5/2/2016

GLOSSARYOFSEX&TANTRATERMS

GLOSSARYOFSEX&TANTRATERMS
Note:Termsinitalicsarealsoentriesandhavetheirowndefinitionsintheglossary.

AnusTheringshapedexitfromtheanalcanal,locatedbetweenthebuttocks.Theoutletforthe
rectumisashortmuscularcanalwithstrongsphinctersatbothendsthatkeepwastesinmostofthe
timeandhelpexpelthemwhenneeded.Thetissuearoundtheanusandliningtheanalcanalisrichly
innervatedandsensitive.Thesenervesareabranchofthesamenervebundlethatserves
theclitoris,penis,urethra,andpelvicfloor.
ArousalTheactivationofnervenetworks,muscles,glands,andothertissuesinpreparationforsome
action,especiallyasaresultofsexualthoughts,situations,orstimulation.Symptomsofarousalinclude
vascularengorgement,tumescence(swelling)anderection,flushingoftheskin,increaseinrelevant
neurotransmittersandhormones,muscletension,andincreasednervoussystemactivity.
BallsSeeTestes,Testicles.
BuddhismOriginallyanaturalisticphilosophybasedontheteachingsofSiddhrthaGautama,known
astheBuddha,wholivedsometimebetween600and300BCE.Gautamarejectedthepolytheismand
supernaturalismofHinduismandfocusedinsteadonteachingpeoplehowtogainandmaintainmental
health,wisdom,andpersonalenlightenmentthroughmeditation,selfknowledge,integrity,andright
conduct.Withinafewcenturies,however,thevariousschoolsofBuddhismbegantoevolvemany
religiouscharacteristics,andBuddhismhassincebecomeamajorreligionwithanumberofwidely
divergentbranches.(SeeMahayana,Theravada,andVajrayana.)TherearestrongTantrictraditions
withinmostbranchesofBuddhism,especiallyMahayanaandVajrayana.
ChakrasInKundaliniyogaandmanyotherEasternspiritualreligiouspractices,thechakrasarepoints
orwaystationsalongnadisorchannels,whichsupposedlyrunfromthebaseofthetrunktothetopof
thehead.Thenumber,color,significance,andnamesofthechakrasvarywidelyindifferentyogic
traditions,butmostpeopleinthewestarefamiliarwithasystemofsevenchakrascorresponding
approximatelytotheperineumoranus,thegroinorgenitals,thenavelorstomach,thechestorheart,
thethroat,theforeheadoreyes,andthecrownofthehead.Theideaofchakraswasinventedinthe
eighthcenturyCE,andmanycomplicatedspiritualdoctrinesinvolvingchakrashaveevolvedindifferent
schoolsofmysticismsincethen.However,Tantricsexasweknowitisfarolderthanthat,andthe
conceptofchakrasisnotessentialtoTantricsexualpractices.
ClimaxSeeOrgasm.
ClitSeeClitoris.
ClitoralhoodAthinfoldoftissuethatpartiallyorcompletelycoverstheclitoral
shaftandtheglansorheadoftheclitoris.Itcorrespondstothemaleforeskinandisattachedto
thelabiaminora.Itvariesinsizeandthedegreetowhichitcoverstheclitoris.Inmostwomenitis
retractableandcanbeslidupwardtowardthemonspubis,exposingtheglansandpartoftheshaft.
ClitoralshaftTheportionoftheclitorisextendingfromtheheadorglansupwardtowardthemons
pubis.Thisnarrowshaftiscoveredpartiallyorcompletelybytheclitoralhoodandissensitivetosexual
stimulationbyrubbingorpressing,eitherdirectlyorthroughtheclitoralhood.
ClitorisThefemaleanalogofthepenisandtheonlyorganineithergenderwhosesolefunctionisto
producepleasure,ithasmoresensorynerveendingsinasmallerspacethananyotherorgan.The
(sometimes)visiblepartoftheclitorisistheglansorhead,whichislocatedattheendoftheclitoral
shaftbelowthemonspubisattheupperendofthejunctionofthelabiaminora.Mostoftheclitorisis
internalandhiddenfromview.Fromtheglansandexternalshaft,itextendsupwardtowardthemons
pubis,thenturnsrearwardanddownward,anddividesintotwolegsthatextenddownbehindthelabia
andstraddlethevaginalopening.Theheadandshaftareerectileandtheentireclitorisistumescent,
http://moderntantra.blogspot.com/p/glossaryofsextantraterms.html

