Tantra climax-application awareness (Buddhism, Tibetan)

This state of awareness is characterized by the word [conception]

and is represented as a mystical union or marriage of elements within the lama-yogi's own body. The state is described as corresponding to the secret initiation into the supreme tantra. The elements of the union are represented as blessed by the deities drawn into the body from the mandala. The climax is the union of the male white element (essential seed) with the female red element (the ovum and its life-support system), also viewed essentially. This is said to produce, conjointly, a mystic substance in the body called [bodhicitta]

. The contributing male and female essences are also called [vajra]

(technique or applied power or means) and [vidya]

or [prajna]

(wisdom). Instead of a ritual beverage, the initiates (male or female) may taste bodhicitta through their meditation activity in their throat-centre (cakra) and experience the joy of the spiritual void. Since this cakra is associated with spiritual love or agape it is said to be important to consider that the feminine component of bodhicitta is equally the power of compassion, and that the ethical exercise and development of compassion for all beings is the heart of the mystical, feminine matrix of life.

Similar descriptions may be found in other traditions. In the Kabbalah, the feminine [pillar of mercy]

is paired with the masculine [pillar of justice or judgement]

(the Tibetan discernment or means) as being essential to the ascent of awareness or consciousness. The Tibetan [Tara]

is a feminine personification of compassion. She is their Eve and their father is the god of compassion, [Avalokitesvara]

. The Jews have the Shekinah and the Christians the Holy Spirit, both with feminine characteristics, while the Roman Catholics have also denominated Mary as "Our Lady of Mercy". In modern analytical psychology, the integration of the psychic masculine and feminine are essential to individuation.

Bodhicitta-awareness is therefore a behavioural condition in which human development effort (masculine, working with progressively more subtle energies) is directed by a benevolent and sane (non-egoistical) disposition of the will and understanding (feminine, wisdom).

In Tibetan Sakya Buddhism this is one of the states in the "Ascension Stages Game". In some sets it is numbered 50 on the board.