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Originally Posted by
MahaHrada
First of all:
Modern therapeutic sex tantra started with the indian born Guru Bhagavan Rajneesh´s (later called Osho) modern interpretation of tantra, all the important teachers of todays neo tantra are still disciples of Rajneesh.
Even before Rajneesh there was interest in tantrik sex from western occultist psychopaths like Aleister Crowley. Rajneesh was just another psychopath who used Tantra for his personal gain.
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The idea that Jesus is an Avatara or enlightened being that Islam and Christianity are equally valid path to God or truth, go back to Indian Gurus like Paramahamsa Yogananda, his teacher Lahiri Mahasaya, Vivekananda Ramakrishna, Satya Sai Baba etc.
The precursor of universalism had already been developed by the trancendentalists based on their misconceptions on the Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads. Vivekananda also was largely influenced by the theosophic society and other Indian societies that were influenced by protestantism.
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A more philosophical, psychological or sociological approach we can find in new age and neo advaita often shows the influence of teachers like Krishnamurti, Ramana Maharishi Nisargadatta and Aurobindo.
Even before that Carl Jung started to develop psychological theories on kundalini and chakras, also under the influence of the theosophic society.
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The focus on bodily postures in Yoga goes back to Indian Gurus like Swami Shivananda, Swami Kuvalayananda, Krishnamacharya etc.
It even goes further back than that, but it was a holistic Hindu tradition. In the west it has become this mishmash of fitness, universalism and capitalism.
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So most of the so called "Misinformation" mentioned in this thread has its origin in India and has been taught by Hindus, the impression that these ideas have developed in the west independent of Hindu Gurus is incomplete, western disciples simply repeated what their eastern Gurus have taught them.
I wouldn't blame the west alone, it's definitely a joint effort of westerners and some Indian gurus who were under the influence of western ideology. Aurobindo for example grew up in England as an atheist away from his parents, studying classical languages in a catholic school and eating sausages from the local butcher. Some of the early birds in the west who were interested in Hindu teachings, particularly the transcendentalists, did philosophise on their own account without the aid from Indian gurus and their works are still very popular in today's spiritual crowd.
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Secondly:
Then I ask you to keep in mind that Sexuality, literal worship of a living female, or of the female sexual organ and male Linga, use of intoxicants as part of Sadhana is a traditional Hindu practice and not an invention of Bhagavan Rajneesh or Neo Tantra. Compared to some of the Hindu practices the Neo tantra is toned down. So if you think that Neo tantra is disgusting do not further inquire about Hindu tantra.
The vedas go even further in sexual rites compared to tantra, so personally I am not disgusted by the idea of worshipping a linga/yoni. But I don't take neo tantrik sexuality seriously.