1/7

5/2/2016

GLOSSARYOFSEX&TANTRATERMS

fillingwithbloodandbecomingmoresensitivewithsexualarousal.
CoupleMeditationMeditationbytwopeopleinwhicheachpersonattemptstoincorporateintense
awarenessoftheotherpersonintohisorhermeditativefocus.
CoronaThemeatyridgearoundtheloweredgeonthebackandsidesofthepenileglans.Caressing
thecoronaincreasesexualarousalandproducesstrongpleasurablesensationsformostmen.
DaoismSeeTaoismorDaoism.
DopamineAneurochemicalwithmanyfunctions,twoofwhicharetoalertustotheunexpectedandto
helpusunderstandcausation.Uptakeofdopamineincertainpartsofthebrainstronglyreinforcesthe
circumstanceorbehaviorthattriggereditsrelease,contributingtoaddiction,particularlytoactivitieswith
intermittentrewards(e.g.,slotmachinesandotherformsofgambling).
DryOrgasmSeeNEOorNonEjaculatoryOrgasm.
EjaculationTheusuallyforcefulexpulsionofsemenduring(most)maleorgasms.See
alsoEOandNEO.Seealsofemaleejaculation.
EndocannabinoidsAnyofseveralnaturalcompoundschemicallysimilartotetrahydrocannabinol,the
principalpsychoactiveingredientincannabis,akamarijuana.Endocannabinoidsarereleasedinthe
brainasaresultofsustainedarousal,orgasms,andotherbeneficialactivities.Theyaretakenupby
receptorsthatcausepleasureandeuphoria.Endocannabinoidsreleasedasaresultofprolonged
sexualarousalandprolonged,intenseorgasmshelpproduceacharacteristiceuphoricfeeling,or
Tantrichigh,similartobutstrongerthantherunnershighthatresultsfromprolongedexercise.
EndorphinsAnyofseveralnaturalopioidcompoundsreleasedinthebrainasaresultofsustained
exerciseandotherbeneficialactivities.Theyaretakenupbyreceptorsthatcausepleasureandreduce
pain.Thesereceptorsarethetargetsforavarietyofnaturalandartificialcompounds(likeopium,
morphine,heroin,andcocaine)thatarefrequentlyusedandabusedfortheiranalgesicandpleasure
inducingproperties.Endorphinsreleasedasaresultofprolongedsexualarousalandprolonged,
intenseorgasmsmaycontributetoaeuphoricstate,orTantrichigh,similartobutstrongerthanthe
runnershighthatresultsfromprolongedexercise.
EOorEjaculatoryOrgasmAnormalmaleorgasmthatisaccompaniedbytheejaculationofsemen.
ErectionTheresultofbecomingenlargedandstifforhard.Althoughmanypartsofthebody
aretumescent(theyfillwithbloodduringsexualarousal),onlythepenis,theclitoris,andsometimesthe
nipplesarenormallysaidtobecomeerect.
FemaleEjaculationThedischargeoffluid,usuallyaround1to3teaspoonsofclearfluid,fromthe
femaleurethra,oftenafterextendedstimulationoftheGspot.Itisnoturine.
ForeskinTheretractablecoveringofthemaleglans.Also,prepuce.
FrenumorFrenulumLatinforbridleorlittlebridle,afrenulumisastripoftissuethatanchors,
connects,orrestrainsthemotionofanotherbodypart.(Forexample,thelingualfrenumconnectsthe
undersideofthetonguetothefloorofthemouth.)Thepenilefrenulumisaslimmembranethat
connectstheforeskintothefrontofthepenileshaft.Duringcircumcision,partofitisusuallycutaway,
leavinganarrowridgeontheundersideofthepenisneartheglansorhead.Formostmen,lightly
caressingthefrenulumproducesstrongpleasurablesensations.
GSpotAnareainsidethevaginaonthefrontwallofthevaginalbarrel,usually12"infromthe
entrance.Itisthepartofthevaginalwalldirectlybeneaththevestibuleandclitoris.Whenfullyaroused,
theGspotoftenhasarippledorcorrugatedfeel.Whenstroked,itcanproducestrongpleasurable
sensationsinmanywomen,oftenleadingtoorgasmandsometimestofemaleejaculation.
Glans(1)Theclitoralglansorheadisthetipoftheclitoris,locatedattheendoftheclitoralshaft.Itis
oftenlikenedtoatinybutton,pea,orpearl,butitssizeisquitevariable,andinsomewomenitismuch
largerthaninothers.Likealloftheclitoris,itishighlysensitivetostimulation.Itiserectile,increasingin
sizeandchangingincolorasitfillswithbloodinresponsetosexualarousal.Inmostwomen,theglans
isnormallyhiddenbytheclitoralhood,butoftenextendsvisiblybeyondtheclitoralhoodduringarousal,
http://moderntantra.blogspot.com/p/glossaryofsextantraterms.html

