BOOKS - suggested reading

Books:

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Classical Tantra

The Sakta Upanisads

Adyar Library and Research Centre

Gems From the Tantras - series (Kularnava Tantra and others) 

Compiled by M. P. Pandit

Tantra of the Great Liberation (Mahanirvana Tantra)

Arthur Avalon (Sir John Woodroffe)

Dover Publication

Classical Kundalini Tantra of Tamil Nadu and Saiva Siddhanta

Tirumantiram, by Tirumular

Babaji's Kriya Yoga Publications

The Yoga of the 18 Siddhas - An Anthology

Edited by T. N. Ganapathy

Published by Babaji's Kriya Yoga Publications.

The Yoga of Siddha Boganathar

Translations and commentary by T. N. Ganapathy

Babaji's Kriya Yoga Publications

"To attain liberation, direct the prana to the cakras

Where the supreme coiled snake [Kundalini-sakti] is the guru

Whose sublime wisdom will remove and snatch away misery;

The great auspicious secretions trickling down

will give peace of mind [samadhi]."

This quotation is based on T. N. Ganapathy's translation of verse 3 from Samadhi Dikshai (The Initiation Into Samadhi) by Siddha Boganathar.

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Contemporary teachings about Kundalini and scientific studies

The Hidden Power in Humans - Chakras and Kundalini

by Paramahans Swami Maheshwarandanda

Published by Ibera.

Traditional Indian Tantra, Kundalini Tantra, Siddha Yoga:

Kundalini Tantra

Swami Satyananda Saraswati (Bihar School of Yoga, India)

The Serpent Power: The Secrets of Tantric and Shaktic Yoga

Arthur Avalon (Sir John Woodroffe)

The Yoga of Siddha Boganathar

T.N. Ganapathy

Secret Techniques of Tantra Yoga Meditations

Swami Rathinananantha (Bharani Publications, India)

Kundalini - Evolution and Enlightenment

Edited by John White. Published by Paragon House.

Includes articles and excerpts from books and talks by:

Swami Rama

Swami Sivananda Radha

Haridas Chaudhuri

Yogi Amrit Desai

Vasant V. Merchant

Swami Vishnu Tirtha

Swami Ajaya

Christopher Hills

Ken Wilber

M. S. S. Gurucharan Singh Khalsa + Yogi Bhajan

Sadhu Singh Khalsa

Brian Van der Horst

Swami Muktananda

Paul Zweig

D. R. Butler

John Scudder

Gopi Krishna

Erik Floor

Philip Lansky

Marilyn Ferguson

Robert L. Peck

John R. M. Goyeche

Lee Sannella

Itzhak Bentov

Tontyn Hopman

John White

Geoffrey Nicoletti

Gene Kieffer

Kenneth Grant

Mineda J. McCleave

J. M. Pryse

Alice Bailey

M. P. Pandit

Sri Chimnoy

G. S. Arundale

Roy Eugene Davis

There are many books on the chakras, Kundalini and spiritual evolution, written by Hiroshi Motoyama, including:

Theories of the Chakras: Bridge to Higher Consciousness - Insights Into our Subtle Energy

by Hiroshi Motoyama

Science and the Evolution of Consciousness : Chakras, Ki and Psi

by Hiroshi Motoyama, with Rande Brown

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For a study of inner 'White Tantra' practised in celibacy:

Kundalini Yoga

by Swami Sivananda

Published by Divine Life Society.

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For a study of 'White Tantra' practised in sexual union, with semen retention:

Advanced Spiritual Intimacy - The Yoga of Deep Tantric Sensuality
by Stuart Sovatsky, Ph.D.
Published by Destiny Books.

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There are also books on this subject by Samael Aun Weor. There are many spiritual schools of Gnostic Anthropological studies that have become widespread around the world and which have their origin in his work.

It's good to be aware that these books can be confusing and disturbing to someone who is beginning to study Tantra and specially for anyone who is trying to recover from a strong judgemental religious upbringing,

These books are expressed in a language that is sometimes reminiscent of the Roman Catholic Church's medieval fear-mongering.

If you are drawn to Tantra for its 'open-heartedness' and resonate with the loving words of Rumi or Hafiz, you may find it difficult to engage with his books and with his judgement of other approaches to Tantra such as 'Grey Tantra' as being sinful and demonic.

Having familiarity with Theosophy, Anthroposophy, Alice Bailey's work or the work of Helena and Nicholas Roerich, or the 'Western Mystery Tradition' and researching about the author first could help in order to understand this 'Gnostic Tantra', 'Sexual Alchemy' or 'White Sexual Magic' as taught by Samael Aun Weor.

For an interesting overview of Tantra and its deeper dimensions:

Tantra - The Cult of the Feminine

by André Van Lysbeth

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For an insightful look at 'Neo-tantra' and sexological bodywork:

Reclaiming Eros - Sacred Whores & Healers

by Suzanne Blackburn and Margaret Wade, foreword by Kenneth Ray Stubbs

Suade Publishing.

For an insightful and very detailed look at the history of Yoga and Tantra:

The Yoga Tradition - Its History, Theory and Practice

by Georg Fueurstein, Ph.D.

Books on other specific themes:

Rasayana, Longevity, Vitality:

'Transform Stress Into Vitality'
by Mantak Chia
Healing Tao Books


Tantra for Intimate Relationships:

Advanced Spiritual Intimacy - The Yoga of Deep Tantric Sensuality

by Stuart Sovatsky, Ph.D.

Published by Destiny Books.

Tantra and Self-Realisation, Advaita:

'THE SONG OF RIBHU' - traditional Advaita


Mantra:
TO BE ADDED SOON


Clarity on Gurus and unorthodox methodologies:

Holy Madness - Spirituality, Crazy-Wise Teachings, and Enlightenment
by Georg Feuerstein
published by Hohm Press