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by Cathie Frank (Author)
The Aananda Nath lineage is a branch of the Nath tantric lineage, a timeless tradition that is thousands of years old. This text contains real practices from the Aananda Nath lineage, and unfolds a rich display of characters, storylines and cosmology of this ancient lineage.
In this book, an introduction is given into the system of Tantric Japa Yoga, along with reflections on the path. Tantric Japa Yoga is a system of meditations involving chanting in Sanskrit. These practices can help us recharge and reconnect with the inner realms, and are designed to activate kundalini. In memoir style, Cathie Frank shares generously from her personal experience, while tracing the path of her own spiritual journey into the system of practices taught to her by her guru, Shajesh. She shares, with the permission of her guru, chanting practices formerly kept secret - passed on from guru to disciple. She also gives a thorough treatment of the spiritual dynamics behind the process of tantric chanting. She delves into core themes, such as consciousness, energy, chakras, and kundalini activation. The author explains how characters appearing in the mantras, play important roles in tantric cosmology, tying it all together to reveal the structure of a paradigm of spiritual unfolding, which however ancient, may be a new revelation for modern minds.
Taking a holistic view of the psyche and of spiritual growth, the author includes a section on spiritual experience, which explores various practices she has tried, some of which continue to be useful to her in the context of tantric chanting - a reminder that practices can combine in meaningful ways. She gives special focus to her experience involving Tantric Japa Yoga and kundalini activation. The author speaks in a style that is accessible to those who are new to these topics, opening a doorway into a process of enlightenment, as prescribed by ancient tantrics.
This book is about Tantric Japa Yoga, which is a system of
meditation practices involving Sanskrit chanting. Tantric Japa
Yoga is part of an oral tradition, from an ancient lineage of teachings,
dating back all the way to Lord Shiva himself. Cathie Frank has been learning
these practices over the past ten years of study with her tantric guru
Shajesh. Shajesh is a guru in the ancient, tantric, Aananda Nath lineage.
Although Tantric Japa Yoga and Kundalini Yoga are not the same,
Tantric Japa Yoga does work on raising kundalini gently over time through
chanting practices, and some breathing exercises, for the purpose
of uniting Shiva and Shakti in the crown chakra.