2/7

5/2/2016

GLOSSARYOFSEX&TANTRATERMS

onlytoretractagainjustmomentsbeforeorgasmoccurs
Glans(2)Thepenileglansorheadisthefleshy,bulboustipofthepenis,locatedattheendofthe
penileshaft(2).Itishighlysensitivetostimulationanditincreasesinsizeandchangescolorasitfills
withblood.Inuncircumcisedmales,theglansiscoveredbytheforeskinwhenthepenisisnoterect.
GuruAteacher,particularlyateacherofanesotericdoctrineortradition,onethatmaynotbe
completelywrittendownandmustbepassedfromteachertodisciple.Othertermsincludelama,yogi,
sensei,swami,andmaster.
HinduismAcatchalltermforthemanyandvariedformsofthepolytheisticreligioustraditionthat
emergedontheIndiansubcontinentinprehistorictimes.Itistheoldestmajorreligionintheworld,with
approximatelyabillionfollowers.ThereareTantrictraditionswithinallmajorbranchesofHinduism.
IntroitusTheexternalopeningofthevagina,locatedatthelowerendofthevulva.Theintroitusis
sensitivetogentlestimulationandissurroundedbythelegsoftheclitoris,whicharesensitivetofirmer
strokesandpressure.Althoughitcannormallyaccommodateeventhelargestpenis(afterall,itcan
stretchtoallowthepassageofababyshead),theintroituscanbecometoosmalltoallowevena
normalsizedpenistoenterwithoutcausingpainifthewomanistenseorfrightened,orhasreduced
hormoneproductionasaresultofhysterectomyormenopause.Inmostsuchcases,itcanstillbe
stretchedslowlytoaccommodatethepenis,butitcantakeconsiderabletime,patience,andlubrication.
KegelMusclesSeePubococcygealorPCMuscles.
KegelExercisesExercisesdesignedtostrengthenthemusclesthatmakeupthepelvicfloor
(thepubococcygeal,PC,orKegelmuscles).ToKegelordoyourKegelsistoperformoneorbothof
thetwobasicKegelexercises:1)forcefullycontractingandreleasingthePCmusclesveryrapidlyfor
severalminutesand2)contractingthePCmusclesandholdingtheminacontractedstateforaslongas
possible,orforsomespecifiedtime,usually5to30seconds.
KundaliniAformofyogathatattemptstousemeditationtoawakentheShaktienergyatthebaseof
thespineandtochannelthat"energy"upwardtowardtheheadinordertoexperiencetranscendence
