Bibliography

You can order most of these book via Amazon:

Also see http://tantrayoga.ning.com & http://authentictantra.ning.com

Jewel in the Lotus The Tantric Path to Higher Consciousness by Sunyata Saraswati and Bodhi Avinasha revised, Ipsalu Publishing 2002.
The only complete and systematic course in Tantric Kriya Yoga it comprises twelve lessons giving detailed instructions in breathing, exercises, visualisations and techniques.

Tantric Love by Ma Ananda Sarita & Swami Anand Geho by Gaia Books. See excerpt
This practical step-by step guide is beautifully written and illustrated by Sarita & Geho - see their workshop details on this site.

Tantric Sex - a practical guide to sex and the joy of Tantra also by Ma Ananda Sarita & Swami Anand Geho by Gaia Books 2003

A Systematic Course in the Ancient Tantric Techniques of Yoga and Kriya by Satyananda Saraswati 2007. Almost 1,000 pages but by far the best and most comprehensive manual of tantric yoga. A lifetime of practice.

Tantra: The Path of Ecstasy by Georg Feuerstein; Shambhala Books 1998 See excerpt
This is a book on tantra written by a respected expert on Indian traditions with deep understanding of the subject. He critically examines some of the forms of tantra which have now come to the West.

The Art of Sexual Ecstasy by Margot Anand; Aquarian Press 1990
From the developer of SkyDancing Tantra this book blends traditional tantric practices with humanistic psychology and bodywork techniques. Sex as a bridge between body and soul.

Tantric Quest - An Encounter with Absolute Love by Daniel Odier, Inner Traditions International Rochester, Vermont, USA 1996
This is an amazing story of a young Frenchman's encounter with tantra and his initiation in India in the late1960's and 70's. It's riveting!

Tantric Awakening: A Woman's Initiation into the Path of Ecstasy by Valerie Brooks, Inner Traditions 2001.This is the story of a 19-year-old girl in California who discovers tantra. It is an account of her 11years with tantra and is very intense and exciting. It includes her use of tantric kriya yoga and the Cobra Breath. . A great book!

Desire - The Tantric path to Awakening by Daniel Odier .Inner Traditions International Rochester, Vermont, USA 2001 is an excellent book on tantra.

Sacred Sex by Bernadette Vallely. Piatkus Books 2004 is a good introduction to sex for spiritual, personal and global transformation.

Aphrodite's Daughters - Women's Sexual Stories and the Journey of the Soul -by Jalaja Bonheim, Fireside 1997. A brilliant book totally on tantra but written from her interviews with many women about the journey of their sexuality through their life.

Yoga Spandakarika - The Sacred Texts of the Origins of Tantra by Daniel Odier 2005 Inner Traditions, Rochester Vermont USA . A good commentary on an early important tantric test from the Kashmir Shaivism tradition. Each stanza is a gem.

Tantric Sex - Making love last by Cassandra Lorius; Thorsons 1999 See excerpt.
.A good introduction to sexual tantra with practical exercises and good basic writing on tantra.

The Tantric Way by Ajit Mookerjee and Madhu Khanna; Thames & Hudson 1977 Mookerjee spent many years studying and living according to tantric principles and this book covers the whole range of tantra its art, science and rituals.

Introduction to Tantra by Lama Thubten Yeshe 1998
A brief and classic introduction to all aspects of non-sexual Buddhist tantra.

Tantra – The Indian Cult of Ecstasy by Philip Rawson; Thames & Hudson 1973.
A beautiful book mainly of plates and pictures of tantric statues, paintings and objects with an introduction which is excellent on tantric cosmology.

TANTRA The Supreme Understanding – Discourses on the Tantric Way of Tilopa’s Song of Mahamudra by Osho; The Rebel Publishing House.

Passionate Enlightenment – Women in Tantric Buddhism by Miranda Shaw; Princetown University Press 1994.See interview with Miranda Shaw
Written by a scholar who is also a practitioner, this book gives new evidence of the independent female founders of Tantra.

Great Swan - Meetings with Ramakrishna by Lex Hixon, Larson Publications.1996. A brilliant book on one of the greatest nineteenth century Bengali tantric masters. vividly full of his tantric teachings.

Sexual Energy Ecstasy – A Practical Guide to Lovemaking Secrets of The East and West by David and Ellen Ramsdale; Bantam Books 1993
This book is an encyclopaedic treasury on sacred sexuality.

Sexual Secrets – The Alchemy of Ecstasy by Nik Douglas and Penny Slinger; Destiny Books 1979.
Nik Douglas lived for eight years in the Himalayas and has studied and practiced tantra for many years. This book is the definitive guide to Oriental sex and mysticism.

