BIOGRAPHY
My search leads me to tantra at the age of 18. I was studying Philosophy and Orientalism when I found a book of the mystic Osho and left everything to be close to that master. He taught me to die and live with utter totality at the same time, celebrating life in all its expressions.
When I got to the Gateless Gate (portal without door) as Osho used to call the entrance to his ashram in Poona, I knew it was worth leaving college and having challenged the structure of my entire family to get there. I was looking for a path to the divine in all, and I found it. This kind of search out of the established religion was considered escape or being brainwashed by a sect. It was a difficult time for me and my family. At that moment Osho had dared to dig up the Book of Secrets for us to understand human nature and how it moves in a constant duality between men and women, sex / death, light / dark, stillness / movement, etc. The Book of Secrets or Vighyan Bhairav Tantra is a conversation between Shiva and his consort Shakti or Devi, who in profound union of love and trust, sitting in yab-yum position, asks: … Beloved, what is love?… Shiva did not answer the question, instead he started conveying to her techniques that allow the direct experience of love, death and consciousness.
And so I sat at the feet of Osho as he introduced us to the secrets of the Vighyan Bhairav Tantra, which holds one hundred and twelve techniques of meditation to transcend the mind, to reach enlightenment, to become truth, to transcend death, to live in love, in full expanded consciousness or however you want to call it. I am very grateful (everyday of my life) for having been witness to the courage, love and wisdom of Osho bringing these Tantric teachings into the light. For a thirsty young seeker of truth as I was, it seemed a blessing to realize that to reach God one does not have to give up on life, nor sex, nor celebration; that the love between two people is sacred and that this love can grow and grow from inside and expand into all aspects of your life.
Osho was called dismissingly: the sex Guru and was attacked from many sides for his honest and clear presentation of tantra, including the aspect that everyone wants to deny: sex. In addition to his lectures, I had the opportunity to serve over 8 years the sangha, the Commune, the master, Osho, and the Dharma, The Truth. Living in the commune working with people from all over the world, with whom you share the love affair for truth was a supreme way of experimenting. Also in therapy and Tantra groups, where the work was purely experiential, integrating the physical, emotional and mental aspects, all guided through meditation and towards meditation. Gestalt, bioenergetics, breathing, Ericksonian hypnosis, NLP, tantra, meditation from multiple mystical streams, Jungian work, sex therapy, etc. were techniques that I learnt to create the space I want to share: The absolute presence of mind in the here and now, the relaxation of the heart and the trust on what Is.
When Osho left his body and we carried him to the burning Ghat by the river, while singing, laughing and crying, I knew I needed one last step to understanding. I had cleared my body of past tensions, brought consciousness to my emotional wounds, accepted lovingly the scars and I had experienced the indescribable opening of my heart. But I knew something was incomplete and asked him to guide me to complete.
My search leads me to tantra at the age of 18. I was studying Philosophy and Orientalism when I found a book of the mystic Osho and left everything to be close to that master. He taught me to die and live with utter totality at the same time, celebrating life in all its expressions.
When I got to the Gateless Gate (portal without door) as Osho used to call the entrance to his ashram in Poona, I knew it was worth leaving college and having challenged the structure of my entire family to get there. I was looking for a path to the divine in all, and I found it. This kind of search out of the established religion was considered escape or being brainwashed by a sect. It was a difficult time for me and my family. At that moment Osho had dared to dig up the Book of Secrets for us to understand human nature and how it moves in a constant duality between men and women, sex / death, light / dark, stillness / movement, etc. The Book of Secrets or Vighyan Bhairav Tantra is a conversation between Shiva and his consort Shakti or Devi, who in profound union of love and trust, sitting in yab-yum position, asks: … Beloved, what is love?… Shiva did not answer the question, instead he started conveying to her techniques that allow the direct experience of love, death and consciousness.
And so I sat at the feet of Osho as he introduced us to the secrets of the Vighyan Bhairav Tantra, which holds one hundred and twelve techniques of meditation to transcend the mind, to reach enlightenment, to become truth, to transcend death, to live in love, in full expanded consciousness or however you want to call it. I am very grateful (everyday of my life) for having been witness to the courage, love and wisdom of Osho bringing these Tantric teachings into the light. For a thirsty young seeker of truth as I was, it seemed a blessing to realize that to reach God one does not have to give up on life, nor sex, nor celebration; that the love between two people is sacred and that this love can grow and grow from inside and expand into all aspects of your life.
