Students learn about great sex

The Joshua RunyanThe Joshua RunyanThe Daily Pennsylvanian According to John Nemec, a graduate associate in the Quadrangle's Community House, sexual intercourse with multiple partners, eating meat and drinking alcohol have actually long been parts of tantra, an ancient Indian priestly ritual designed to free a person from the bonds of societal regulations. For many Penn students, whose only direct knowledge of tantric sex comes from rumors of pop star Sting's sexual habits and frequent references in the hit film Go, Sunday night's talk provided an opportunity to get up close and personal with an age-old sexual practice. Nemec, a doctoral candidate in Indian Religions, shared his knowledge of tantric sex before a mostly male audience of 24 students in the second-floor Ashurst Lounge of Community House on Sunday. But the talk was anything but what some were hoping for. "I thought there was going to be a demonstration," one student joked after the discussion. Although there may not have been demonstrations with full-frontal nudity, the inquisitive and sexually curious students still left with their fair share of information. A philosophy of priests fed up with the confining rules that governed everything from eating to sex, tantra -- which first became popular about 1,000 years ago -- was seen as the way to spiritual enlightenment. The most popular definition of tantric sex is that it is a practice that allows a man to prolong his orgasm for several hours. Often misunderstood, tantra was "liberation via indulging one's desires," according to Nemec. And tantra appeals to both sexes, "the only known religion" that advocates orgasm for both man and woman, he said. But those men eager to try tantric sex out on their next date might also want to think twice. Traditional tantric sex, Nemec told an aghast audience, often involves drinking a mixture of menstrual and seminal fluid. Reaction to the talk was mostly positive, as students in attendance said they learned a great deal about what is frequently considered to be the "best sex ever." "I think he made an effort to cover as much as he could" and was successful in addressing a "complex issue in a simple manner," said College junior Elena Bojilova, who is a resident advisor in Community House. But those in the know do not exactly go around spreading their tantric truths. A true tantrica must be initiated by a guru, Nemec said. "What is Tantric Sex?" was the first in a series of Community House-sponsored lectures designed to address topics that many Penn students are interested in talking about but rarely discuss. Next Sunday, there will be another lecture for those who are musical in the bedroom. "Sex, Drugs, and Gregorian Chant" will begin at 7 p.m. in Ashurst Lounge.