointed out in the Bhavanopanisad (Sutra 28) an Upanishad of the Kadimata and Bhaskararaya's commentary thereon, Redness denotes Raga and Vimarsha Shakti.(See Introduction to Tantraraja Tantra Vol.VIII, Tantrik Texts, and Vol.XI, Tantrik Texts.) There is a good deal of what is called erotic symbolism in some of the Tantras.This is apt to shock many English people, who are by no means all so moral in fact as some might think this sensitivity suggests."The Hindus are very natural as regards sexual matters." An English clergyman remarks (E.F.Elwin India and the Indians, p.70) "A leading Indian Christian said to me 'there is no reserve among us in the sense that you English people have it.There is nothing which our children do not know." It should be added, says this author, "that the knowledge of evil (why I may ask is it always evil?) does not as a matter of course produce evil".The mind of the ancients was a natural one and they called a spade a spade and not an horticultural instrument, and were not shocked thereby.For instance, coupled Yab-Yum figures were not thought impure.Another point has been observed upon by the Italian author Guido Gozzano, namely, that the European has lost the power of "worshipping through the flesh" which existed in antique pagan times.(Verso la cuna del Mondo).Fear of erotic symbols is rather indicative in the generality of cases of a tendency to weakness and want of self-control.The great Edward Carpenter speaks of the "impure hush" in these matters.A person whose mind is naturally bent towards sensual thoughts but who desires to control them has no doubt a fear, which one readily understands, of anything which may provoke such thoughts.But such a man is, in this respect, lower than him who looks upon natural things in a natural way without fear of injury to himself; and greatly lower than him to whom all is a manifestation of the One Consciousness, and who realizes this in those things which are the cause of all to the imperfectly self-governed Pashu.Nothing is in itself impure.It is the mind which makes it so.It is however absolutely right that persons who feel that they have not sufficient self-control should, until they gain it, avoid what they think may do them injury.Apart from symbolism there are statements in some Shastras or so-called Shastras which are, in the ordinary modern sense, obscene.Some years ago a man wrote to me that he had come across in the Tantras "obscenities the very reading of which was demoralizing".The very fact that these portions of the Scripture had such an effect on him is a sufficient reason that he and others similarly situated should not read them.The Tantra Shastra recognizes this principle by certain injunctions into which I cannot enter here.The Kularnava expressly says that the Chapter on the Wine ritual is not to be read (Na pathed asavollasam); that is, by the unqualified.Again it is not necessary to admit either that every Text which calls Itself a Tantra is a genuine one or if so that it was the product of a high class Sadhaka.What is authoritative is that which is generally admitted to be so.Even if the Scripture be one of general acceptance, there is another matter to be remembered.As pointed out in Karpuradistotra (Hymn to Kali, where instances are given), an http://www.sacred-texts.com/tantra/sas/sas26.htm (31 of 33)07/03/2005 16:04:36Chapter Twenty-six: Shakta Sadhana (The Ordinary Ritual)apparently "obscene" statement may disguise something which is not so.Why it may be asked? An intending disciple may be questioned as to such passages.If he is a gross-minded or stupid man his answers will show it.Those who are not fit for the reception of the doctrine may be kept off on hearing or reading such statements which may be of such a character that anyone but a fool would know that they were not to be taken literally.It may be that the passages which my correspondent read were of this character.As regards erotic symbolism, however, (for to this I now limit myself) it is not peculiar to the Tantras.It is as old as the hills and may be found in other Scriptures.It is a matter of embarrassment to the class I have mentioned that the Bible is not free from it.Milton, after referring to Solomon's wedded leisures says, "In the Song of Songs which is generally believed, even in the jolliest expressions, to figure the spousals of the Church with Christ, sings of a thousand raptures between those two lovely ones far on the hither side of carnal enjoyment." If we would picture the cosmic processes we must take the materials therefor from our own life.It is not always necessary to go to the erotic life.But man has generally done so for reasons I need not discuss here; and his selections must sometimes be admitted to be very apt
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