Celibacy in Kaula Tantra
In the Kaula tradition the brahmacharya does not necessarily mean physical celibacy. In many cases it does, but the emphasis is elsewhere: the direction of consciousness. The Kaula practitioner does not withdraw from physical contact - but from wanting to own the experience. Brahmacharya here is not a freedom from desire, but desire transformation.
This attitude is not the abandonment of the world, but its gloss. A brahmacharya Kaula in my mind the state when sensory experience - whether it is a look, a breath or a touch - does not fall into the unconscious, but receive a fully present charge. The practitioner does not run away from the stimulus - but it penetrates deeply into his consciousness.
Classical brahmacharya is the discipline of retreat. The Kaula brahmacharya, on the other hand the density of concentration. The sensual world is not the enemy, but alchemical stove. The focus of consciousness, the intense presence burns out identification with the same forcethan mere resignation.
The key here is not "not to act", but to my attention is not scattered. The prana does not flow out towards the objects of desire, but condenses into a magnetic centre, which sees all experience - sensory or mental - as a reflection of Consciousness.
The classical yoga sutras explained in the brahmacharya is often presented as a safe framework that excludes sensuality, lest it "disturb the consciousness". However, the Kaula tradition has gone beyond this fear: recognised that there is no such thing as a world that can be left out.
Desire is always there - if not in the body, then in the mind. If not in the words, then in the imagination. If not in the partner, then in the disciple, in the sound, in the sight. A Kaula water he says: don't try to escape. Step inside. See. Burn. True self-control is not the rejection of objects, but the non-identification with objects through the intensity of presence.
A Kaula in sādhana the practitioner often experiences a retention of sexual energy - but not because he is afraid of itbut because knows that it cannot yet transform it. This attention-based "reversal" is not a rejection - but a humility in the face of fire.
The bindu (essence) does not dry up, but is gathering. This is the sūtra-form awareness, which pushes the practitioner deeper and deeper into the centre of himself, from where he no longer drifts on the surface of desires - but does not deny their existence.
Deep in the tantric path of brahmacharya final interpretation is when the practitioner is not outside, but within itself experience the union of Śakti and Śiva. This is the maithuna, for which no body is needed. The complete fusion of attention and práṇa in the heart - this is true "sacral self-control".
This is when the practitioner no longer fights against anything. He is not afraid of desire. It does not demonize sensuality. But concentrates your attention in a single point, in which all the forces that appear return to the Source.
Kaula brahmacharya does not say "withdraw from the world". It says:
"Take your attention back to yourself - and let the world dissolve within."
This is not the way to escape. It is the art of standing in the fire - of keeping the glow in the present. Brahmacharya here is not austerity - but the quality of intensity that doesn't want to own anything because it already has everything.