andtoperformmagicandhealing.
LabiaMajoraLiterally,majorlips,thesearethetwofleshyouterfoldsofthevulva.Inadulthood,
theyaregenerallycoveredbypubichair.Theymaymeetinthecenterlineofthevulva,hidingtheother
partsofthefemalegenitals,ortheremaybeavisiblegapbetweentheirinneredges.Although
generallyratherflat,theyaretumescentandbecomefilledwithbloodasaresultofsexualarousal,often
becomingmuchthickerandplumperasaresult.
LabiaMinoraLiterally,minorlips,thesearethetwoinnerfoldsofthevulva.Theyrunthelengthof
thevulva,fromaroundtheintroitusorvaginalopeningtotheclitoris,wheretheyjointogethertoform
theclitoralhood.Theycanvaryagreatdealinformandappearancefromonewomantoanother.
Theycanbeverythinandnarrowandalmostinvisibleinsomewomen.Attheotherextreme,theycan
alsobethick,meaty,andseveralincheswide,protrudingvisiblyaninchormorepastthelabiamajora.
Theyaretumescentandbecomenotablydarkerastheyfillwithbloodasaresultofsexualarousal.
Color,particularlyattheedges,variesfrompalepinktored,purple,darkbrown,orblack,somewhat
independentlyofraceorskincolor.
Lingam(1)InHinduism,thelingamisasmooth,roundedcolumn,usuallyofstone,thatrepresentsthe
godShiva.ThereisadebateamongbothEasternandWesternscholarsoverwhethertheoriginofthe
lingamisphallicorsimplyaniconic,butinTantrictraditionsthelingamisclearlyandexplicitlyphallic,
representingShivainhisroleasthesexualpartnerofShakti.LingamsareverycommoninHindu
templesandgardens,andduringreligiousceremonieslingamsareoftenanointedwitharomaticoilsand
coveredinflowers.
Lingam(2)InTantra(1),themalegenitals,particularlyinthecontextofaTantricritual.Theterm
alwaysincludesthepenis,oftenincludesthetesticles,andmayalsoincludetheperineumandanus,
dependingonthecontext.
MahayanaTheGreatWayorthe"GreatVehicle,thelargestbranchofBuddhism,includingjust
overhalfofallBuddhists.(Vajrayana,orTibetanBuddhism,istechnicallyasubsetofMahayana,butis
usuallyclassifiedandcountedseparately.)AlthoughBuddhisminitsoriginalformisbestcharacterized
http://moderntantra.blogspot.com/p/glossaryofsextantraterms.html

