Reddit reviews Tantra Illuminated: The Philosophy, History, and Practice of a Timeless Tradition
We found 6 Reddit comments about Tantra Illuminated: The Philosophy, History, and Practice of a Timeless Tradition. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Tantra Illuminated. It will get you familiar with the history and practices of Tantra.
https://www.amazon.com/Tantra-Illuminated-Philosophy-Practice-Tradition/dp/0989761304
And also The Radiance Sutras. This is a interpretation of the classic text, the Vijhana Bhairava Tantra.
https://www.amazon.com/Radiance-Sutras-Gateways-Delight-Sanskrit/dp/1604076593/ref=pd_aw_fbt_14_img_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=D18X705BV1Z8CJT5GNJD
I love this book for understanding the physical practice
http://www.amazon.com/The-Key-Poses-Yoga-Scientific/dp/1607432390/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1396563465&sr=8-2&keywords=yoga+pose+books
For the ethical/discipline base of yoga, this is a short, easy, and really helpful read. Non-harming, non-clinging, etc.
http://www.amazon.com/Yamas-Niyamas-Exploring-Ethical-Practice/dp/0974470643/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1396563657&sr=1-1&keywords=the+yamas+and+niyamas+by+deborah+adele
For the pure philosophy, I'm a fan of this book on Tantra(where yoga came from). It's overwhelming the first time through, but there is so much powerful knowledge locked up in here
http://www.amazon.com/Tantra-Illuminated-Philosophy-Practice-Tradition/dp/0989761304
This is a great book on mindfullness with some applicable meditation techniques framed for the modern day, but it's all based on ancient teachings
http://www.amazon.com/Search-Inside-Yourself-Unexpected-Achieving/dp/0062116924/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396563508&sr=8-1&keywords=search+inside+yourself
Also, the Chakra system is fascinating and Anodea Judith offers some guided meditations. This book is really helpful and accessible
http://www.amazon.com/Wheels-Life-Chakra-System-Llewellyns/dp/0875423205
And, diet. This book helped me shift my diet in a way that's been extremely helpful
http://www.amazon.com/Eat-Taste-Heal-Ayurvedic-Cookbook-Modern-Living/dp/0976917009/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1396563932&sr=1-1&keywords=eat+taste+heal
These have been some of the most influential books in my practice. Hope they help!
In terms of active practitioners I'm not sure, but I think you might find this to be a good starting resource:
Tantra Illuminated
It's by an academic but the book is meant for a general readership.
He's also a practitioner himself and used to teach retreats, though I can't find the links except to these downloads.
I think you'll find the book worthwhile.
Kali Kaula is not a good introduction to tantra. I highly recommend Christopher Hareesh Wallis's Tantra Illuminated.
There is a lot of interesting history there that I am only beginning to unpack.
The methods and goal of Patanjali yoga are remarkably close to Jhana practice based Buddhism (as taught by Ajahn Brahm or the Visuddhimagga). The asanas in Patanjali's system are minimal as are the pranyama exercises. The practice is focused on cutting attachment to sense pleasures through a practice of sila and abiding internally to find enlightenment. From a Buddhist point of view one can argue that his goal is to develop the 8th Jhana (Neither Perception Nor Yet Non-Perception) and he called that enlightenment. The first three lines of the Yoga sutras are:
One interesting thing is that the modern form of yoga (as taught in spiritually oriented studios and ashrams) comes from the Hatha Yoga Pratipika which is much more complicated and esoteric, and grew as a reform movement of Shaiva Tantric practice in the 15th century. Because of this, modern yoga: Pranyama, Mantra, Mudra, Bandha, etc. are all sort of like a publicly taught (and highly syntergized and fragmented) Vajrayana energetic practice (often lacking the support of a guru). It seems much more aligned with Vajrayana methods to transform desire and in general mesh oddly well with the Mahayana path. It was not envisioned as a renunciate path but as a path compatible with lay life and the enjoyment of sensory pleasures (without attachment).
Yet oddly the more modern yoga teachers sort of hybridized it with Patanjali's 8 Limbs. The Hatha Yoga Pratipika interestingly argues that one should not attempt to rigidly adhere to Yamas and Niyamas until the mind is stilled by Asana and Pranyama. The idea is that in ancient times peoples minds were more still and they could accomplish Patanjali's yoga, but now we need (and have) more sophisticated energetic technologies to still the mind for meditation. This is not an excuse to be immoral, but for instance the Hatha Yoga Pratipika specifically says the practice of Brahmacharya (disciplined use of energy) needn't require celibacy, and that all aspects of life are holy.
Some of this above is are just connections I have made while reading, and they may be ill informed opinions, because its a subject I am just starting to study in depth. This history also seems super complex.
Anyway I just find the history very interesting, one of the most interesting books about it I have found is Tantra Illuminated, which a book about the view, practice, history, and scriptures of Tantric Shaivism (although it gets slightly into Tantric Buddhism as they interacted as well). It is written by someone who is both an academic studying Sanskrit texts as well as has been initiated into a surviving Shaiva Tantric lineage (and practiced for many years).
http://www.amazon.com/Tantra-Illuminated-Philosophy-Practice-Tradition/dp/0989761304/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458589063&sr=8-1&keywords=tantra+illuminated This book is amazing