Aghora Volume I

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View books by Robert E. Svoboda.

Superb! - Rated
This delightful book on Aghoris- the most feared of all Tantrik sects. The book starts with the author doing Shav(Dead Body) sadhna. His Guru tells him "Sometimes they wake up and attack you, so be careful!".

Westerners may find it unbelievable, and it is a bit exaggerated, but those whose who know about Hindu Tantra and Aghoris will there are some very important truths here too.

The book tells the Aghoris life, and his strange way of looking at things.

He gives good explanation for why the Hindus do Yagya- they are worshipping the fire element, which is the easiest to worship, but the key is worship the Fire inside you(as Manipura Chakra).

Some good info about different types of Spirits, heavenly beings, and why you should never have sex with a Demon or Yaksha(Angel).... for this reason alone, worth buying!

But dont be confused- this isnt one of those hippie new age books- the author makes it very clear he considers most Westerner New Ager Gurus as just Egoistic fools.

The book also is very serious at times. Vimalananda(whose story the book tells) knew when his son would die, yet could do nothing to prevent it. So he goes and takes his anger out on his Guru. His Guru just laughs and says "If you are so angry, why dont you commit suicide? You didnt love your son, it was just Karma". Then he shows him how his son had only been born to fulfill some Karma, and left when it was finished. This is the main Moral of the book- your Karma is too powerful for you to fight alone, you have to bow down to the Divine Mother and ask for her help. This theme is continued in the next 2 books in series, which I very strongly recommned you read.

Fascinating study of an extreme branch of Indian mysticism - Rated
Svoboda's experiences with an Aghora guru.

The text has a powerful style, composed largely of myths and stories. We are not intended to take it all literally, though the line between instructive metaphor and true personal history is difficult to perceive in places. A macabre theme pervades the book: Aghora is concerned, among other things, with death and the realisation of our mortality. As such, the book is often confrontational and disturbing.

As a book on Tantra, it is unusually low on sexual practices, seemingly to remind us that Tantra is a spiritual path that includes sexual techniques rather than the reverse. Annoyingly, full instructions are ommitted for techniques that are hinted at. This is my main criticism of the book - few practical techniques are given. Still, worth it for the ride.

Grim, surreal, fascinating.