Neotantra, as depicted in [Unwell] Season 1, Episode 2: Tantric Sex

Assignment Instructions:

Go to Netflix. Watch [Unwell] Season 1, Episode 2: Tantric Sex. I noted in the syllabus that you would be responsible for gaining access to videos that are streamed, such as on Netflix or Prime. Also, the scholar interviewed is David Gordon White who is my own PhD advisor. He is a gentleman and a scholar, and I rest upon his lotus feet.
[Pay close attention to White, for he is making the correct argument that neo-tantra is not tantra. It is not real tantra. It is a type of unregulated sexual therapy performed by untrained and likely unethical therapists. The name of the series is [Unwell], meaning that the practices documented are not good.]
(2) Compose a post in which you do three tasks.
(A) Describe Neotantra based on [Unwell] Season 1, Episode 2: Tantric Sex. This is a description not a summary. What aspect you choose to describe should depend on your argument in C below.
(B) Describe tantra or some aspect of tantra based on Padoux’s The Hindu Tanric World. You must use TWO quotes from the reading. You may not repeat quotes that other students have used. This is also not a summary, and the aspect or overview should be selected based on the argument you will make in C below.
(C) Make an argument based on comparing Tantra in India and Neotantra in the West. I want to see you look at the two steps above (A and B) to make an argument (C). This is an argument that you make based on A and B, the argument should not argue for similarity or difference.
PLEASE PUT QUOTATIONS AFTER YOU MAKE AN INTEXT CITATION. No exceptions

How To Work On This Assignment(Example Draft/Essay)

A: Neotantra, as portrayed in [Unwell] Season 1, Episode 2: Tantric Sex, is a contemporary interpretation of traditional Tantra that focuses primarily on sexual techniques and orgasm. This form of Tantra is often promoted by untrained and unethical therapists and is used as a form of unregulated sexual therapy. David Gordon White, a scholar interviewed in the episode, argues that Neotantra is not genuine Tantra and lacks the spiritual and philosophical dimensions of traditional Tantra. He claims that Neotantra is a commodification of sexuality that separates it from its spiritual and cultural roots.

B: According to Padoux’s The Hindu Tantric World, traditional Tantra is a diverse and complex religious tradition that incorporates a wide range of practices, such as rituals, meditation, yoga, and mantras. Padoux emphasizes that Tantra is not solely focused on sexual practices but encompasses a broad range of spiritual practices aimed at achieving liberation and enlightenment. Padoux notes that Tantra involves the transformation of the individual’s identity, leading to a state of transcendence and unity with the divine.

“Tantra is not a mere technique. It is a way of life, a world of thought, and an attitude that pervades everything” (Padoux, 1990, p. 16).

“Tantra is a spiritual discipline that combines the pursuit of material well-being and the quest for liberation” (Padoux, 1990, p. 19).

C: While Neotantra and traditional Tantra share some similarities in terms of their focus on sexuality, they are fundamentally different in their philosophical and spiritual dimensions. Neotantra, as depicted in [Unwell] Season 1, Episode 2: Tantric Sex, is primarily concerned with sexual techniques and orgasm and lacks the spiritual and cultural context that is integral to traditional Tantra. In contrast, traditional Tantra, as described by Padoux, is a multifaceted religious tradition that encompasses a broad range of spiritual practices aimed at achieving transcendence and unity with the divine. Therefore, it is essential to distinguish between Neotantra and traditional Tantra, as they represent distinct philosophical and spiritual traditions.

Moreover, Neotantra in the West is often used as a form of sexual therapy, which is not the case with traditional Tantra in India. Traditional Tantra is a spiritual discipline that is meant to lead individuals towards self-realization and liberation, while Neotantra is focused on achieving physical pleasure and orgasm. The cultural and spiritual context that underpins traditional Tantra is absent in Neotantra, which has turned it into a commodity. Therefore, while Neotantra might share some similarities with traditional Tantra in terms of its focus on sexuality, it is fundamentally different from traditional Tantra in its philosophical and spiritual dimensions.