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My Kind of Town Don Chapman |
A tantric tingle
>> Kaneohe
Fingers brushing, the second Lama Jey Tsong Khapa led Bodhicita Guzman to the downstairs room where he slept last night, closed the door. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he bade her do the same, facing him.
"My understanding of tantric practice is limited," he began. "My teachers thought it best to wait until I mastered other paths and practices, as a foundation. It's said that tantric practice can do more harm than good in those not prepared for it. But I have begun to study ... And you know this too, from our other lives together."
He held his hands up, palms toward Bodhicita, thumbs pressed together. His eternal consort did the same, lightly pressed her thumbs and palms to his. "Breathe with me," he said, inhaling.
"Oh my god," she said, beginning to tingle in places she didn't know she could tingle.
"Close your eyes. Just breathe. Focus only on that."
Leaning forward from the waist, their noses just inches apart, she followed his deep, rhythmic breathing, felt the warmth of his breath on her neck. Oh my.
She blinked, refocused on her breathing, just that ... and as he exhaled, the lama softly murmured "Ommm ... " Inhale. "Ommm ... " Inhale. "Ommm ... "
She'd heard men in moments of ecstasy make similar sounds, but it was never selfless, much less holy.
Soon, without thinking, Bodhicita was breathing and chanting with him. Inhale. "Ommm ... " Inhale. "Ommm ... "
Eyes still closed, she saw them together as they were now, except clothed in light and sitting on a lotus blossom. And instead of two hands, they each had three. With two, they continued to press palms and thumbs together. With two they embraced. With two they reached out with blessings for all sentient beings.
Still breathing together, she felt their breath mingling, creating a kind of power and unity she'd never known, and from the life of their joined breath all around them flowers and fruit trees began to sprout and blossom.
Inhale. "Ommm ... " Inhale. "Ommm ... "
Eons passed.
And still they were together. As one.
Inhale. "Ommm ... " Inhale. "Ommm ... "
The lama leaned slightly forward.
She felt his movement, leaned toward him.
Inhale. Their noses touched.
"Ommm ... " Their lips brushed, sharing the vibration. "Ommm ... "
He took her hands in his, pressed them to his chest, and they kissed, just once, and walked up stairs.
"My god, Quinn, look at them," Lily Ah Sun whispered. "They're glowing!"
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Don Chapman is editor of MidWeek. His serialized novel runs daily in the Star-Bulletin. He can be e-mailed at dchapman@midweek.com