(From "Spiritual Sex: Secrets of Tantra from the Ice Age to the New Millennium", published by the Pocket Books division of Simon & Schuster, copyright 1997, all rights reserved.)

Dr. Bernard | The "Tantrik Order In America" | Controlling Forces | Charter Document | New Tantric Order |

Apparently Messrs. Bernard, Norton, Hamati, De Lois and Tuell were the controlling forces of the American "Tantrik Order". Elsewhere in their first American "Tantric" publication it states: "American educators in this system, attached to all lodges on the Western Continent, are inspected, directed and controlled by five regularly ordained Tantrik Priests acting in the capacity of Primates." Thus far there is little available data on the activities of the "Tantrik Order in America" or what ultimately happened to its membership. There is reference to many important Sanskrit titles, which are listed with the intriguing information that: "The English translations of these texts complete are to be found in the Cabinets of the Order, in the four jurisdictions of the United States."

The main Charter Document, headed "Tantrik Order" and reproduced in the International Journal in reduced size, depicts the "American Primate" (Dr. Bernard) standing by a skeleton as he dramatically waves a type of wand to reveal a temple sanctuary behind curtains. The sanctuary contains three main objects (left to right), a phallus-like structure emblazoned with mystic symbols related to the Elements, a vagina-shaped flaming retort supported by a tripod, and steps rising to a plinth decorated by two interlaced triangles (the "Seal of Solomon", symbolic of male and female energies combined), with a winged orb at the center. Above the plinth are two pyramids at either side of a central offering retort. In front, facing and viewing the dramatic display are seven chairs with seven people seated on them. Six appear to be male but the last (on the left) in the line seems to be female. Below is "The Oath", written first in a type of encoded hieroglyphic or magical script, with a central seal underneath, picturing a serpent biting its own tail and encircling two interlaced triangles within which is a winged orb. Signatures can be seen at either side of the seal, one clearly that of Pierre Arnold Bernard and the other belonging to Paul Marcelin Delmar, a close associate and initiate of the "Tantrik Order". The reproduced document commemorates Mr. Delmar's induction into the Order.

1. Pierre Arnold Bernard
2. Morais Albert Norton
3. Salvais Hamati
4. Eugene Ivard De Lois
5. Armand Calvin Tuell

At either side are two wax seals and the whole composition is held between two rising cobras (symbols of the Kundalini-energy of Tantric tradition) and intricate geometrical motifs.

Whoever put this document together must have been very familiar with magical documents created by fraternities such as the Rosicrucians and Freemasons, and with oriental art and esoteric symbolism.

The thirty-three lines in English read as follows:

"OM! In obedience to esoteric law and the inevitable and inscrutable decrees which determine the age of souls for admission through the sacred portals of the TANTRIK ORDER..................................................................having undergone with patience, fortitude, courage, and resignation, a thorough and rigid examination in the manifestations of phenomena connected with the life of man in his cosmical, physical, spiritual, and psychological relations to the universal life and the trying ordeals prescribed and exacted by TANTRACHARINS; and having given ample and satisfactory evidence that he is familiar with the application of the black and white law; that he can keep silent, irrespective of time, place, or condition; that he is endowed with the necessary forbearance to control his mind, body, and speech; and further, pledging obedience, fidelity, and veneration, unto death, to his preceptors, by virtue of the training which he has undergone, is hereby ushered into the Tantrik Order for life, and declared a Temple Attendant, subject to the laws of the inner principles in connection with those of Brahmanda, and is, on this Five and .................Day of Brahma, entitled to receive and retain this sacred bond, oath, and certificate until death rends the veil and he joins the many who have become one with Parabrahman. As a tear from heaven he has been dropped into the Ocean of the TANTRIK BROTHERHOOD upon earth and is moored forevermore in the harbor of contentment, at the door to the temple of wisdom wherein are experienced all things; and to him will be unveiled the knowledge of the Most High. He has obtained an understanding of the alternating currents of the Great Breath which permeates the universe for the sustenance of life and the unfoldment of the powers of the soul, so he, at this time, has been rescued from the deceits of the senses and the delusions and illusions of the world and started upon his journey to the seat of light and knowledge.

