Theos-Talk Archives (December 1998 Message tt00172)

SUBJECT: Is  Karmamudra to be taken literally?:  More food for thought

One correspondent (apparently not on Theos-Talk) wrote privately to me concerning
"karmamudra":

"When the 1st Dalai Lama (one of Tsongkhapa's direct disciples) writes that
'Karmamudra is explained as the practice performed with a maiden possessing the
physical attributes of a woman, such as beautiful hair and so forth, with whom one has
a strong karmic link'  it seems to me that he is talking about a real person.

When Tsongkhapa says that both oneself and the yogic 'partner' must have received
initiation, keep all the vows and pledges, and have mastery of all the '64 arts'
described in the kamasutra it seems to me that he is talking about real people doing
real things. . . .

As Tsongkhapa says: 'All the authoritative tantric scriptures and treatises point out
that the  practice of Karmamudra is only to be performed by those who are qualified.
To engage in it on any other basis only opens the door to the lower realms. The
practice itself should be learned from a qualified master holding the authentic oral
tradition.' "

More food for thought. . . .