New Aeon TantraSecrets of Typhonian Magick & Western Tantra

Beginnings

In ancient Greece, across the portico of the Temple of the Pythian Apollo in Delphi, was the injunction gnothi seauton: "know thyself." Humankind has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, as is seen in the manifold religions, mythologies, philosophies, cults and superstitions from antiquity to the present. The gnostic journey is unique; it is a path of unity and wholeness, as self-discovery leads to the ultimate realization of the divine.

Eastern schools have long traditions of teaching practices that assist the student in achieving the realization of oneness, or wholeness, with reality. In the West, the ancient mystery schools carried on this tradition, and continue to this day in their heirs and reconstructions. The somewhat modern schools of Jungian psychology carry on the work in another form that may prepare the aspirant for the currents of light—or pure consciousness—that will be released to flow unrestricted in the integrated, whole Self.

Samadhi is a term used in Eastern mysticism to denote a condition of union or wholeness that is beyond the illusion and constraints of temporal time and consciousness—in other words, samadhi refers to the direct experience of non-dual consciousness. It is one of the traditional eight limbs of yoga as described by Patanjali, and is the direct result of certain practices of meditation and yoga. This term finds its cognate in the Western idea of gnosis, the direct experience of reality in non-dual awakening. In the yogic and Hindu traditions, samadhi refers to a state of profound meditative absorption and union with the divine. There are different types or levels of samadhi, each with its unique characteristics and depth of experience:

• Savikalpa Samadhi: Also known as "samadhi with mental modifications" or "samadhi with seed," this is an initial stage of samadhi where the practitioner experiences a deep, meditative absorption while still maintaining some level of awareness of the external world, and the distinction between the self and the object of meditation.

• Nirvikalpa Samadhi: In this state of "samadhi without mental modifications" or "samadhi without seed," the practitioner enters a state of complete absorption, where all mental activities and modifications cease. The distinction between the self and the object of meditation dissolves, leading to a state of pure consciousness and transcendence of duality.

• Sahaja Samadhi: This is considered the highest form of samadhi, often referred to as "natural" or "effortless" samadhi. In this state, the practitioner experiences a continuous state of union and divine consciousness, even while engaged in everyday activities. It is said to be a state of spontaneous and integrated enlightenment.

To these are added additional categories:

• Asamprajnata Samadhi: Also known as "non-dual samadhi" or "formless samadhi," this state goes beyond the realm of conceptual understanding and perception. It transcends all mental constructs, and even the sense of individual self. It is a state of pure awareness, devoid of any content or object.

• Samprajnata Samadhi: This type of samadhi involves a meditative state with specific cognitive processes or "seeds" of knowledge. It is characterized by the presence of thoughts, images and a certain level of mental activity, yet the practitioner remains absorbed in the object of meditation.

Yoga, meditation and magic are not the only avenues to such realization, but they are time-tested techniques which have proven their ability to help the mind "wake up" to Self-Realization. The spontaneous experience and integration of Sahaja Samadhi may open up unexpectedly during "flow states"—including the ecstatic, consciousness-expanding experience of orgasm. Aleister Crowley noted that the formula of Babalon is "constant copulation or Samadhi on everything" (The Vision and the Voice). This is reminiscent of occult artist-magician Austin Osman Spare’s realization that "All things fornicate all the time." Sex magick, and to a much deeper extent certain tantrik practices, are directly associated with these transformative states of consciousness. Working with "bliss" (ananda) is a keynote of tantric ritual work, be it through actual physical workings with a consort, or through meditative visualization practices that harness highly erotic imagery in a ritualistic context.

Through a regular discipline of practice and self-investigation, it is possible to achieve firsthand experience of samadhi and the resulting gnostic breakthrough. The benefits of this experience are profound. With stabilization and recurring immersion in the Infinite Light (or LVX) of the Gnostics, the Great Work itself may be accomplished—to become liberated while living.

The best method for such work is to have a guide who has already walked some distance on the path. In some cases, it may not be possible or practical to connect with a school or teacher due to distance, time or other factors. This should in no way keep an aspirant from practicing. The earnest spiritual seeker will find the school that best fits their developmental stage and requirements. As it has always been, when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. In the meantime, it is important to begin a regular practice in preparation for when the inner teacher establishes contact. The real guide is the inner guru, the awakened consciousness. Any external teachers are reflections of this true inner awareness, and true teachers emphasize this reliance on Self, and turn the student back again and again onto their true, Awakened Self.

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Although the practices in this book were designed and written with the philosophy of Thelema as the underlying basis, it is important to understand that they are not tied to one particular philosophical or religious point of view. They are designed solely to enable diligent and earnest students to achieve real change in their lives, to experience different levels of consciousness firsthand, and to achieve gnosis—self-knowledge—which is to experience the presence of the divine directly.