Toby Johnson: Toby Johnson is General Editor of White Crane. His latest book, “Gay Perspective: Things Our Homosexuality Tells Us about the Nature of God and the Universe” is published by Alyson Publications in July, 2003. This review was originally published in White Crane Journal (#52). It is reprinted with permission from www.whitecranejournal.com online.
On a more serious, and orthodox, note is William Schindler's book of essays. Schindler is organizer of Ashram West in Los Angeles. He is trained in traditional Hindu Tantra and has lived as a monk of the Ramakrishna Order. He's also a psychotherapist. In his capacity as leader of Ashram West, he edits and produces a weekly Newsletter. From the essays in this Newsletter, he has compiled two volumes. The first is called “Gay Tantra.” It was reviewed in White Crane Journal #50. It is a fairly scholarly and didactic presentation of Schindler's application of Hindu Tantric ideas to the modern gay experience. The first volume is rather technical with lots of historical references (and lots of Sanskrit words). It's an organized, didactic guidebook to a specific traditional spiritual path, though, of course, updated to fit gay men's experience.
The second volume, “Essays on Gay Tantra,” is composed of other writings that appeared in the Newsletter. It's less technical (with less Sanskirt).
The origins of both books, especially the second, in the Newsletter affect how the material is presented. The Essays, for instance, are organized in chronological order and based on reports of group discussions (often of books the group was reading). Many of them sound like entries in a philosophical journal. In a way, it's quite impressive that the journalist was able to recount in such detail conversations and discussions that went on in the meetings. This is perhaps indicative of one of the major ideas in Schindler's spirituality: pay attention and be mindful. The writer of these essays was obviously paying attention in the group discussions.
Besides affecting the organizational structure of the book itself, the Newsletter origins result in a kind of homiletic, hortatory tone. The entries often shift from an accounting of the group's discussion to the writer's interpretation of what the discussion really was about to what it should have been about. There's often a moral lesson preached. In general, of course, it's a gay-positive message, but with a preachy tone. For a short article members would read once a week—intentionally seeking spiritual encouragement—this is no problem. Indeed, it's desirable. In the collection of such essays, however, this tone can become tiresome. And it lends itself to sounding authoritarian and judgmental.
The “weekly sermon” quality also results in repetition. There are frequent reminders, for instance, of the group's spiritual practice to be mindful of Divine Presence during such mundane actions as brushing one's teeth or taking a shower.
Structural problems aside, however, the content of the book is marvelous and the “sermons” Schindler preaches right on.
The beginning essays concern the group's readings: Whitman's “Song of Myself,” The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, Invitation to a Great Experiment: Exploring the Possibility that God Can Be Known by Thomas E. Powers, Brother Lawrence's Practice of the Presence of God, Andrew Harvey's Dialogues with a Modern Mystic, even The Diary of St. Therese of Lisieux—interesting, and sometimes slightly obscure, readings in spirituality.
Later essays are more personal. Schindler seems to have become more relaxed and personable with his students and shares more about himself. There's an account, for instance, of his participation in the International Mr. Leather competition (he finished in the top 20 out of 52 contestants and, more importantly, gave a well-received speech about gay spirituality) and a discussion of his father's death—and even the death of his beloved dog, Svasti.
Central to the idea of Schindler's Gay Tantra spirituality is the realization—followed by the sometimes arduous and necessarily disciplined practice—of the individual human being's oneness with God. This oneness is achieved by mindfulness—hence the practice of the presence of God during one's morning toilet mentioned above. That mindfulness of one's being God—and one's partner also being God—is especially important, he argues, for gay men during sex. This is how sex is made sacred.
William Schindler's “Essays in Gay Tantra” demands, and deserves, attention. It probably shouldn't be read in long sittings—that's when it will sound repetitious and preachy. But taken one essay at a time, allowing each insight to shape your practice, it's an enlightening read. And that's how it was intended to be experienced, after all. Schindler's spirituality is worth pursuing.
Essays in Gay Tantra is available over the Internet from www.xlibris.com or by phone from 888-7-XLIBRIS.
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