February 23rd, 2010 
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Product Description
Pilgrims to Openness introduces the heart of authentic Indian Tantra in a series of lyrical, readable essays that speak with warmth, intelligence and compassion to the curious beginner and more adept practitioner alike. The essays follow the path from the first fleeting recognitions of one’s real nature through integrating the fruits of spiritual practice into every moment of ordinary life.
Many of the essays were prompted by heartfelt questions from students to the author. “Do I need a Guru?” “What is suffering?” “Why am I doing spiritual practice?” These, along with more philosophical topics, are addressed in a simple, lucid, gutsy and often humorous style. No topic is off limits, from difficult emotions such as loneliness to love relationships, death, kundalini, chakras, boredom, the meaning of nonduality, and how to wake up–in the morning and for all time. The final pages of the book offer detailed instructions for three key practices that anyone can do.
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There is nothing simplistic or generalized in this book- it’s a perfect expression of tantric philosophy. Straightforward,
clear – Shambhavi Sarasvati communicates the essential principles of tantra yoga without any hype. I highly recommend this book to anyone searching for direct realization.
Rating: 5 / 5
I’ve always been impressed by Shambhavi Sarasvati’s ability to convey the seemly mysterious world of Tantra in such clear, concise and practical ways.
For example, one way to become more self-realized is to simply notice what makes us tense…and then to relax that tension. Be relaxed. What a simple, yet profound thing to do. If we go through even just one hour of being aware of everything that makes us tense, it could be an amazing practice of self-discovery.
I am also struck by her explanation of Tantra as Continuity. As we do the daily practice, “We expand our sense of Self and communicate with greater sensitivity and awareness. We are nothing but communication, or expressivity arising out of a state of continuity.” This is what I want for my life.
This book is full of profound ideas on how we should live our lives and provides practical steps on how to achieve them. I highly recommend it as a source of daily inspiration and guidance.
Rating: 5 / 5
Looking for an introduction to Tantric philosophy? Heck, looking for a little instruction in living better, by which I mean, with greater ease? This is the book to start with. These essays are profound and insightful, but always rooted in the kinds of questions that come up in the ordinary course of our daily lives: why should we tell the truth? How do we work with our resistance? Do spiritual people have any fun? If I want to live a more peaceful and joyous life, what should I do when I get up in the morning (quite literally)? Words like Real get thrown around a lot in the world of spirituality, but this book has a realness to it that you can touch and taste. Grounded in the mundane, often in straightforward questions submitted to Sarasvati by ordinary practitioners, the essays here stick to the specifics of the everyday while repeatedly helping us to leap beyond. Sarasvati comes through loud and clear here as a canny teacher, an engaging writer, and a full, joyous presence on the path not just of tantra but of life. Hey yogis, tantrikas, skeptics, buddhists, seekers, humans: lost your way a little, or just looking for a way to keep on keeping on? There’s breadcrumbs galore here.
Rating: 5 / 5
For more than a thousand years yogis have been practicing Tantra, accomplishing amazing levels of realization and nourishing a living lineage. This book is a connection to that vital tradition. When you first encounter the Tantric view, it is radically orthogonal to our normal mindset, but Shambhavi does a wonderful job of explaining how it works on its own terms. Pilgrims to Openness takes the most esoteric of spiritual principles and shows us how they apply to the choices we face everyday in our lives. I practice Buddhist Vajrayana from a Dzogchen perspective, and this book is one of the best I’ve found at explaining Tantra in terms that a modern westerner can understand without watering it down or distorting its deepest significance. As an example check out the article on chakras from her website, [jayakula dot org slash chakras] which is also found in the book. This is the writing of someone who actually knows what they’re talking about and isn’t just parroting what they’ve read or worse peddling their fantasies as objective facts. In short, if you seek a real guidebook to spiritual experience, this book will be invaluable to you.
Rating: 5 / 5
I have read Sarasvati’s essays for years, and I’m excited to finally have them in a book form to share with friends. These essays present key concepts from the Tantric tradition with clarity, insight, and humor. For anyone asking how to live a more fulfilling life, “Pilgrims to Openness” starts you on the path.
I found the book to be a crucial resource for personal growth and understanding, beyond my yoga classes. I return to the essays again and again to draw upon the teachings and look for new ways to apply them in my life.
Rating: 5 / 5