A guide to the history and modern practice of transformative Christianity • Reveals the original tantric wisdom of Jesus and the early Church and its resonance with the tantric yogas of India and Tibet • Explains how tantric Christianity views the human body as the primary “temple” of the Holy and erotic energy as the signature of indwelling Divine Presence • Provides step-by-step instructions for a series of Christian tantric practices, including a partnered sexual practice, mantra and energy work, eye gazing, and work with icons Unbeknownst to many, the original Christian spirituality as practiced in the early church and by Jesus himself was a tantric spirituality. In the West, Tantra often evokes images of arcane rituals or acrobatic sexual positions, while in reality Tantra is a holistic transformative path of life, love, and being--grounded in practice. Offering a new understanding of Jesus as guru and master of left-handed Tantra, James Reho, an Episcopal priest and tantric initiate, reframes the Christian story and restores to modern Christianity the tantric wisdom practices that were edited out of church tradition and forgotten over the centuries. He explains how tantric Christianity views the human body as the primary “temple” of the Holy, with erotic energy as the signature of Divine Presence within. Rev. Reho reveals the similarities of the earliest Christian practices to the tantric yogas of India and Tibet and explores the role of Kundalini and the chakras. He details how to work with mantras, icons, and pranayama breathing exercises, as well as with gazing as a spiritual practice. Informed by the insights of ancient texts and early masters of Christian spirituality, the author provides step-by-step instructions on how to practice Christian tantric sex with a life-partner of the opposite or same sex. Rev. Reho reveals how these heart-opening practices are rooted in eros, the life of deep desire, expressive of God’s grace within us, and are still alive in monastic practices in the Christian East. Integrating his personal spiritual experiences, years of study of ancient Christian mysticism, and an expertise in yoga and tantra, the author shows how we can re-engage the original truths of the early church to affirm the body as a holy vehicle and to utilize the energy of the erotic to achieve ecstatic union with the Divine.

The Tantric Jesus is a fascinating examination of a living master of flesh and blood, a guru, guide, and exemplary role model- and of the impact that example has on those who aspire to emulate it. It explores the universal spiritual practices Jesus espoused and encouraged others to practice. Through the lens of the various accounts of Jesus' life and teachings, from both East and West, it touches on the challenges of reconciling our inner and outer realities, embracing our sexuality as integral to our spirituality, and discovering and embracing the divinity that lies within each and every one of us. Here, through his humanity and the practices he embodied, we see Jesus as a portrait of divinity- but it is a self-portrait of the imago dei, reflecting not only all spiritual masters, but in fact, the true nature of every human being. The credibility of this analysis is greatly enhanced by the author's own experience of having studied under a Hindu guru for many years, and having served for sixteen years as an Episcopal priest dedicated to putting the teachings of both traditions into practice. It has inspired one best-selling author, Episcopal Bishop John Shelby Spong, to comment, "While organized religion in our post-Christian era is in notable decline, Jesus' popularity is not. Robert Stucky helps us understand why. He probes Jesus to discover the universal truth. He takes Jesus out of orthodox boxes and lets him live in new places. He elevates Jesus to a dialogue, first with the Gnostic Christians of Antiquity, and then with Eastern thinkers, both ancient and modern. The Jesus I find in the pages of this book is fresh, provocative, powerful, and welcoming. It may well be that Stucky has discovered a path to a believing future."

A new view of Jesus as a Buddha-like wisdom teacher who taught the transformation of consciousness—with traditional contemplative practices you can do yourself If you put aside what you think you know about Jesus and approach the Gospels as though for the first time, something remarkable happens: Jesus emerges as a teacher of the transformation of consciousness. The Wisdom Jesus provides a new perspective on Christ and an expansive interpretation of His message. Cynthia Bourgeault creates a masterful guide to Jesus's vision and the traditional contemplative practices you can use to experience the heart of his teachings for yourself.

Diana Richardson, an acclaimed authority on human sexuality, began a personal enquiry into the union of sex and meditation (the essence of tantra) over twenty five years ago while living in India. Through these innocent steps and motivated by simple curiosity, she gained deep insights into the spiritual and generative implications of sex that lie beyond its reproductive aspect. She stresses that it is the how of sex, and not the what of sex, that determines the difference. With additional information we can begin to honor the innate sexual intelligence that exists in our bodies as a subtle electro-magnetic reality. On this fine and delicate level man and woman function as equal yet opposite forces that are highly complimentary. Embracing this polarity potential can elevate and transform sex into an empowering and spiritual act, an experience that creates and sustains love, peace and harmony. Her simple, down to earth and practical approach as presented in her books has created a wave of positive resonance and response from readers worldwide.

How is it possible to reconcile two facts which seem irreconcilable, and an immersion in the world of Tantra even to the point of initiation? This intriguing account describes an usual spiritual journey which responds honestly and deeply to this mysterious experience, of spirit and body, of discernment and grace, of divine energy and love in all its aspects, during the course of an adventure which links a person to what is essential, unveiling the whole scope, both cosmic and divine, of Life. The author shows how, beyond their obvious differences, the Christian themes of the Word which is expressed as an eternal I am, or of the divine Energy, find striking correspondences in the Tantra, allowing them to resonate together and enrich each other. This work, therefore, follows in the wake of other pioneers such as Henri Le Saux or Christian de Cherg as regards the dialogue with Hinduism and Islam. Conciousness is the Self because God is Love. The essence of tantra is Love.

"Originally published by Suspect Thoughts Press, 2004; Updated by the author and re-released by Lethe Press, 2013."