Book Armin Heining: Silence, Ecstasy, Happiness

How I Learned to Meditate as a Monk and Discovered Spiritual Tantra

The Book

A young man in provincial Old Bavaria torn between religious devotion and sexual discovery. When he receives his conscription notice, only one path appears possible.

  • Is the monastery the right choice for Armin? Can celibacy keep his passion in check?
  • When, during his theological studies, he lives next door to a popular brother, his conscience is put to an unexpected test. On a hot summer day, a series of dramatic events is set in motion that will change Armin’s life in unforeseen ways.
  • Who helps the young monk in the dark moments of his inner turmoil?
  • Who can truely identify with him and show him a path forward? Can the Catholic Church prevent his downfall?

Saint or squalor, order or orgasm, monastery or sexual ecstasy – Armin Heining’s unsparing autobiography is a gripping account of his early life: The desperate struggle to live authentically between sexuality and spirituality, the hope of healing emotional pain and the enlightening realization that even the most tortuous path follows a plan.

The Author

Born in 1960, Armin Heining grew up in the town of Cham in Bavaria. Following high school, he entered a Benedictine Monastery in Lower Bavaria and studied Catholic theology in Würzburg. After years of deep inner conflict and therapeutic processes, he left the abbey by mutual agreement.

Following his heart, he founded GAY-TANTRA in Nuremberg in 1992 and became the author and director of numerous bestselling educational films. Heining lives today as an ›urban monk‹ in Berlin. As an international coach, he travels the world teaching his philosophy:

»Meditation is the most intimate way to be with oneself, and tantric union is the most intimate way to be with another person.«

book release

Hot off the Press:

Amazon, Publishing PROS, April 2023

283 pages, including 1 colour page;

  • E-Book: ISBN 9781915919670
  • Softcover: ISBN 9781916540224
  • Hardcover: ISBN 9781916540231

Buy on amazon


I still feel your many warm hugs and open hearts !

Dear Appreciated Previous Participants and GAY-TANTRA fans in North-America

🙏 Life has spoken to me very directly on Feb 14, 2023 in Toronto:
I asked to enter the US for sessions & trainings and got rejected for life time with my ESTA; at the inspection by US customs and borders it came out, that I had earned $ 600 - earlier arriving from Germany - in Ft. Lauderdale with individual sessions, which is against the law. They sent me from Toronto immediately home.
During the event I could stay connected to my inside and I could realize that the universe was speaking directly to me: No bad emotions, but peace, excitement in my heart and light. I had realized that before, when I had been rejected several times as a Benedictine Monk to become a priest, and learned a lot for my life (Book 'Silence, Ecstasy, Happiness - How I Learned to Meditate as a Monk and Discovered Spiritual Tantra).

I am looking back to tremendous happy, successful & loving years full of meetings, adventures, nature, huge highlights since 2015, when I started to bring GAY-TANTRA to North America. In the next future I will no longer travel there as other US business visa do not make sense.Sorry: Canada is too small to travel alone for GAY-TANTRA classes.

On a new level I surrender now my life to the higher powers - they have guided me and will continue to be best companions in my life.

❤️ Enormous grateful I say thank you to all of you! I still feel your many hugs and open hearts welcoming me. 💋💋💋

Armin Heining
North America 2015 - 2023

Welcome to visit Berlin, Germany and Europe! Continue with me your adventure of GAY-TANTRA - The Original (since 1992)!
Find all topics, dates and locations on our European Website

Statement Reisepass


This is what makes GAY-TANTRA so unique

The Foundation

Armin Heining, who founded GAY-TANTRA™ in 1992 and who has been living since then in the true sense of the word, has himself trodden an unparalleled path of transformation in his life ("From a Benedictine Monk to the GAY-TANTRA Guru", see interview).

On the basis of this extraordinary pathway through life, he has gained the ability to empathize with the most diverse aspects of human life and, particularly in the case of gay men, he can offer competent advice, support and direction.

Your Coach

Participants describe Armin as completely transparent and authentic. He has gathered long-lasting experience, both by working on himself and together with many hundreds of gay men, as well as bisexual and heterosexual participants. He uses the most varied instruments to achieve sustainable healing and wholeness in body, mind, soul and spirit. GAY-TANTRA uses the strongest of these including the roadmap of the chakras, gay yoga, giving an idea of personal development, and the tantric energy circles creating deepest intimacy with oneself and one's partner.

How you learn

GAY-TANTRA™ combines the exercises and methods in a sound and integrated sequence which allows body, soul, mind and spirit to re-adjust, grow and regain health. GAY-TANTRA conveys these techniques in theory and practice with all thoroughness: Modern visual teaching methods, clear general and individual instructions as well as opportunities to practice make GAY-TANTRA learning so unique.