3/7

5/2/2016

GLOSSARYOFSEX&TANTRATERMS

asalargelynaturalisticphilosophy,Mahayanaisareligionbasedmainlyonsutras(religioustexts)
writtenbyotherpeoplelongafterthedeathoftheBuddha,SiddhrthaGautama.Mahayanadiverged
fromTheravadabyacceptingtheselaterwritingsascanonical,andparticularlybyitsemphasison
bodhisattvaspeopleonthepathtofullbuddhahoodwhohelpothersbecomeenlightenedand
otherholyfigureswhofill,inmanyways,therolesplayedbysaints,angels,anddemigodsinother
religions.
MaithunaorMithunaSanskritforsexualunion.InTantra(1),itmostcommonlyreferstothelast
phaseoftheTantricritual,eventhoughintercourse,inthesenseofinsertionofthepenisintothevagina,
usuallybeginsatsomepointduringtheprecedingphase,oftencalledtheyabyumphase.The
distinctionthatisbeingmadeisbetweenthequietimmobilityoftheyabyumphaseandthevigorous
activityofmaithuna.
MaterialismThebeliefthatthephysical,materialrealmthatisapparenttohumansenses,science,
andinstrumentsistherealworld,thatitconsistsofmatterandenergy,andthatitobeysphysicallaws
(evenifwedontknowwhatallofthoseare).Materialistsrejectmagical,mystical,orsupernatural
explanationsforphenomena,andbelievethatthenaturalworldisallthatexistsoutsideofthe
imagination.Alsocalledphysicalismbysome,itistheoppositeofspiritualism,mysticism,or
supernaturalism.
MeditationAcontemplativementaldisciplinebasedondeeprelaxation,controlledattention,and
stillingthemindsfrequentlyfranticrushfromthoughttothought.
MindfulnessMeditationAtypeofmeditationbasedontheBuddhistinjunctiontobemindfuland
awareatalltimes,asopposedtothegoalofnomind,thecompleteblankingoutofconsciousthought
thatisespousedbysomeschoolsofmeditation,particularlyZen.
MonsorMonsPubisThefleshypadcoveringthepubicbone.Beginninginpuberty,itisgenerally
coveredwithpubichair.
NadiorNardiInHindufolkmedicine,anadi(pronouncedandoftenspellednardi)isasupposed
verticalchannelforspiritualenergy,connectingtheChakrasinthetrunk,neckandhead.Invarious
spiritualtraditions,theremaybeone,two,three,ormorenadisinthehumanbody.(Oneoftheoldest
textsclaimsthatthereare72,000ofthem!)
NEOorNonEjaculatoryOrgasmAmaleorgasmthatisNOTaccompaniedbythe
usualejaculationofsemen.Alsocalledadryorgasm.
OrgasmTherapiddischargeofsexualtensionatthepeakofthesexualarousalprocess.Usually
accompaniedbyintensewavesofpleasureandrapidmuscularcontractionsintheanalandgenital
areas,aswellasavarietyofotherinvoluntaryactions.Withoutcontinuedsexualstimulation,anorgasm
isgenerallyfollowedbyacomparativelyrapiddropinarousal,muchmorerapidthanwouldoccurif
stimulationceasedwithoutorgasm.Alsocalled"climax."
PelvicFloorThebandofskin,muscles,ligaments,andothertissuethatformsaflexiblebottomtothe
bonycradleofthepelvis.Itfillsthegapbetweenourlegsandkeepsourabdominalorgansfromfalling
out.
PenisThemalereproductiveorgan.Itiserectile,normallybecomingstiffandhardwhenfilledwith
bloodasaresultofsexualarousal.Theinternalrootofthepenisextendsdownwardseveralinches
fromitsoriginbelowthebladdertothepointwhereitemergesfromthebodyatthebaseofthe
pelvis.Theexternalpartofthepenisconsistsoftheshaftandtheheadorglans.Theurethraruns
alongtheundersideofthepenis.
PhenethylamineorPEAAneurotransmitterinthebrain,oneofaclassofcompoundswellknownfor
theirstimulant,euphoric,andpsychedelicproperties.Phenethylamineisreleasedandaccumulatesin
thebrainduringextendedsexualarousal,contributingtoeuphoricfeelings(theTantrichigh).Its
psychoactiveeffectsmayincludeshuttingdownthemechanismsinthebrainthatnormallykeeptrackof
theboundariesofourphysicalbodies.Highlevelsofphenethylaminemaythereforecontributetothe
bodysharingillusionandthetranscendentexperienceofcosmiconenessthatoccurfor
manyTantrics.
PrepuceSeeforeskin.Theretractablecoveringofthemaleglans.
http://moderntantra.blogspot.com/p/glossaryofsextantraterms.html

