Self-Love as Sacred Practice — Luminous Tantra examination

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

How do the tantric traditions regard solo practice, according to this chapter?

As a lesser practice that is eventually outgrown As a consolation for people who happen to lack partners As the foundation that sets the ceiling for partnered work As unrelated to anything that happens in partnered intimacy
What did Donald Winnicott describe as an important sign of emotional maturity?

The need for constant validation from other people, though this can vary The skill of pleasing a caretaker reliably The ability to avoid solitude in all circumstances The capacity to be alone in the presence of the self
What is special about C-tactile afferents?

They handle the fine discrimination of texture in the fingertips They are present in infants but disappear entirely in adults They favour slow stroking and project to the insula, creating emotion They respond only to strong pressure and to sensations of pain, though not always
What did research by Koole and colleagues find about self-touch such as a hand on the heart?

It increases stress by drawing attention to the body, at least in theory It has no measurable effect on the nervous system It reduces cortisol and improves emotional regulation It works only when a partner is present
How does the chapter distinguish shame from guilt?

They are identical feelings that are simply given different names Guilt: 'I did something wrong'; shame: 'I am something wrong' Guilt is felt in the body, while shame is felt only in the mind Guilt tends to last a long time, while shame is usually brief
Why does the chapter say shame cannot be resolved by cognitive reframing alone?

Shame can only be removed with the help of a trained therapist Shame lives in the body as contraction and collapse, so it must be felt through Shame is purely a thought, and it disappears on its own when it is simply ignored for long enough Shame is always caused directly by the actions of another person
What distinguishes the communion pathway from the discharge pathway?

Communion cultivates relationship; discharge vents tension toward release Communion requires a partner, while discharge can happen alone Communion is faster and more intense, while discharge is slower and more gradual Communion avoids arousal entirely, while discharge embraces it
What happens, according to the chapter, when the goal of orgasm is removed?

The body becomes noticeably more tense and restless Arousal disappears entirely and the practice loses its meaning It becomes purely meditative, with no pleasure at all It often becomes more pleasurable as you dwell in sensation
Why does the chapter describe mirror eye contact with yourself as especially transformative?

It replaces the need for any breath practice It directly counters the gaze aversion of shame It helps you evaluate your appearance critically It keeps attention away from bodily sensation
In the Sacred Self-Pleasure Ritual, why is the integration period after practice essential?

The nervous system consolidates the new patterns It allows time to plan the next practice session, under most conditions It is when the most intense sensations occur It is optional and can be skipped when busy
Which therapeutic principle does the chapter apply to one's own body in sacred self-pleasure?

Carl Rogers' unconditional positive regard B. F. Skinner's schedules of reinforcement Jean Piaget's stages of cognitive development Sigmund Freud's pleasure principle