Your benefit

GAY-TANTRA™ sustainably promotes your personal growth, as well as healing your sexual and vital powers and bringing you into harmony with society at large. Different methods help you to feel your body at a deeper level, likewise your sexuality, energies and emotions. You feel more proud and self-confident and gain long-lasting access to new levels of consciousness. Seminar participants are given the opportunity of accepting their same-sex love as something natural and living their daily lives in keeping with it.

Sexual Educational DVDs

GAY-TANTRA has a base of eleven specialized instruction and guidance DVDs (as of 05-2015): Erotic Gay Massage, Genital Gay Massage, Anal and Prostate Massage, Multiple Orgasmic Genital Gay Massage, Multiple Orgasmic Anal and Prostate Massage, Gay Kama Sutra, GAY-TANTRA™ Ritual and Sexual Ecstasy, Ultimate Gay Sex, The Gay SuperOrgasm, Strong Man (longer and harder erections, no premature ejaculation), The Art of Self-Ecstasy (multiple orgasms through masturbation). Nine of these previous mentioned titles are also available in French (as of 03-2016). Additionally, it is based on the profound and worldwide recognized books of Margot Anand Naslednikov, who was for nearly two decades the Tantra teacher and mentor of Armin Heining, today's good friend.

Gay Massages, Workshops, Trainings

GAY-TANTRA job trainings are, when desired, certificated as continuing education courses for medical and psychology related professions. With these certifications, received after successfully passed examinations, participants are allowed to promote their own profession.

GAY-TANTRA Workshops, introductory and intensive seminars take place frequently in Europe and since 2014 also in North America at Frog Meadow Oasis for Men in Southern Vermont, at Awaken Studio Toronto with Phillip Coupal, and many other destinations like Berkeley/CA, Chicago/IL, Fort Lauderdale/FL, Los Angeles/CA, Montreal/QC, Palm Springs/CA or San Diego/CA. Organisational support is appreciated and welcome for future events in additional North America locations.

In 2009 Armin Heining opened the GAY-TANTRA Oasis in Berlin, a place where a team of high-quality trained masseurs provide GAY-TANTRA massages for gay men in an exclusive atmosphere. A Tantra School for gay singles and couples, counselling, gay sex coaching, various rituals and much more are also on offer as well as special gay massages.

Begin your Journey of GAY-TANTRA™

With Armin Heining's teachings, developed in Germany and Europe since 1992, GAY-TANTRA brings new experiences and insights up to now not available in North America. They will open up new horizons supporting your personal growth, making your life more joyful, shining, full of love, meaning and excitement. Don't miss this unique offering! Book your event and learn with films and other provided educational material.
GAY-TANTRA™ - Breathe Life.


The Founder and Pioneer

Portrait Armin Heining

Armin Heining

was born in 1960 and graduated in theology, pedagogics and non-medical practitioner. He regards himself as being a monk and traveler on spiritual paths, a teacher and student all in one.

Monastic Time

As Benedictine monk (Brother Christoph) Armin came into contact with the contemplative path of Christian meditation in 1983 and learned this under the guidance of recognized teachers for some ten years. He transformed this practice later into the contemplative tradition of Tantra, called 'Mahamudra', and is still practicing and teaching this on a regular base to this day.

Tantra Training

After leaving the monastery, Armin turned to SkyDancing-Tantra®. This "neospiritual" path was developed in the eighties by Margot Anand Naslednikov as a modern approach to an old spiritual tradition. Armin became a licensed teacher and applied this path to the sphere of gay men and all men who love all kinds of men.

Career and Professional Scope

Armin has been teaching in Germany and abroad since 1992 and is today an internationally acclaimed coach and trainer. Most of his seminars are frequented by men who want to try something new and deepen their sexuality, or who seek to connect (homo)sexuality, love, compassion and forgiveness, intimacy and spirituality.

Armin offers seminars and trainings. He also gives tantric individual sessions (breathwork, bodywork and gay massages), therapeutic sessions of CranioSacral- and Visceral Therapy and relaxation in body-temperature water (aqua tantra).

Essence of Teachings

Armin says: 'Mahamudra leads to the most intimate way of being with yourself. And the tantric energy cycles lead to the most intimate way of being with your partner.'

Engagements

The seminar instructor is also executive on the board of Charity Sexuality & Spirituality in Germany and author of various articles (book: "HomoSexuality & Spirituality", Nuremberg 2005) and presentation director of eleven sexual eductional DVDs (as of 10-2015).

Life Motto

Armin's manner can be summed up as clear and decisive: Without wanting to convert anyone or put him under pressure, he knows how to act and speak out of his inner convictions. His life motto: Be connected with the inner depth, be playful and at ease in the here and now.


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