Osho was called dismissingly: the sex Guru and was attacked from many sides for his honest and clear presentation of tantra, including the aspect that everyone wants to deny: sex. In addition to his lectures, I had the opportunity to serve over 8 years the sangha, the Commune, the master, Osho, and the Dharma, The Truth. Living in the commune working with people from all over the world, with whom you share the love affair for truth was a supreme way of experimenting. Also in therapy and Tantra groups, where the work was purely experiential, integrating the physical, emotional and mental aspects, all guided through meditation and towards meditation. Gestalt, bioenergetics, breathing, Ericksonian hypnosis, NLP, tantra, meditation from multiple mystical streams, Jungian work, sex therapy, etc. were techniques that I learnt to create the space I want to share: The absolute presence of mind in the here and now, the relaxation of the heart and the trust on what Is.
When Osho left his body and we carried him to the burning Ghat by the river, while singing, laughing and crying, I knew I needed one last step to understanding. I had cleared my body of past tensions, brought consciousness to my emotional wounds, accepted lovingly the scars and I had experienced the indescribable opening of my heart. But I knew something was incomplete and asked him to guide me to complete.
“Sometimes in our daily lives our thoughts and the content of our lives, our desires, anxieties, fears, pains, past and future make us forget that we are pure consciousness. It’s time to return to your essence” ASTIKO
My journey went on. I left Poona and with 4 beloved friends set out to find Guirida a very quiet young enlightened Master. At the foot of Guirida, whose teaching was based on sitting in silence for many hours and pay attention to the heart, I learned to be still, completely relaxed, now! During this period my energy began to turn inward. My body and my heart bursting with energy, alive and at the same time utterly still. Blessed by Guirida’s stillness, life took me to sit at the feet of Papaji, a master as present as a rock. His inquiry: Who are you? Pierced into me so single pointedly and I was so relaxed that my mind stopped, I can not remember for how long because time vanished, and suddenly everything fell into place, I experienced the transcendence of duality. The mind stops and You Are CONSCIOUSNESS pure and undivided, conscious of itself, everything and nothing, love is, no lover or beloved, only love!
In that realization I knew and understood what Osho, Jesus, St. Teresa, and Buddha, Rumi, Gurdjieff, Tantra, Christ and all had meant. My cells danced as part of the universe and since then there is a kind of calm smile in my soul that seems to survive all the storms of life.
A year later I was ready to return to Spain, filled with truth and enthusiasm to share it. Now 20 years have passed and step by step my willingness to share is being embraced by many whose longing for experiencing life in all its dimensions, leads them to search.
Complete interview by Proyecto LibreMente
My journey went on. I left Poona and with 4 beloved friends set out to find Guirida a very quiet young enlightened Master. At the foot of Guirida, whose teaching was based on sitting in silence for many hours and pay attention to the heart, I learned to be still, completely relaxed, now! During this period my energy began to turn inward. My body and my heart bursting with energy, alive and at the same time utterly still. Blessed by Guirida’s stillness, life took me to sit at the feet of Papaji, a master as present as a rock. His inquiry: Who are you? Pierced into me so single pointedly and I was so relaxed that my mind stopped, I can not remember for how long because time vanished, and suddenly everything fell into place, I experienced the transcendence of duality. The mind stops and You Are CONSCIOUSNESS pure and undivided, conscious of itself, everything and nothing, love is, no lover or beloved, only love!
In that realization I knew and understood what Osho, Jesus, St. Teresa, and Buddha, Rumi, Gurdjieff, Tantra, Christ and all had meant. My cells danced as part of the universe and since then there is a kind of calm smile in my soul that seems to survive all the storms of life.
A year later I was ready to return to Spain, filled with truth and enthusiasm to share it. Now 20 years have passed and step by step my willingness to share is being embraced by many whose longing for experiencing life in all its dimensions, leads them to search.
Complete interview by Proyecto LibreMente
GRATITUDE TO MY TEACHERS:
To my Master Osho who taught me to celebrate and who reminded me, with infinite patience and courage, of what I already was and what we all are.
To Guirida for teaching me silence and to Papaji for throwing me into the void.
OSHO
GUIRIDA
PAPAJI
ABOUT TANTRAWITHASTIKO:
ORGANIZATION:
ORGANIZATION:
MÒNICA PUERTO
The curiosity to know other cultures took me to India in 2005. This was the beginning of a close relationship with this country, both personally and professionally. Its colours, its scents, its spirituality, its life …, captivated me. From this arose the yearning to share what Mother India has given me; she taught me to smile, to feel, to be humble and to be happy with what is. A tireless traveller, an observer of the human condition, a meditator, with a Degree in Tourism since 1999 and trained in different areas of personal growth, I currently coordinate trips, courses and events both in Spain and in India and I organise for Tantrawithastiko since 2010.