Armed with the key to the sanctuary of divine symbolismwherein are stored the secrets of wisdom and power, he no longer lives upon the appearance, sustenance, and disappearance of the shadow of ..........................................but has proven himself worthy to be intrusted with the knowledge to discern simulation, and garner truth; to avoid the pitfalls of life; to soar above the world and look down upon it; to exalt the passions and quicken the imagination; to know that one of our words with his understanding is better than thousands in an unknown tongue; to prescribe for the wounds of the human heart; to have a fixed and certain purpose; to treat all things with indifference; to know that religion is the worship of man's invisible power; to sow noble aspirations and reap golden possessions of the mind; to experience illumination and understand the duration of life; to enjoy well-being, generosity, and popularity; to know the active and passive power of the Phallic principles and the forward and backward motions of Prana which make all life momentary. He has learned to love life and know death and to judge accurately between divine miracles, works of nature, art, and simulative phenomena in all its phases. Possessing a knowledge of the soul of things and the cause of phenomena ordinarily unseen, he is qualified to study, in a proper manner, the most difficult of all sciences. A new sea of experience has been opened to his view. Under the guidance of a TANTRIK INSTRUCTOR he has been permitted to examine SIDDHAGATIKA, and the Sixth Book of Nature which contain the key to the essential principles and elements of everything in the universe. Having conquered slowly, and by degrees, all his senses he has acquired a mastery over internal nature. Knowing the most positive power in the second and third temples, and the union of the positive of the first with the negative of the second and the proper alteration and motion required by fixed law; he can regulate his life to the Parabrahmic subdivisions of the day and night of the universe and extract the vital principles of the GREAT BREATH for the benefit of the soul and finally be ushered into (M).

That which has been covered has been revealed to him. Having sworn by the eternal, relentless, and living power of .....................

not to divulge this secret science of the soul, but to bury it deeply in silence, and ever preserve it inviolate in concealment all the days of his life (as any method other than that of secrecy is contrary to the will of God); and having also sworn to keep closed his lips and live not that opposed to TANTRIK praxis, degrees of knowledge, power and love have been conferred upon him by his preceptors to whom he has sworn an unreserved allegiance. It is now his duty and privilege to occupy the vestibule of heaven and to obtain a knowledge of the first creation of the Gods. He partakes of all worship and will henceforth more greatly appreciate the elegant and useful arts as he proceeds in development. Imagery and symbolism are to him an open book. He has obtained a knowledge of the beginning, ending, and middleness of that which refines and tests all things.

Having fulfilled every requirement and acceded to the dictates of his preceptors, he is now entitled to act as prescribed on leaf 296, under the laws of Hamana, 2945 KALI YUGA, relating to INITIATES. In consideration of the foregoing and in proper recognition of ............................................the Tantriks offer him their guidance and protection henceforth and forever. Om!"

The 1906 "Oath" of entry into the "Tantrik Order of America" now needs to be modified for use in the present "New Tantric Order". The old Oath is rather sexist, obscure and dated! "He" needs to be changed to "the Initiate". "Tantrik" becomes Tantric, etc., etc. The suggested revised "Oath" of the New Tantric Order, which incorporates the previous Tantrik Order in the Americas in it, now reads as follows:

