Customer Reviews

Tools for Tantra

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There are a number of reviews here warning against this book, not for its actual content, but because of the idea of practicing Tantra. I will try to restrict this review to a critique of the actual book. I'll venture to say that I doubt this book was written with the intention of use by dabblers in Tantra without teachers. It is constructed in such a way as to offer reasonably authentic material, though without essential pieces taught by authentic teachers, which are generally the pieces that could get students into trouble, or more specifically, toward some kind of spiritual enlightenment. This is the nature of a secretive, initiatory system such as Tantra.

The primary problem with this work, in my opinion, is its transliteration. Sanskrit mantras are transliterated into Hindi pronunciation (for instance, hring instead of hrim), and genuine tantric practitioners will note that pronunciation is an important component of effective sadhana, at least at the intermediate and advanced levels.

I would recommend this book to those who are already familiar with Tantra, who wish to widen their perspective and have access to a number of useful materials, such as mantras (though, as warned above, they are not transliterated correctly, and those who do not speak and read Sanskrit may not catch this), yantras and useful (if not always correct, in its attempts to capture universality) interpretations, definitions and explications of imagery and practices. I would not recommend it for beginners, although it is useful in breaking the notion that Westerners often have, that Tantra is all about sex (which it most certainly is not!).

This book is a must for any serious student of tantra.The information contained is presented in an academic fashion without intimidating the reader.The author presents enough to make his points,complete his lesson,or just impart fact about Tantra without losing the meaning.Great stuff about prayers,yantras,cosmology,and a load more about Tantra.A fantastic book I highly recommend!

Buy this book, read it carefully, reflect on what you find, assimililte what you can, then move on and don't look back!

There is much about Tantra and Hinduism and it's nature that is valuable in this book. You need to know it and what this "thread" of Tantra is about.

For the web of life is created by many such threads.

Look for yourself on page 26 table 5 to understand the true nature of this Tantra: The Ten Karmas of Mantras!

Look and see for yourself what this path is about: This is a path of power, manipulation and desire.

Only the peaceful mantras of Shanti Karma do not bind you to the invisible "thread" of the dark side of Tantra.

As University graduate in Comparitive Religion and India studies, an ex-personal student of Mr. Johari in the 70s, and as a person who has lived and traveled in the Far East for the last 8 years studying Hinduism and Buddhism, take my advice and do not be led into any New Age dreams or fantasies about the real nature of this type of Tantra.

If you are attracted by the beautiful sensual art of this book and enter into the "Door" where they stand guard and beckon so seductively, know that in this house of Beauty and Music and art Philosophy and Laughter lives deep within the basement a terror of dark magic power far beyond your comprehension:

Dhumavati - She who stalks the burning ground, She who haunts the crematoriums. She who waits in dark places unkown and long forgotten to most living men to caputure unsuspecting souls.

She who is distorted and disbalanced. She who's Yantras and Mantras cause pain, suffering, death and despair. She who does not fear Shiva.

This is part of the Tantra that is contained in this book. Do not think it is myth or old wives tales. It is as real as the primal sounds and patterns that this book contains.

Tread this path as carefully as you would when walking a razor's edge. Do not think it is fantasy, it is indeed a dark reality few can fathom. If you, as a neophite tantrik, think you can cope with the dark forces unleased by the Uchchatan, Vidweshan and Maran Mantras that you may desire to invoke, you are totally deluding yourself.

Beware - amid the images that entice so gently and blissfully also live the the dark side of Tantra and power of Kali ma, Chinnamasta and Dhumavati. When you open this book and when you close it Circle yourself with the protection of the Maha mantra: Om Shanti - Sita Ram, Ram Ram, Hari Ram, Om Shanti Shanti Shanti. Read this book! And take care. Good luck my friends. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.

That said, this is a good book on tantra. A customer warns against some possibilites to be led astray, but I can only say this -- if one reads BOOKS on kabbalah without the insight of a teacher one can also be led astray, or books on any of the hgiher level mystic teachings. All the dzogchen paths require a teacher, and tantra is a serious practice that is not about sex but about working with desires. Anyone stepping onto a path that works with one's shadow material should get the best teachers, with long lineage, and not go to weekend workshops or rely on books for their teachers. Harish Johari is an excellent artist and teacher.

This book was about Tantra and NOT just using the word Tantra in the title to sell a book about sexual techniques. You'll learn more about TANTRA in this book then 20 other "Tantric" Sexual Techniques.

I wonder what type of education background the author has because he seemed to have a good command of Anatomy and Physiology and Psychology and I finally now understand the purposes and metaphysics and psychology of yantras(Uniting Symbol Representative of a diety) and mandalas (Uniting Symbol Rep. of the Universe).

Yes, sexuality is an..An (!)...ASPECT...of sex but it's NOT the whole bag of wax! Many of these Tantrik Sex books are not unlike someone playing on the Eroticism of "The Song of Solomon" in the Bible and writing books on Sexual techniques and using the word Christianity in the title!!!

I feel that people should study out of books like this before the sexual yogic techniques if they really want to have a deeper appreciation for Tantra in its authentic form.

This is one of the best books I have seen on Tantra dealing with the Hindue pantheon. This is all too much for a beginner to take in at one time. I mean the auther puts a lot in it. The information is awesome but can be overwhelming for a beginner. I would only reccomend this to a beginner if the student would read it slowly and carefuller or else she/he will not get too much out of it. I love the color plates and you can use these for meditation and tantric purposes unless you feel you are crafty enough to make your own mandalas. He lists the 10 Mahavidya mandalas and in the end section he has instructions for Ganesha Puja. This is not your everyday book on Tantra nor is it filled with useless garbage. The man knows his stuff pretty well.

"Tools for Tantra" is one of the most comprehensive books ever written about this often misunderstood subject. With so many people out there claiming to "teach" Tantra, its important that the potential student/practitioner gets to know all if the concepts and methodology correctly. This book is well written and has wonderful illustration that accompany the copy. "Tools for Tantra" is a "must read" for all students of Tantra. I highly recommend it.

I experienced a kundalini awakening without the preparatory exercises aside from mantra, japa, and dhyana daily, focusing on Ma Kali's image. My spiritual mentor visited me after traveling to India and gave me a murti, copper yantra, and many pictures of Kali. That night I experienced the blissful union of Siva-Sakti. I believe kundalini can arise spontaneously with minimal cultural trappings... but if you want cultural trappings, the book is one of the best. I had a jyotish birth chart done for me with the use of Harish Johari's book on astrology and the correspondences were astoundingly accurate.

I enjoyed learning the new mantras with this book, as well as learning to make my own mandalas and yantras to help me concentrate better during meditation. There are many tools for the new as well as experienced Daka or Dakini.

Harish Johari is one of my top favourite authors whose works I enjoy as most contain unusual but true facts useful for those seeking knowledge in fields he's written about. He is lauded by those who knew him as one of the top tantrikas and mystics during his lifetime.