Aghora - At the Left Hand of God by Robert E. Svoboda. Brotherhoode of Life, Inc. Albuquerque, New Mexico.
An account of the author's time with the Aghor Vimmalananda in India in the 1950's. It gives a flavour of the life and the rituals of an aghori in India and is a perfect cure for those who think that tantra is all about intimacy and sex! More about magic and rituals in the burning ghats.

Rainbow of Liberated Energy – Working with the Emotions through the Colour and Element Symbolism of Tibetan Tantra by Ngakpa Chogyam; Element Books 1986.
An English-born lama uses the elemental tantric energies earth, fire water, air and space to consider emotions and meditation.

Tantric Grounds and Paths by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso; Tharpa Publications 1994
The best current book of the non-sexual tantra path from a Tantric master, born in Tibet and living in England since 1977 who writes widely on all aspects of Buddhism.

Tantra Unveiled - Seducing the Forces of Matter and Spirit by Pandit R. Tiguanait Contains stories and myths and gives a real flavour of real Indian tantra and encounters with tantric adepts.

As It Is - A Year on the road with a Tantric Teacher by M. Young
A book about a Western Baul teacher called Lee Lozowick who since 1975 has been receiving direct revelation to surrender to God.

Modern Sex Magick - Secrets of Erotic Spirituality by Donald Michael Kraig Llewellyn Publications St. Paul Minnesota USA. 2001 Occasionally weird, but comprehensive with a great deal of learning and experience in it. Good contributions by four women practitioners.

Journey Without Goal - The Tantric Wisdom of the Buddha by Chogyam Trungpa
This well-known writer introduces the principles of Buddhist Tantra and gives a direct experiential picture of the Tantric world as well as the differences between Buddhist and Hindu Tantra.

Taoist Yoga and Sexual Energy - Transforming Your Body, Mind & Spirit by Eric S. Yudelove.
A course in Taoist yoga and internal alchemy which teaches methods of circulating energy around the body and harmonising it. Some are quite complicated but less so than Mantak Chia's books.

The Way of the Superior Man by David Deida. Sounds True, Boulder , USA 2004. This book give David Deidas unique understanding for men on women, work and sexual desire as it is played out in contemporary society. It is definitely tantric bur from a modern perspective. Brilliant.

Dear Lover by David Deida. Sounds True, Boulder is a book he wrote to women - its brilliant and easy to read.

Tantra - Discovering the Power of Pre-Orgasmic Sex 2006 by Yogani is a great concise stating of sexual tantra in clear yoga terms. It is part of a series in the Advanced Yoga Practice Enlightenment Series and its 100 pages covers sexual energy and yoga practice in clear terms.

Books which show the approaches we use to integrate tantra with other personal growth and spiritual approaches.

Integral Psychology - Ken Wilber 2000. We are all on a psychological and spiritual journey and Kew Wilber has written at length on the stages of this journey and the many different therapies, and spiritual theories which are part of it. His output is vast and the scale of his thinking awesome.

Boomeritis - A Novel that will set you free - Ken Wilber. Shambhala 2002. He sets out his spectrum of consciousness with a strong critique of much modern thought in the form of a novel of a young computer geek who attends seminars on integration. A very accessible presentation of his ideas in a novel form with very tantric conclusions. Do read this if you want the big picture of modern life where it came from where it is heading and how tantra can change things.

The Diamond Approach - An Introduction to the Teachings of H.A. Almaas by John Davis, Shambhala 1999. Almaas more than any other teacher/therapist has brought together, psychodynamic, humanistic, Reichian body therapies with spiritual practice at a very deep level over the last 20 years of his writing and practice. He has written many book - some based on his talks. It may be best to read a book like John Davis first to get an overview as it is otherwise too lengthy and detailed.

The Lover Within - Opening to Energy in Sexual Practice by Julie Henderson. Station Hill, Barrtown Ltd. USA. 1999
An expanded edition of a book from 1986 on energy and sexuality written by a psychotherapist who is also experienced in Tibetan energy work.

Total Orgasm by Jack Lee Rosenberg Random House. 1973 Bioenergetic bodywork for increased sexual energy and pleasure a classic book.

The Enlightenment Process - How it deepens your experience of Self, Body and Community by Judith Blackstone, Element 1997.This is a practical book with a few simple exercises for "subtle self" work. This book is very good on showing how the enlightenment process is not a process of self-annihilation but of discovering our authentic selfhood and our sense of connection to others and the world.

The Deeper Dimensions of Yoga. Theory & practice by Georg Feuerstein 2003 A survey of all aspects of this 5,000 year old tradition that is so connected to tantra, as a path of self-transformation.

The Biology of Transcendence: A Blueprint of the Human Spirit by Joseph Chilton Pearce. This book uses latest brain research to show how transcendence is our biological imperative not an abstract idea and it is rooted in neural organisation.