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nerdqueen666's review against another edition
5.0
Genuinely extremely informative. Perhaps I was less involved in the sections regarding finding a proper wife etc. but otherwise this pretty much told me all I need to know.
Please advise if you know where to purchase quality sandalwood oil.
Please advise if you know where to purchase quality sandalwood oil.
djoshuva's review
5.0
Vatsyayana says: All undertakings are based upon a method, because they presuppose a man's exertions. Even wealth and power that must inevitably arise in the future presuppose a method. Nothing good happens to a man who does nothing. 11
Vatsyayana says: Pleasures are a means of sustaining the body, just like food, and they are rewards for religion and power. But people must be aware of the flaws in pleasures, flaws that are like diseases. 12
People who know the science say
that love takes four forms, arising out of habit,
erotic arousal, transference, and the objects of the senses. 37
The territory of the texts extends
only so far as men have dull appetites;
but when the wheel of sexual ecstasy is in full motion,
there is no textbook at all, and no order. 42
Scholars say: 'Because the things people can imagine are infinite, and there are infinite kinds of dexterity, and one can learn anything by practice and repetition, and passion is at the very heart of cutting with the nails, who could survey all the forms?' Vatsyayana says: For even passion demands variety. And it is through variety that partners inspire passion in one another. It is their infinite variety that makes courtesans de luxe and their lovers remain desirable to one another. Even in archery and in other martial arts, the textbooks insist on variety. How much more is this true of sex! 47
They say that sex is a form of quarrelling, because the very essence of desire is argument, and its character is perverse. 56
For the statement that 'There is a text for this'
does not justify a practice. People should realize
that the contents of the texts apply in general,
but each actual practice is for one particular region….
Therefore, when a man has considered
the region, and the time, and the technique,
and the textbook teachings, and himself,
he may-or may not-make use of these practices.
But because this matter is secret,
and because the mind and heart are fickle,
who could know who should do what, and when and how? 69
Some people say, 'A man will do well with a woman who catches and binds his mind and heart and his eyes. He should not consider any other woman.' 76
The best alliance plays the game
so that both sides taste one another's happiness
and treat one another
as unique individuals.
It is commonly said: 'A man scorns a woman who is easy to get, but desires a woman who is hard to get.' 105
Getting Back Together with an Ex-lover 147
If he has gone else where, she must find out about him; he may belong in any of the six possible categories, according to the circumstances:
4 [a] He left her of his own accord and he left the other woman, too, of his own accord.
5 [b] He left both her and the other woman because they got rid of him.
6[c] He left her of his own accord and he left the other woman because she got rid of him.
7[d] He left her of his own accord and stayed with the other woman.
8 [e] He left her because she got rid of him and he left the other woman of his own accord.
9 [f] He left her because she got rid of him and he stayed with the other woman.
A man who knows the real meaning of this text
guards the state of his own religion, power, and pleasure
as it operates in the world, and he becomes
a man who has truly conquered his senses.
The man who is well-taught and expert in this text
pays attention to religion and power;
he does not indulge himself too much in passion,
and so he succeeds when he plays the part of a lover. 171
Vatsyayana says: Pleasures are a means of sustaining the body, just like food, and they are rewards for religion and power. But people must be aware of the flaws in pleasures, flaws that are like diseases. 12
People who know the science say
that love takes four forms, arising out of habit,
erotic arousal, transference, and the objects of the senses. 37
The territory of the texts extends
only so far as men have dull appetites;
but when the wheel of sexual ecstasy is in full motion,
there is no textbook at all, and no order. 42
Scholars say: 'Because the things people can imagine are infinite, and there are infinite kinds of dexterity, and one can learn anything by practice and repetition, and passion is at the very heart of cutting with the nails, who could survey all the forms?' Vatsyayana says: For even passion demands variety. And it is through variety that partners inspire passion in one another. It is their infinite variety that makes courtesans de luxe and their lovers remain desirable to one another. Even in archery and in other martial arts, the textbooks insist on variety. How much more is this true of sex! 47
They say that sex is a form of quarrelling, because the very essence of desire is argument, and its character is perverse. 56
For the statement that 'There is a text for this'
does not justify a practice. People should realize
that the contents of the texts apply in general,
but each actual practice is for one particular region….
Therefore, when a man has considered
the region, and the time, and the technique,
and the textbook teachings, and himself,
he may-or may not-make use of these practices.
But because this matter is secret,
and because the mind and heart are fickle,
who could know who should do what, and when and how? 69
Some people say, 'A man will do well with a woman who catches and binds his mind and heart and his eyes. He should not consider any other woman.' 76
The best alliance plays the game
so that both sides taste one another's happiness
and treat one another
as unique individuals.
