Thursday, March 10, 2005
On the Kama Sutra...
This conversation transpired between me, Chin and CK yesterday.
Me: Hey, CK, what do you think is the Kama Sutra?
CK: Chants.
Chin: Chants?
CK: Yup. Aaaaahhhhhh (monotonously) Sutra ma.
Me: No. its OOOOHHHHMMMM (monotonously)
CK: No, its aaaahhhhh (like a guy on the verge of orgasm)
Me: Hahaha, true. So you wanna read it?
CK: Yup.
Chin: So can practice chant.
This post is to clarify a few things about the Kama Sutra, as many of my friends had high expectations of what to expect this famous book written by Vatsyayana.
I bet you guys too have your own expectations. Most of my friends have the below:
- A lot of erotic pictures
- Can get turn on by it
- A lot of naked girls around
- All about different sexual positions (hundreds over)
But I have to warn you that I'm sorry, but those expectations will become disappointments once you understand what the Kama Sutra is really about.
Kama Sutra, sanskrit for Aphorisms of Love, is the Sutra of the God of Love, Kama. Written in ancient India, it is essentially a technical guide, a scholarly treatise if you will, to sexual enjoyment and other sensual pleasures. It also contains profound historical and anthropological insights into the mores and customs of ancient India.
You guys will be surprised by how markedly different the cultural paradigms presented in the Kama Sutra are from those of today. Back in those days, sex is something that is holy, it is sacred and is worshipped. And its more that just the motion itself. Each position depicts something sepcial, and in different culture, used differently.
In Tao, sex is like TAI CHI, letting the qi to flow between partners that will lead to increased vitality and better health (depending which position). Sex lets the yin and yang energy of the partners to balance out. In Tantric, sex is part of YOGA. It lets the spirit flow between the partners, leading to better relaxation and a more peaceful mind (also depend on position). In the Kama Sutra, sex is used to bring a husband and wife closer and enjoy a better relationship together.
But now... sex = porn. Sheesh.
Now to deal with all the expectations:
A lot of erotic pictures
I'm sorry to say, but the number of 'erotic pictures' are really few (about 100 plus plus) but it's more of an art piece than porn. Like those marble statues carved by Rennaisance artists or something you see at the Lourve.
Can get turn on by it
Sure, it can sure turn you on if you get aroused by inventories and lists of things.
A lot of naked girls around (grow up Raymond)
Most pictures, the ladies are partially clothed, so sorry, no full naked girls.
All about different sexual positions (hundreds over)
Sad to say, but Kama Sutra is not only about different sexual positions. The chapter on it is only one short snippet from the entire book.
That deals with all the expectations.
Which leads to the chapters of the Kama Sutra:
PART I: INTRODUCTORY
1 Preface
2 Observations on the three worldly attainments of Virtue, Wealth, and Love
3 On the study of the Sixty-four Arts
4 On the Arrangements of a House, and Household Furniture; and about the Daily Life of a Citizen, his Companions, Amusements, etc.
5 About classes of Women fit and unfit for Congress with the Citizen, and of Friends, and Messengers
PART II: ON SEXUAL UNION
1 Kinds of Union according to Dimensions, Force of Desire, and Time; and on the different kinds of Love
2 Of the Embrace
3 On Kissing
4 On Pressing or Marking with the Nails
5 On Biting, and the ways of Love to be employed with regard to Women of different countries
6 On the various ways of Lying down, and the different kinds of Congress
7 On the various ways of Striking, and of the Sounds appropriate to them
8 About females acting the part of Males
9 On holding the Lingam in the Mouth
10 How to begin and how to end the Congress. Different kinds of Congress, and Love Quarrels
PART III: ABOUT THE ACQUISITION OF A WIFE
1 Observations on Betrothal and Marriage
2 About creating Confidence in the Girl
3 Courtship, and the manifestation of the feelings by outward signs and deeds
4 On things to be done only by the Man, and the acquisition of the Girl thereby. Also what is to be done by a Girl to gain over a Man and subject him to her
5 On the different Forms of Marriage
PART IV: ABOUT A WIFE
1 On the manner of living of a virtuous Woman, and of her behaviour during the absence of her Husband
2 On the conduct of the eldest Wife towards the other Wives of her Husband, and of the younger Wife towards the elder ones. Also on the conduct of a Virgin Widow remarried; of a Wife disliked by her Husband; of the Women in the King's Harem; and of a Husband who has more than one Wife
PART V: ABOUT THE WIVES OF OTHER PEOPLE
1 On the Characteristics of Men and Women, and the reason why Women reject the Addresses of Men. About Men who have Success with Women, and about Women who are easily gained over
2 About making Acquaintance with the Woman, and of the efforts to gain her over
3 Examination of the State of a Woman's mind
4 The Business of a Go-Between
5 On the Love of Persons in authority with the Wives of other People
6 About the Women of the Royal Harem, and of the keeping of one's own Wife
PART VI: ABOUT COURTESANS
1 Of the Causes of a Courtesan resorting to Men; of the means of Attaching to herself the Man desired, and the kind of Man that it is desirable to be acquainted with
2 Of a Courtesan living with a Man as his Wife
3 Of the Means of getting Money; of the Signs of a Lover who is beginning to be Weary, and of the way to get rid of him
4 About a Reunion with a former Lover
5 Of different kinds of Gain
6 Of Gains and Losses, attendant Gains and Losses, and Doubts; and lastly, the different kinds of Courtesans
PART VII: ON THE MEANS OF ATTRACTING OTHERS TO ONE'S SELF
1 On Personal Adornment, subjugating the hearts of others, and of tonic medicines
2 Of the means of exciting Desire, and of the ways of enlarging the Lingam. Miscellaneous Experiments and Receipts
As you can see, Kama Sutra is not just a book about sexual positions. It contains a lot of other things deemed worthy in those times and now forgotten and lost. For example the 64 arts which is important for a lady to know (those interested, get it from me).
Kama Sutra something more like a guide to getting love, ancient it may be. But somehow through the courses of time, only the 'positions' chapters get published and get the attention of the society.
Sheesh, grow up ppl.
Anyway, I've been looking forward to get the whole complete collection of the Eastern Art of Sex books. Which is like the Kama Sutra, interesting to read and reveals plenty of lost secrets in the ancient art of being a good woman. Mwahaha...
1. Kama Sutra - India
2. Perfume Garden - Arab
3. Japanese Art - Japan
4. Tao and Sensual Massage - China
5. Tantric Sexual Secrets - India kua... something about Yoga.
Interesting...
Kama Sutra, the poor misunderstood book. But I hope with this post, I would clarify that Kama Sutra is not a porn book, but something more like an art, on paper and as a half of a couple.
So anyone interested?
PS: KR, you want positions? I have another book which you did not read yet. Interested?
To spur you guys further on, what about a few sites which can be easily gotten thru google.com.
- Kama Sutra Animated (I find this so cute)
- Tantra Tantric Sex (Interesting find)
- A Free Illustrated Guide to the Kama Sutra
I speak with passion, from the heart! That's what matters most!
- Laguna Loire, Final Fantasy VIII
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