4/7

5/2/2016

GLOSSARYOFSEX&TANTRATERMS

PubisorPubicBoneTheboneconnectingthetwohalvesofthepelvisatthefront.Itiscoveredbya
fleshypadcalledthemonspubisandformsthedividinglinebetweentheabdomenandthegenitalarea.
PubococcygeusorPCMuscleThepubococcygeusisthelargestofseveralmusclesthatmakeup
thepelvicfloorandsurroundtheanusandthegenitals.Thesemusclesgenerallycontractasagroup
andareoftencalledthePCmusclesortheKegelmuscles.Contractingthemwhileurinatinginterrupts
theflowofurine.HavingstrongPCmuscleshelpspreventurinaryincontinence,reducespainandthe
chanceofcomplications(likeperinealtearing)duringchildbirth,increasesthestrengthandintensityof
orgasms,andreducesbotherectiledysfunctionandprematureejaculationinmen.
ScrotumThesackofthinskinhangingfromthebaseofthepenis,containingthe
twotestesortesticles.Itiscontractile,inthatitcanstretchout,lettingthetesteshangdownandswing
freely,orcontract,ofteninresponsetocoldorfear,butalsojustbeforeorgasm,asthecremaster
muscleinsidethescrotumpullsthetestesfirmlyupagainstthefloorofthepelvis.Inthecontracted
state,theskinofthescrotumbecomesthickenedandwrinkled.
SemenAcloudyliquidmixtureofspermandseminalfluidthatisexpelledfromtheurethraduringmale
ejaculation.
Shaft(1)SeeClitoralshaft.
Shaft(2)Themainexternalpartofthepenis,runningfromtheroot,whereitemergesfromthebody,
totheheadorglans.Theurethrarunsalongtheundersideoftheshaft.
ShaivismThebranchofHinduisminwhichShivaisworshippedastheprimedeity.
Shakti(1)Hindugoddessofwisdomandfertility.InShaktism,oneoftheprincipalbranchesof
Hinduism,Shaktiisreveredasthesupremebeing.InallformsofHinduism,sheistheeternalfeminine
principle,thesourceoftheprimordialenergyanddynamicforcesthatmovetheuniverse.Inthe
commonsaying,"ShivawithoutShaktiisshava."(Shavaissanskritforcorpse,i.e.,abodywithno
animationorenergy.)ShaktiisalsoknownsimplyasDevi(theGoddess),andallothergoddessesare
heravatars,soweseeparticularmanifestationsofShakti/Devias,forexample,Durga,thedivine
motherLakshimi,thegoddessofhealth,wealth,andbeautyParvati,thegoddessofspiritualfulfillment
Saraswati,thegoddessofknowledge,music,art,andscienceandevenKali,thegoddessofchaos,
death,decay,andredemption.
Shakti(2)InKundaliniandsomeotherformsofyoga,thesupposedprimordialsexualandhealing
energyinthehumanbody,oftendescribedasresidinglikeasnakecoiledaroundthelowestChakraor
thebaseofthespine.Shakti,inthissense,isalsoreferredtoasKundalinienergybecauseofthe
associationoftheideawithKundaliniyoga.
Shakti(3)LikeMary,Joseph,Jesus,Moses,andMohammed,Shaktiisareligiousnamethatcanbea
givennametoo!:)
ShaktismThebranchofHinduisminwhichShaktiisworshippedastheprimedeity.
ShivaHindugodofwisdomandfertility.InShaivism,oneoftheprincipalbranchesofHinduism,Shiva
isreveredasthesupremebeing.InallformsofHinduism,heisthecreatorandthedestroyerandthe
eternalmasculineprinciple.HeisShaktismateandisvariouslyportrayedasameditatingyogi,a
benevolenthusband,acosmicdancer,andafearsomeslayerofdemons.
SpiritFromtheLatinspiritus,literallybreath.Animmaterialessencebelievedbysometo
correspondtothelifeforceorsoul.Itderivesfromearlyattemptstoexplainwhysomethingsarealive,
sincethemostobviousdifferencebetweenthelivingandthedeadisthecessationofbreathing.
SpiritualismThebeliefthattherearetwoplanesofexistence,aphysical,materialrealmthatis
apparenttohumansensesandinstrumentsintherealworld,andamagical,immaterial,spiritualrealm
thatflowsinvisiblythroughandaroundthephysicalworld.Ritualmanipulationofthissupposedspirit
realmanditscontents,energy,andsupernaturalinhabitantsisthebasisformanytypesofmagic,
religion,andfolkhealing.(Thetermalsorefersspecificallytothe19thcenturymaniaforspiritualists
whoclaimedtobeabletocommunicatewiththedead,butthisisjustoneexampleofspiritualism.)Also
sometimescalledsupernaturalism.
Tantra(1)Tantricsex,thecommonWesterntermforasetofsexualpracticesthatareallegedly
http://moderntantra.blogspot.com/p/glossaryofsextantraterms.html

