Gay Tantra

About the Book

Sex and spirituality are two topics guaranteed to arouse strong feelings in gay-identified persons because of the history of religious persecution of gay people. Many of us were taught explicitly or implicitly that sex, especially gay sex, is the opposite of spirituality. Gay popular culture thrives in the senses, be it opera, disco, or leather. Futhermore, gay sensuality is deeply rooted in homoeroticism, the inescapable fact that we inhabit bodies of a kind likely to be erotically stimulating to ourselves. We need a spirituality that works with our sensuality, not against it. Traditional Hindu Tantra offers exactly this type of spirituality. This ground-breaking text reveals how traditional Hindu Tantra may be adapted easily to serve the unique spiritual aptitudes and needs of gay-identified persons of any gender, demonstrating how a well-integrated gay identity can be a positive aid in the quest for enlightenment. Contains a glossary and index.

Living Traditions Magazine called GAY TANTRA,". . . one of the most important books on gay spirituality ever published."

About the Author

William Schindler obtained a B.A. in Sanskrit from UC Berkeley (1975), where he also studied Bengali and Hindi, and a Master’s degree in clinical psychology from Antioch University (1986). He lived in India for two-and-a-half years from 1972-1977 first as a pilgrim, then as a student at Banaras Hindu University, and finally as a monk of the Ramakrishna Order. He has written novels, short stories, and numerous essays on gay spirituality. His non-fiction book, GAY TANTRA (Xlibris, 2000), is the definitive work on the topic of traditional Hindu Tantra adapted to the spiritual needs and aptitudes of gay-identified persons. He currently lives in Los Angeles, California, where he offers spiritual instruction and counseling for gay men.