Namaste By Donald Michael Kraig Namaste. What is this strange word? In India it is used very much like the Hebrew greeting/farewell, shalom, or the Hawaiian aloha. But this word means more. Loosely translated, namaste (nah-mahss-tay) means: That which is of the gods in me recognizes and acknowledges that which is of the gods in you. A rather nice concept, don't you think? But now there is another meaning, too, and I am glad to be able to present it, here, for the first time. NAMASTE stands for the New Association of MAgickal, Sexual and Tantrik Explorers. Its purpose is twofold. The first purpose of NAMASTE is to train people in Tantra and Sex Magick. The second purpose is to share that information with others who are both inside and outside of the Association. NAMASTE has been created by a group of dedicated individuals who have studied the problems which have developed in other magickal orders over the years and have decided, unlike many of the groups that are around today, that they will not repeat those errors. In order to do this; NAMASTE wants to make clear that it is not a religion. Although one section of it does have a method of structuralized spirituality, members are not required to be a part of that structure and may have any religious beliefs (or non-beliefs). Further, the founders of NAMASTE have seen too many groups wind up simply as an excuse to socialize. While it is inevitable that members will become close friends, such socialization is mere happenstance—the true goals of NAMASTE are: 1) to do the spiritual/magickal work, and 2) to share the method and results of that work first within the Association, and then with others. Organization In the past, many magical orders and groups have been beset with various problems resulting from hierarchical structures and internecine battles. Frequently, this has been inevitable: humans naturally form hierarchical structures based on innate desires and talents. To attempt to either limit this hierarchy, as some Pagan groups do, or to enforce an artificial hierarchy, as some magical orders do, is an ill-advised war against an innate part of humanity—an effort better spent elsewhere. Also, since members of many magically-oriented groups seek to enhance their personal power, the result is often an unfortunate inflation of ego. In an attempt to avoid these and other problems, NAMASTE has the following policies: 1) NAMASTE claims no ancient lineage nor links to other groups. NAMASTE wants to bring the teachings of Sex Magick and Tantra into the current times with modern terms and modern methods. Does this mean that NAMASTE has nothing of value to share with members? On the contrary! NAMASTE will offer the only structured teachings of Sex Magick and Tantra available without either high cost or becoming a high-ranking member of some Order—a process which could take many years. NAMASTE also has a structure which will allow new discoveries to be shared initially with members and eventually with others. 2) In order to avoid the problems that beset hierarchies, the only officer is the President. There is a story that George Washington was, at one time, offered the Kingship of America. He refused, saying that we there had been enough kings. He suggested that the leader of the country be called a President, one who presides over the government. This, of course, was later written into the Constitution of the U.S. In NAMASTE, the President has both mystical and executive functions. Only the President may initiate. There are no proxy or astral initiations. No one else has the right of initiation. The President may choose assistants. Becoming such an assistant gives no special ability or powers, nor does it grant power or additional respect in the community. Such assistants merely have the function of helping with the President's duties. 3) All spiritual initiations have little or no dependence upon physical rituals. On the physical plane, groups initiate into sections (degrees) of their Orders. To avoid the egotism of degree structures, there is only one NAMASTE initiation, and that is into the Association. 4) Upon initiation, members receive a set of documents. When a member can prove mastery of those documents through passing a test to the satisfaction of the President, the member is entitled to the next set of documents. 5) There are no degrees. 6) If member A asks member B a question relating to documents that member A may not yet have earned, it is the duty of member B to teach/share the information so that member A will understand it and be able to use it. Thus, the more one learns in NAMASTE, the more one is responsible to those who know less. 7) NAMASTE will not spoon feed information to members as happens in most mail order oriented groups. It is the responsibility of all members to communicate regularly with the President or the President's assistants. Besides asking questions and simply describing appropriate experiences, this communication should include any methods/techniques/rituals designed by the reporting members and the results of that work. 8) When important developments or discoveries are reported to the President, the President will share this information with a group of members who have volunteered to test the work of others. If the results of these members confirm the results of the originator, the originator may publish the information with the imprimatur of the Association. (Save for this authorized use of the Association's name and seal, and official correspondence between the Association and members or nonmembers, other use of such an imprimatur on published documents constitutes fraud.) 9) Too many groups have broken up as a result of internal battles and the egotism of some members wanting power over others rather than over themselves. To avoid this, sole authority for the Association resides in the office of the President. Any attempt by members to split the Association will result in the immediate publication of the events leading up to such an attempt. a) NAMASTE is not a cult. Anytime a member is unhappy or dissatisfied with the Association, they may write to the President and formally announce severance with the Association. In such a case, NAMASTE will wish the former member good luck. b) Such a member may rejoin at any time by being reinitiated. That member will once again take the tests up to their previous level of learning in NAMASTE, and immediately be given documents for the level they have not yet mastered. 10) Many people believe that once a group is formed it should last forever. Nothing could be further from the truth. A Taoistic idea is that anything, which is born, must die. Since this article is announcing the birth of NAMASTE, it follows that the Association should have a period of growth, maturation and eventual death. With this understanding, NAMASTE will exist until noon, January 1, 2010 CE, when it will cease to be. At that time, if members wish to form their own groups, they are encouraged to do so. However, it will be public knowledge that after this date there will no longer be a NAMASTE magickal current and there will be no lineage. 