5/7

5/2/2016

GLOSSARYOFSEX&TANTRATERMS

derivedfromsexualritualsthatoriginatedatleast2500yearsagointheIndusValleyregionofIndia.
Tantra(2)Areligioustradition,especiallywithinthemajorbranchesofHinduism,suchasShaktism,
andinVajrayana(TibetanBuddhism).Tantrictraditions,inthissense,arebasedonTantras(3)andon
esotericteachingshandeddownsecretlyfromteachertostudent.
Tantra(3)Oneofmanyreligioustextsorteachingsbelievedtohavebeendivinelyinspired,especially
inHinduismandinVajrayana(TibetanBuddhism)mostoriginatedinthe6ththrough9thcenturiesCE.
Tantric(adj)HavingtodowithTantraorTantras,inanyofthesensesabove(whichoneisusually
clearbycontext).
Tantric,Tantrik,orTantrika(noun)ApersonwhopracticesTantra(1)orTantra(2).
TantricHighTheeuphoricstatecreatedbythereleaseofphenethylamine,
cannabinoids,andendorphinsinthebrainasaresultofprolongedsexualarousalandprolonged,
intenseorgasms.Itissimilartobutstrongerthantherunnershighthatresultsfromprolonged
exercise.SomeTantriccouplescitetheTantrichighasanexplanationforwhytheyfeeladdictedto
eachother.

TaoismorDaoismAChinesereligion/philosophybasedontheTaoTeChing,anenigmaticbookby
thephilosopherLaoTsu,aswellastraditionalChinesebeliefsandfolkmedicineandlaterwritingsby
others.ItisbestknownforencouragingharmonywiththeTao(literallytheWay,butoftenunderstood
as"thenaturalorder"),andissymbolizedbytheunionofYinandYang,theeternalopposites,
representinglightanddark,maleandfemale,skyandearth,fireandwater,etc.Hindusmayseethe
classicDaoistsymbolasrepresentingtheunionofShivaandShakti,throughwhichtheuniverseis
createdandmaintained.
Testes,Testicles,orBallsThetwoovoid,spermproducinggonadshousedinthescrotum,justbelow
thepenis.Thetestesalsoproducethemalehormonescalledandrogens,primarilytestosterone.The
testesarerichlyinnervatedandarewellknownfortheirabilitytoproduceexcruciatingpainwhenstruck
orsqueezed.
TheravdaTheoldestsurvivingformofBuddhism.Comparedtolaterforms,itissimplerandmore
conservative,hewingmorecloselytoearlyBuddhistdoctrines.Aboutthreeeighthsoftheworlds
BuddhistspracticeTheravda,includingmostofthepeopleinThailand,Cambodia,Laos,Myanmar
(Burma),andSriLanka(Ceylon).
TumescenceSwellingcausedbyrelaxationofcapillariesandengorgementwithblood(notbyinternal
bleedingoranincreaseinintercellularfluid,asinabruiseorsprain).Althoughnormallyassumedtobe
aresponsetosexualarousal,tumescencecanalsooccurduringsleeporunconsciousness.Thetermis
oftenusedasasynonymforerection,butinfactcanapplytomanypartsofthehumanbodybesidesthe
usualthreeerectileorgans(penis,clitoris,andnipples).Prolongedsexualstimulationcancause
noticeablevascularengorgementinthepelvicarea,breasts,chest,neck,andpartsoftheface,including
theears,nose,andlips.
UrethraThetubethatconnectsthebladdertoanopening(ormeatusinLatin)inthefemalevulvaor
intheglansorheadofthemalepenis.Itcarriesurinewhenemptyingthebladder,andinthemaleit
alsocarriessemenduringejaculation.
VaginaTheinnerportionofthefemalegenitals,asoft,highlyelastictubeconnectingtheintroitus,or
vaginalopening,andthecervix.
VajrayanaTheDiamondWayorTheThunderboltWay,theformofBuddhismmostassociatedwith
http://moderntantra.blogspot.com/p/glossaryofsextantraterms.html

