tantrika

the title on Asra Q Nomani's book which i've just completed.

when i saw the title, i thought oh great,:)..visions of the kama sutra flirting through my mind :) nothing of the kind,...the author was taking us on a spiritual journey of discovery. the book was more of, a travelogue of experiences that take her from west virginia, through the sub continent, and a spritual journey close to the nepalese border, to the dalai lama. at the outset, i thought i would be learning more about the greatness of the practice of tantra,...the first i ever heard of it, was through the much publicized live's of sting and trudy styler, who are practioner's of the "art". (supposedly)

the book was more of a journey of self discovery, to find her inner "chakra" really that spiritual center that most of us spend our lives trying to tap into. the journey to find "sukoon" (peace). we've all felt it caught up in our hectic lifestyles of work, to make money,...and then more money and more money.....all the time loosing our grip on the one thing that defines our existance. "who am i" the first thing you deal with in philosophy 101.

the realisation for me, is that neither the dalai lama, nor bhudism/hinduism or any other ism, can define that which the followers of these practices are searching for.it really lives within the centre of all human beings,...and we have to search within ourselves to find it,...

for me it lies within the belief structure that is islam, a simply defined way of life,that if followed naturally will find you that desired inner peace.
bhudists according to a chapter in the book,... have a fear of death, so a body is laid out to allow the soul to go peacefully into the next life,...and bhudists spend their time looking for ways to overcome the fear of death,... be it mantra's,..visits to the dalai lama. islam teaches us never to fear death, as we are returning to that which created us,there can be no greater joy nor peace therefore there cannot exist a fear of death. the concept is simple, yet effective.

really what seems to plague modern society,...is that people are to far removed from "ALLAH" from the freedom, we have when we believe in the existence of that which is greater than ourselves,...the idea that we are always sheltered,..when our actions are for the good of all human kind,...for fear of being moralistic,..the concept of right guidance. i don't believe that a guru, or the dalai lama,or bhuda can generate that security within people,....peace can be attained through "submission" to that which is greater than ourselves.

the sceptics in my family are choking in their tea cups at precisely this moment,however a belief in the "creator" doesn't make one less of a human being,.. or opressed as a result. there is strength in belief,and that is what spurs us on to be greater than we ever thought we could be. that ability lies within us all,.... in a world where the rules are constantly changing,islam simplifies life and is a constant guide,...which we have the privilege of tapping into without the intervention of "guru's/guides/monks/priests.....really it boils down to the belief that lies within the centre of us all. there is no compromise here.if we are honest with ourselves the right path always presents itself.