It is commonly said: 'A man scorns a woman who is easy to get, but desires a woman who is hard to get.' 105
Getting Back Together with an Ex-lover 147
If he has gone else where, she must find out about him; he may belong in any of the six possible categories, according to the circumstances:
4 [a] He left her of his own accord and he left the other woman, too, of his own accord.
5 [b] He left both her and the other woman because they got rid of him.
6[c] He left her of his own accord and he left the other woman because she got rid of him.
7[d] He left her of his own accord and stayed with the other woman.
8 [e] He left her because she got rid of him and he left the other woman of his own accord.
9 [f] He left her because she got rid of him and he stayed with the other woman.
A man who knows the real meaning of this text
guards the state of his own religion, power, and pleasure
as it operates in the world, and he becomes
a man who has truly conquered his senses.
The man who is well-taught and expert in this text
pays attention to religion and power;
he does not indulge himself too much in passion,
and so he succeeds when he plays the part of a lover. 171
bluegoldrose's review against another edition
Fascinating from an anthropological perspective.
reader_fictions's review against another edition
3.0
Everyone knows what The Kama Sutra is about. Right? Well, for those of you laughing at me or looking at me askance, maybe you don't know quite so much as you think you do. Yes, it is about sex, but, more than that, it is a study of pleasure, of courtship. Only one chapter focuses on sexual positions, although the other chapters do include other sexual acts.
This new edition of The Kama Sutra does not have any pictures of how to accomplish the sexual positions. Disappointed? Well, there's always the cover and the inside flaps. Reading this, I'm a bit curious how the work became known as a book full of pictures of sexual positions. Certainly, Vatsyayana does describe a fair number, but probably not as many as are in the books that have been published. My own theory is that people came up with a bunch more positions while trying to figure out the ones Vatsyayana described, with limited detail.
From a historian's viewpoint, this was a really neat book to read. One thing I read for particularly was the treatment of women. Now, considering that it's from roughly the third century CE, women are obviously property. Their role is to be subservient. Still, I was somewhat impressed with two things. 1) Vatsyayana also wrote this with women in mind, and included discussions of how a woman can come to have power over her lover or husband. 2) Vatsyayana openly says that women can have strong sexual drives. This is something that is often denied still today.
On the other hand, some of the advice is spot on, and modern males could still learn from it. For example, Vatsyayana says that "One needs to study a woman's behaviour when making a pass at her." Very true. Women are generally going to give off some hints, some signals telling you whether or not they are interested. Being able to read these signals is an art. Of course, his next piece of advice, should she for some strange reason, not be interested is that in some cases "she is available, but by force when they are alone." Not so good. Oh, ancient value systems.
Despite having been written by a celibate focused on meditation, The Kama Sutra really strikes me as the guidebook of a 3rd century Barney Stinson. Seriously, think about it. Within there are precise descriptions on how to bed women of every variety, along with consideration of sexual positions and how to be attractive. "A paste of rosebay, ginger and dried plum leaves" was probably the old school Indian method of 'suiting up.' Or not. Haha. But seriously, it is so much more awesome to read while thinking about this.
This new edition of The Kama Sutra does not have any pictures of how to accomplish the sexual positions. Disappointed? Well, there's always the cover and the inside flaps. Reading this, I'm a bit curious how the work became known as a book full of pictures of sexual positions. Certainly, Vatsyayana does describe a fair number, but probably not as many as are in the books that have been published. My own theory is that people came up with a bunch more positions while trying to figure out the ones Vatsyayana described, with limited detail.
From a historian's viewpoint, this was a really neat book to read. One thing I read for particularly was the treatment of women. Now, considering that it's from roughly the third century CE, women are obviously property. Their role is to be subservient. Still, I was somewhat impressed with two things. 1) Vatsyayana also wrote this with women in mind, and included discussions of how a woman can come to have power over her lover or husband. 2) Vatsyayana openly says that women can have strong sexual drives. This is something that is often denied still today.
On the other hand, some of the advice is spot on, and modern males could still learn from it. For example, Vatsyayana says that "One needs to study a woman's behaviour when making a pass at her." Very true. Women are generally going to give off some hints, some signals telling you whether or not they are interested. Being able to read these signals is an art. Of course, his next piece of advice, should she for some strange reason, not be interested is that in some cases "she is available, but by force when they are alone." Not so good. Oh, ancient value systems.
Despite having been written by a celibate focused on meditation, The Kama Sutra really strikes me as the guidebook of a 3rd century Barney Stinson. Seriously, think about it. Within there are precise descriptions on how to bed women of every variety, along with consideration of sexual positions and how to be attractive. "A paste of rosebay, ginger and dried plum leaves" was probably the old school Indian method of 'suiting up.' Or not. Haha. But seriously, it is so much more awesome to read while thinking about this.
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