Maithuna (Yoga)

The principle of the Tantras is that orthodox spiritual techniques fail if, in stressing asceticism, they do not take the tremendous power of the human sexual drive into account. Rather than allowing suppressed sexuality to fester in the subconscious mind from where it may one day explode and do damage to the human psyche, this powerful drive is brought into the open so that it is thoroughly understood. Understanding means that the dangerous quality is lost and the drive can be easily controlled. The disciple rises by the very things which can cause his downfall.

Maithuna, or ritualized sexual union, plays an important part in some tantric activity, in particular as the final component of the [panca tattva]

or [panca makara]

ritual. This has led (particularly as a result of abuse) to considerable misunderstanding and condemnation. However, maithuna aims at the experience of complete union between the partners, dissolving of polarities and the mental rather than physical appreciation of the universe. In the Buddhist tradition seminal emission is totally avoided but Hindu Tantras normally include emission in the vedic idea of sacrifice, [yajna]

. Certain aspects of maithuna have been used in the West as means of treating sexual problems.