11) There are no dues or fees for initiated members. However, all correspondence with the Association by members or nonmembers will require (in the USA) a self-addressed stamped envelope or (outside the USA) a self-addressed envelope and two International Reply Coupons (available at a post office). Members will be responsible for the cost for copying Association documents, which they receive. If a member cannot afford such a payment, alternative forms of energy exchange may be arranged. While it is traditional for members to give gifts to organizations such as this (and they will be gratefully accepted), they are neither required nor expected. NAMASTE believes that no one should be excluded for of lack of funds. 12) Since this Association does work with sexuality, it is strictly limited to people over 21 years of age. If requested, members must prove their age. (Note: in the future there may be the development of an auxiliary group for people under 21 which will prepare minors for membership in NAMASTE but will not deal with sexuality, but this auxiliary structure has not yet been formalized.) Any attempt by a member to use sexuality as discussed within NAMASTE to manipulate other members or nonmembers, or having sex with a minor or non-consensual partner, will result in immediate expulsion of that member and public denunciation. 13) NAMASTE does not discriminate on the basis of religious beliefs, skin color, gender, physical handicaps (although certain spinal cord problems will result in a member not receiving the full benefit of NAMASTE's teachings) or sexual activities (pedophiles excepted). 14) Being a member in NAMASTE does not prevent one from being a member of any other group. Membership in groups that are racist, hate-oriented, or that discriminate on the basis of religious beliefs, skin color, gender, physical handicaps or sexual practices (other than pedophilia) will result in expulsion from NAMASTE. 15) While the ideal is to have only initiated members, it is recognized that not all people interested in the teachings of NAMASTE will be able to come to the Mother TTAZ for initiation. As a result, Associate Membership is available. Associate Membership dues are $10.00 per month, payable quarterly and in advance, and are based on the idea that an associate member will receive documents based upon the documents of NAMASTE and may work on their own, but is not formally active in the Association. They will not be required to pass tests or experiment with techniques. An Associate Member may choose to practice what is learned in the documents, but it is not required. If an Associate Member becomes a regular member through initiation at the Mother TTAZ, that member will no longer need to pay these dues. 16) NAMASTE is not a dating group nor will it arrange sexual partners. Members will discover that many of the techniques and much of the information require individual work. Working with a partner (which is not required for membership in NAMASTE) means that a member would need to find a person who is amenable to Sex Magick or Tantric practices. The Divisions NAMASTE is divided into two sections. At first, a member receives information that can apply to either section. The initiation into NAMASTE is distinctly Tantric in nature. It requires that the initiate is digambara, clothed with the stars (nude), but involves no sexual activity. After a time of study and practice which can be used in either section, initiated members are given a choice to become part of either section or both of them. Usually, however, a member chooses just one. Initiated members are free to change sections at any time, although frequent changing will result in checking with the President on the direction the member is seeking. NAMASTE West is for the study of Sex Magick. Sex Magick consists of techniques and methods involving the use of sexual energy that cause desired changes to occur. The study of Sex Magick involves theory, philosophy and technique, but can be used in harmony with any other magickal system, from ceremonial magick to Wicca. NAMASTE West will be discussed more in my next article. NAMASTE East is for the study of Indian Tantra. It is far more comprehensive than NAMASTE West because Tantra is far more than a set of Sex Magick techniques. The Hinduism of the Vedas is the dominant religion of India, and, in this sense, compares to Christianity in the West. To complete this comparison, Tantra in the East relates to Wicca in the West. In order to focus on this particular tradition, with its deities and methods, Buddhist Tantra is not part of the curriculum at this time. Although NAMASTE East is not a religion, it will deal with gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon. The techniques of doing this require honoring these deities. Although some may see this as religious, it is, in fact, working with the powers that lie just beyond the representations we have of the deities. If people choose to do this in a religious structure, that is fine. However, it is not required or expected for membership in NAMASTE East. Currently, few organizations in the West are actively studying Tantra (although some people are presenting bizarre theories and practices—from having sex while rolling in the mud to swimming with dolphins—as part of Tantra). Tantra has its own philosophy, gods and goddesses and magickal techniques. Tantric sexuality is but a minor aspect of Tantra. When Tantra began to achieve some degree of notoriety in the West it was during a period of extreme sexual repression. The inevitable backlash resulted, and information on Tantra focused on its sexual aspects as people were denied similar information in their own, daily experience. While NAMASTE East does study Tantric Sexuality, it will also study other aspects of Tantra, including rituals, philosophy, healing, herbology, magick and more. As a spiritual system (rather than techniques only) it is hoped that members will begin to develop TTAZs (tee-taz). In NAMASTE, a Tantrik Temporary Autonomous Zone is the equivalent of a Pagan Coven. Its function is group ritual, training, sharing and working magick. Instructions on what should take place at a TTAZ meeting are part of the NAMASTE East curriculum. *** You should remember that the E in NAMASTE stands for Explorers. To this end, it is the intention of NAMASTE to be straight forward and honest. As part of this, the teachings of NAMASTE will seek to avoid archaic and foreign language. We will avoid the symbolism of the alchemists and primarily use translations of Hindu Tantric terms rather than simply repeat foreign words and phrases. Being an associate or initiated member of NAMASTE gives a person no secret powers or special abilities. Although there is no charge for regular membership or initiation, you will find that you can spend a lot of money and time—on yourself (studying, buying books, candles, etc.). NAMASTE is not as much about what you get as about what you can give. Particularly, it is hoped that members will be able to explore Sex Magick and Tantra and help it advance and develop into the next millennium. For those who are interested, please be advised that the door to NAMASTE is not yet open to new members. More information will be given in the next part of this article. Although the next article will repeat some of the above information, I suggest you keep this article handy in order to refer to it. In Part 2 I will share information about NAMASTE West and where to write for further information.
1996, Donald Michael Kraig
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