Sacred Kink and Holy Hedonism — Luminous Tantra examination

Eleven questions. Nine of eleven passes, and you can take it again as often as you like.

What psychological and spiritual function does the chapter attribute to transgression?

It reliably produces pleasure without any risk at all, at least in theory It disrupts conditioned patterns, opening a gap for the new It proves that a practitioner has moved beyond all ethics It replaces the need for belonging to any tradition
How does Georges Bataille describe the relationship between taboo and transgression?

Transgression doesn't negate the taboo but transcends and completes it Taboos exist only so that they can be ignored by the brave, especially for beginners Transgression destroys the taboo permanently once it has occurred Taboo and transgression are entirely unrelated to each other
What claim does the chapter make about kink and spiritual practice?

They have nothing whatsoever in common with each other All spiritual practice is, at heart, secretly a form of kink All kink is inherently and automatically a form of spiritual practice They share a structure of consent, presence, surrender and intensity
How does the DSM-5 distinguish unusual sexual interests from disorders?

Paraphilias are unusual interests; disorders involve distress or harm Disorders are defined purely by how rare an interest happens to be, at least in some cases All unusual sexual interests are classed as psychiatric disorders No sexual interests of any kind are considered in the DSM-5
Which psychological state does Dulcinea Pitagora's research link to experienced practitioners during intense scenes?

Anxiety: hypervigilance and a narrowed perceptual field Flow: absorbed attention and loss of self-consciousness Boredom: wandering attention and restless impatience, under most conditions Dissociation: numbness and detachment from the body
From the inside, how does the chapter describe the submissive and dominant roles in power exchange?

Passive rest for one partner and active entertainment for the other, particularly at first Simple obedience on one side and simple command on the other Radical trust requiring courage, and radical care requiring presence Equal roles carrying no difference in responsibility at all
Within the ethical containers of kink, who ultimately holds the power to stop a scene?

The submissive partner An observing third party Whoever began the scene The dominant partner
What does research on pain modulation show that the chapter applies to tantra?

Only medication is ever able to alter the experience of pain The brain builds pain from context and meaning, so attention transforms it Pain should be actively sought out for its own sake in practice Pain is identical in every context and cannot be changed by the mind or by attention
Which question does the chapter say should replace 'Is this kink?'

Is this traditional? Is this normal? Is this conscious? Is this advanced?
In the Sensation Meditation, what is the receiving partner's task as intensity increases?

To stay quiet so that the giver is not distracted To direct the giver to increase intensity quickly To breathe into the sensation with open awareness To endure as much intensity as possible in silence
How does the chapter define the holy hedonist?

A teacher who uses the promise of pleasure to gain followers An ascetic who denies all pleasure for the sake of spiritual growth and purity A libertine who pursues pleasure freely without any reflection One who holds the body's full range of desire within consciousness and care