"OM! In obedience to esoteric laws and the inevitable and inscrutable decrees which determine the readiness of souls for admission through the sacred portals of the NEW TANTRIC ORDER......................................................having undergone with patience fortitude, courage, and resignation, a thorough and rigid examination in the manifestations of phenomena connected with life in its cosmical, physical, spiritual, and psychological relations to the universal life and the trying ordeals prescribed and exacted by THE NEW TANTRICS; and having given ample and satisfactory evidence that the Initiate s familiar with the application of the dark, bright and red occult laws, can keep silent, irrespective of time, place, or condition, is endowed with the necessary forbearance to control body, speech and mind, and further, pledging obedience, fidelity, and veneration, to Those of this Order, by virtue of the training undergone, is hereby ushered into the New Tantric Order for life, and declared a Temple Attendant, subject to the laws of the Inner Principles, and is, on this ................Day of ........................., entitled to receive and retain this sacred Bond, Oath, and Certificate. Like a tear from heaven, the Initiate has been dropped into the Ocean of the NEW TANTRIC ORDER upon earth and is moored forevermore in the harbor of contentment, at the door to the Temple of Wisdom wherein are experienced all things; and to the Initiate will be unveiled the knowledge of the Absolute. The Initiate has obtained a good understanding of the alternating currents of the Great Breath which permeates the universe for the sustenance of life and the unfoldment of the powers of the soul, so, at this time, the Initiate has been rescued from the deceits of the senses and the delusions and illusions of the world and started upon the journey to the fountain of all knowledge.

Armed with the Tantric Keys to the Sanctuary of Divine Symbolism wherein are stored the secrets of wisdom and power, the Initiate has been proven worthy to be entrusted with the knowledge to discern simulation, and garner truth; to avoid the pitfalls of life; to soar above the world and look down upon it; to exalt the passions and quicken the imagination; to know that one of our words with understanding is better than thousands without; to prescribe for the wounds of the human heart; to have a fixed and certain purpose; to treat all things with indifference; to know that true religion is the worship of invisible spiritual powers; to sow noble aspirations and reap golden possessions of the mind; to experience illumination and understand the duration of life; to enjoy well-being, generosity, and popularity; to know the secret powers of the Linga and Yoni and all the motions of Prana which make life transitory. The Initiate has learned to love life and know and not fear death and to distinguish accurately between divine miracles, works of nature, art, and simulative phenomena in all their various phases. Possessing a knowledge of the soul of things and the cause of phenomena ordinarily unseen, the Initiate is qualified to study, in a proper manner, the most difficult of all sciences. A new ocean of experience has been opened with this Tantric Initiation. Under the guidance of a qualified Tantric Instructor, the Initiate has been examined and declared fit, knowing the hidden Tantra keys to the essential principles and elements of everything in the universe. Having conquered slowly, and by degrees, doubt and all the senses, the Initiate has acquired a mastery over internal nature. Knowing the awesome powers of Tantra and the ultimate Unity of opposites and the cosmic laws of Three, Five, Seven and Nine, the Initiate regulates the life-force within and without, harmonizing with the Great Breath of the Universe, extracting from it the higher spiritual principles for the benefit of the soul and hereby humbly requests to be brought into the New Tantric Order.

That which is normally concealed has been revealed to the Initiate. Having sworn by the Eternal, relentless, and living Powers of Tantra not to divulge this secret science of the soul, but to bury it deeply in silence, and ever preserve it inviolate in concealment all the days of one's life and has also sworn to keep silent concerning the details of this Initiation and to live in a style not opposed to Tantric Truth, the high degrees of knowledge, power and love have been conferred upon the Initiate by the Tantric Authorities and their Lineage, to whom the Initiate has taken this Oath of unreserved allegiance. It is now the Initiate's duty and privilege to occupy a place in the Tantric Order and to obtain knowledge, by association, with those who confer this Tantric Initiation. From this moment, the Initiate may partake of the fruits of all worship in the Tantric Temples of this Order and will henceforth more greatly appreciate the elegant and useful arts and sciences. Tantric imagery and symbolism are now to the Initiate an open book. By this Initiation the Initiate has obtained knowledge of that which refines and tests all things.

Having fulfilled every requirement and acceded to the dictates of the Preceptors and Lineage, the Initiate is now entitled to every privilege relating to Initiates into this New Tantric Order. In consideration of the foregoing and in proper recognition of the spiritual attainments reached, those others of this Order offer the Initiate their guidance, friendship and spiritual protection henceforth and forever. Jai Ho!"