“Mònica and I met each other after a course. Her surrender to truth, her ability to foresee what is necessary, her attention to detail, her ability to bring the essential into form and to materialise it with love has led us to collaborate and create many courses and events together. She cares for and coordinates your practical needs and welcomes your immediate concerns.” ASTIKO
MÒNICA PUERTO
The curiosity to know other cultures took me to India in 2005. This was the beginning of a close relationship with this country, both personally and professionally. Its colours, its scents, its spirituality, its life …, captivated me. From this arose the yearning to share what Mother India has given me; she taught me to smile, to feel, to be humble and to be happy with what is. A tireless traveller, an observer of the human condition, a meditator, with a Degree in Tourism since 1999 and trained in different areas of personal growth, I currently coordinate trips, courses and events both in Spain and in India and I organise for Tantrawithastiko since 2010.
“Mònica and I met each other after a course. Her surrender to truth, her ability to foresee what is necessary, her attention to detail, her ability to bring the essential into form and to materialise it with love has led us to collaborate and create many courses and events together. She cares for and coordinates your practical needs and welcomes your immediate concerns.” ASTIKO
THANKS TO:
THANKS TO:
We are fools of love.
We are those who have rendered everything on the altar of truth.
We are those who step firmly and sweetly upon the earth and raise their arms towards the sky to caress the stars.
We are those who are dead and yet so fully alive, entering the temple of love unattached.
We are children of heaven and earth.
We are Zorbas and Buddhas.
We are humans who embrace our emotions and dualities with love and acceptance.
We are those who dance their sorrows and joys.
We are!
In this section I want to thank:
Ketan, my dear friend and colleague with whom it was possible to create the basis for this work to spread and grow in love, honesty and awareness.
Monica, for her friendship and for her talent to manifest the divine on earth, with all the dedication and practicalities that this requires.
To Jordi for spreading innocence, love and his sense of humour.
All people who work for the awakening of all us.
People who have lodged and fed us during our work.
All assistants and friends who are always there with their generosity and presence.
All of you who have participated and have given us the chance to see
you flourish.
My soul sisters and brothers with whom I lived and still live the mystery of love; people who provide a role model for how honesty and the courage to follow the heart provides fruits of exquisite fragrance and aroma: Lina because she is an embodied heart, Ara, Marta, Anandatori, Samudra and Ruth, Alex, Tino, Ciscu, Moni, Rocco, Satatma, Alicia, Niru, Pantha and Mario, Sarji, Mudito, Sanatha, Toshi, Ushi and I’m not going to fit all that I love here but they know it.
Kimiyo and Suvir for teaching me to love unconditionally.
My parents for giving me life and loving me through all.
My Master Osho who taught me to celebrate, gave me lots of brothers and sisters and reminded me again and again, with infinite patience and love who I already was, who I am and everyone is.
Guirida for teaching me silence and Papaji for throwing me into the void.
All who have taught me to know the truth and to love what Is.
All who are teaching me to know myself everyday.
All who are thirsty for truth and love.
My body for its wisdom and health and for carrying this soul through human experience so gracefully.
My mind that tries desperately to name the nameless.
The madness and innocence of my heart.
ASTIKO
We are fools of love.
We are those who have rendered everything on the altar of truth.
We are those who step firmly and sweetly upon the earth and raise their arms towards the sky to caress the stars.
We are those who are dead and yet so fully alive, entering the temple of love unattached.
We are children of heaven and earth.
We are Zorbas and Buddhas.
We are humans who embrace our emotions and dualities with love and acceptance.
We are those who dance their sorrows and joys.
We are!
In this section I want to thank:
Ketan, my dear friend and colleague with whom it was possible to create the basis for this work to spread and grow in love, honesty and awareness.
Monica, for her friendship and for her talent to manifest the divine on earth, with all the dedication and practicalities that this requires.
To Jordi for spreading innocence, love and his sense of humour.
All people who work for the awakening of all us.
People who have lodged and fed us during our work.
All assistants and friends who are always there with their generosity and presence.
All of you who have participated and have given us the chance to see
you flourish.
My soul sisters and brothers with whom I lived and still live the mystery of love; people who provide a role model for how honesty and the courage to follow the heart provides fruits of exquisite fragrance and aroma: Lina because she is an embodied heart, Ara, Marta, Anandatori, Samudra and Ruth, Alex, Tino, Ciscu, Moni, Rocco, Satatma, Alicia, Niru, Pantha and Mario, Sarji, Mudito, Sanatha, Toshi, Ushi and I’m not going to fit all that I love here but they know it.
Kimiyo and Suvir for teaching me to love unconditionally.
My parents for giving me life and loving me through all.
My Master Osho who taught me to celebrate, gave me lots of brothers and sisters and reminded me again and again, with infinite patience and love who I already was, who I am and everyone is.
Guirida for teaching me silence and Papaji for throwing me into the void.
All who have taught me to know the truth and to love what Is.
All who are teaching me to know myself everyday.
All who are thirsty for truth and love.
My body for its wisdom and health and for carrying this soul through human experience so gracefully.
My mind that tries desperately to name the nameless.
The madness and innocence of my heart.
ASTIKO