6/7

5/2/2016

GLOSSARYOFSEX&TANTRATERMS

TibetandtheDalaiLama.AlsoknownasTantricBuddhismbecauseitisbasedonTantras(3),
religiousteachingsandtextsfrommanycenturiesafterthedeathoftheBuddha.AlthoughBuddhismin
itsoriginalformisbestcharacterizedasalargelynaturalisticphilosophy,Vajrayanaisacomplexand
colorfulreligion,completewithgods,demigods,saints,spirits,anddemons.Althoughitisperhapsthe
bestknownformofBuddhismintheWestbecauseofitsleader,theDalaiLama,itrepresentsonlyabout
6%ofallBuddhists.
VestibuleInthevulva,thesmoothareabetweenthelabiaminora,runningfromtheclitorisatthetop
totheintroitus,orvaginalopening,atthebottom.
VulvaTheexternalfemalegenitals,comprisingthelabiamajora,thelabiaminora,theclitoris(with
itsglans,shaft,hood,androots),thevestibule,andtheintroitusorvaginalopening.SeealsoYoni(2).
YabYum(1)ToquotefromWikipedia:Yabyum(Tibetanliterally,fathermother)isacommon
symbolintheBuddhistartofIndia,Bhutan,Nepal,andTibetrepresentingthemaledeityinsexualunion
withhisfemaleconsort.Oftenthemaledeityissittinginlotuspositionwhilehisconsortissittinginhis
lap.ThetermisalsousedlooselytoincludesimilarrepresentationsinHinduartcalledkarmamudr
(Sanskrit"actionseal").Notethewordofteninthequoteddefinition.ShaktisittingonShivaslapis
themostcommonmeaning,but(atleastinTantricsex)yabyumcanincludeanypositionthatallows
closecouplemeditationwhileembracingeachother,generallywithsexualunionbutrestrictedmobility.
YabYum(2)InTantra(1),yabyum,ortheyabyumphaseisoftenusedasashorthandtermforthe
periodofclosesexualconnection,couplemeditation,andrelativeimmobilitythatbeginsor
precedesmaithuna,thefinalphaseoftheTantricritual.Theyabyum,"quietconnection,"orrekindling
andcommunionphaseneednotbedoneinthestrictyabyumpositionwiththefemaleastrideher
partnerslapitcanbedoneinanypositionthatallowsforclosesexualunion.
YogaIngeneral,anyofthephysical,mental,andspiritualdisciplinesthatdevelopedoutoftraditional
Hinduphilosophy.IntheWest,yogaisgenerallythoughtofprincipallyasatypeofstretchingand
physicalexerciseprogramthatisoftencombinedwithveryrudimentarymeditation.Inspiteoftheuseof
Easternreligiousterminology,the"hathayoga"taughtin"yogastudios"alloverNorthAmericaisalmost
entirelyaWesterninventionstemmingfromthe19thcentury"physicalculture"movement.(Formoreon
this.)
Yoni(1)Sanskritforthefemalegenitals,thevulvaandvagina.InHindureligion,theYoniisablockor
tablet,usuallyofstone,thatiscarvedwithanabstractrepresentationofthefemalevulvaandvaginal
opening.ItrepresentsthegoddessShaktiinherroleasthesexualpartnerofShiva.TheunionofShakti
andShivarepresentsfertilityandthecreation/recreationoftheuniverse.
Yoni(2)InTantra(1),thefemalegenitals,particularlyinthecontextofaTantricritual.Theterm
usuallyincludesboththevulvaandthevagina,asintheterm"yonimassage."However,itisfairly
commonformodernTantricstouseyoniincasualconversationasasynonymforthevagina,especially
afterin"or"inside.Forexample:Whenhislingamisinmyyoni

http://moderntantra.blogspot.com/p/glossaryofsextantraterms.html

7/7