RT Article
T1 "Secret" Teachings of a Transnational Yoga and Tantra School: Esotericism, Essentialism and Authenticity in MISA
JF Religions of South Asia
VO 18
IS 1/2
SP 145
OP 168
A1 Olsson, Tova
LA English
YR 2024
UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/1899575464
AB This article will present a pilot study on the Romanian school of yoga and tantra, MISA. MISA, or the Movement for Spiritual Integration into the Absolute, has gained reputation as a controversial organization through the last decades as its leader, Gregorian Bivolaru, has been accused of sexual misconduct and human trafficking on several occasions and is currently wanted by Interpol. Yet his influence is spreading through European yoga studios as people enter MISA (often unknowingly of the organization's problematic past), expecting esoteric and authentic teachings on yoga and tantra. This article will use a textual analysis of the material handed out during two year-long MISA yoga and tantra-courses, to examine the foundational teachings of a transnational yoga school in constant expansion, and how they relate to a broader religious-historical context of modern yoga and tantra, taking into special consideration the use of secrecy, claims of authenticity and the construction of gender. The article shows that, on the surface, MISA resembles many other contemporary schools of yoga and tantra, while a closer look reveals an emphasis on sexual continence that stands out, assuring the continuous reputation of the organization as both provocative and tantalizing.
K1 Authenticity
K1 contemporary sprituality
K1 Esoterism
K1 genderessentialism
K1 modern yoga studies
K1 modernyoga
K1 neotantra
K1 Secrecy
K1 Sexuality
K1 Tantra
K1 tantrastudies
K1 transnationalyoga
K1 Yoga
K1 yogastudies
DO 10.1558/rosa.25506