Interview with Ma Prem Sugandho

Tantric Teacher Sugandho

Tantra, an ancient yet ever-living teaching on the art of sacred sexuality, continues to evolve even today. Tantric wisdom is based on experience and personal insight, and therefore it has always been transmitted directly from teacher (guru) to student. There is no single written code defining exactly how tantra should look; what matters most is the intention and the philosophy behind it. Every guru – or, as we say today, every teacher – has adapted tantric teaching according to their own vision and personal experience. That’s why tantra today often intersects with shamanism, art, and modern psychotherapy.

When practiced regularly and deeply, tantra helps dissolve various physical and emotional blockages, making a person freer and more open. In that sense, it can be considered therapeutic. Nowadays, tantra attracts many experienced psychologists and psychotherapists who explore it as a method of personal growth. Because tantra is unafraid to work with intimacy and sexual energy – often beyond the boundaries of traditional therapy – some therapists eventually embrace tantra as their main path and become its teachers.

This is also the story of Ma Prem Sugandho, a German tantra teacher and direct disciple of Osho, who studied psychology at university and has been teaching tantra in the Czech Republic for many years. Let us look into her life and her unique approach to tantric teaching.

 
Bc. Michaela: In your biography, you mention that you studied psychology. The fields of psychotherapy and tantra overlap to some extent – both aim to heal past traumas and help people live fully. In your view, what is the main difference between psychotherapy and tantra, and what are their limits? Are they similar in any way?

Sugandho: The main difference between tantra and psychology, as I see it, is the absence of meditation in traditional psychology. Classical psychology focuses on diagnosing and treating what is “sick.” What I miss there is the spiritual dimension, through which healing doesn’t just bring behavioral change but deep transformation.

Tantra offers much more than trauma healing; it is a different way of living all dimensions of human existence. Traumas and wounds must not be ignored, but they are not the main focus of tantric work. We address them only to prepare the ground for a tantric way of living.

A tantric life means living in meditation. Meditation, sensitivity, joy – these should penetrate every aspect of life: sexuality, work, and even the simplest everyday activities.

 
Bc. Michaela: Your courses cover a wide range of topics, not just sexuality. What areas of human life do you focus on in your teaching?

Sugandho: My work is centered on the body’s energy centers – the seven chakras. Each chakra carries specific themes:

The first and second chakras relate to sexuality, our social and intimate relationships, childhood memories, and physical survival.

The third chakra works with personal power, dignity, and freedom.

The fourth chakra connects us with the spiritual heart as well as the physical and emotional heart – it’s about the development of love, from personal to universal.

The fifth chakra relates to self-expression, trust, and communication.

The sixth chakra is connected to inner vision, clarity of mind, and meditation.

Journeying through the chakras covers many aspects of human existence and helps people look at their lives with deeper awareness. Life becomes more colorful, spontaneous, and flowing. In daily life, this means more choice and more resources to face challenges with balance and presence.

 
Bc. Michaela: Tantra is an ancient teaching, and its modern form certainly differs from the original one. Many teachers adapt it according to what they find beneficial or appropriate. How would you define your approach to tantra, and what influences your courses?

Sugandho: Tantra has profoundly shaped my life. Through it, I came to understand the tremendous gift that sexual energy truly is, and I learned how to use this energy in many different ways. Sexual energy and freedom bring joy and sensitivity into everything we do. They bring true aliveness and help us realize how precious life is.

My work is rooted in the teachings of the mystic Osho, whom I met personally. His entire message is about bringing tantra and tantric energy into every part of our lives.

 
Bc. Michaela: How do you view monogamy and polyamory? And how do these themes appear in your courses?

Sugandho: The topic of monogamy and polyamory arises in almost every one of my seminars. How to live fully in sexual energy while maintaining healthy relationships is a question that touches many people I work with. During the workshops, participants open up to one another more deeply than usual, and this naturally brings the question to the surface.

There is no universal answer – only an individual effort to live authentically and with love. Tantra has taught me that sexual energy must be expressed, not suppressed. However, what people sometimes do in the name of sexual freedom can also be an escape from intimacy or from facing conflicts. Therefore, I prefer to approach this topic individually rather than through general statements. The path lies in finding balance between freedom and devotion, freedom and responsibility, freedom and trust.

 
Bc. Michaela: How did you personally come to tantra, and what do you aim to share through your courses?

Sugandho: I came to tantra through Osho, whom I consider a true tantric master. He especially encouraged women to explore and express their sexual energy. Female sexuality has been deeply suppressed throughout history. Osho made it clear that tantra is a long journey – desire is only the first step on the ladder. When we use sexual energy for transformation, it leads us toward unconditional love and prayer, which I understand as the essence of meditation.

In my work, I aim to share the message that every person has the birthright to live a joyful and fulfilled life. I try to encourage people not to give up that right, to overcome their inner obstacles, and to reach their goals and deepest desires – to the point where every act, small or big, becomes an expression of joy and life turns into dance and celebration.

 
Bc. Michaela: What is your relationship with the Czech Republic, and what brought you here?

Sugandho: I like this question because I’ve never asked it myself. I lived in Germany for a long time and had never visited the Czech Republic, which was then part of the Soviet bloc. When I was invited to teach my first seminar here about four years ago, I was pleasantly surprised by the people – open-hearted, gentle, and full of warmth.

 
Bc. Michaela: In your course descriptions, you write that you help people realize what truly holds value for them. What are your own values? What brings you joy and helps you when you feel sad?

Sugandho: The highest value in my life is meditation. Meditation has saved my life more than once; it is something I can always rely on. I carry it with me wherever I go. I just need to close my eyes and turn inward. Meditation makes my life balanced and rich. It gives me the courage to take risks when needed, to relax deeply, and to be part of life itself. I’ve learned to enjoy both sunny and cloudy days and to stop struggling when things don’t go my way.

 
Bc. Michaela: Do you have a favorite place in the world where you like to return?

Sugandho: Yes, there are two places where I feel at home. One is Pune, in India, and the Osho Meditation Center. I’ve been going there for 28 years – it’s my spiritual home. Once a year, I recharge there, visit the center, and join my friends in a shared experiment of spiritual growth and expanding love.

My second home is Israel, especially its desert. I’ve lived there for many years. I love the Mediterranean climate and the mix of Arabic and European lifestyles, even though it brings many challenges. Through my work, I try to contribute, in my own way, to peace in the Middle East.

 
Bc. Michaela: Have there been important people in your life who influenced you deeply?

Sugandho: Osho has influenced me since I was twenty. He was and remains the most important person I’ve ever met. Living and fulfilling his vision is the greatest gift of my life. Thanks to Osho, this life is truly extraordinary.

 
Bc. Michaela: Our readers would love to know a bit more about you personally. Could you describe what an ordinary day looks like for you? How do you like to spend your time?

Sugandho: My favorite days look like this: I wake up to my dogs wanting to run through the desert or the dunes near Tel Aviv. Their vitality reminds me how life should be lived. Before or after the walk, I meditate, then have breakfast with loved ones – I like mornings that start slowly. Then I devote myself to my work: seminars, individual sessions, housework, computer tasks. I think I’ve learned to love whatever needs to be done, and I do it with love, not out of duty.

Recently, I started studying Hebrew with a private teacher – a relative of mine. It’s not easy, but she encourages me, and I hope to become fluent one day.

A month ago, I learned to kayak in the open sea – a wonderful way to connect with the element of water. Sometimes we kayak under the full moon near the beach in Tel Aviv. It’s breathtaking.

Between my travels for work, my life is quite simple. Soon I’ll be moving to a new home on the northern edge of the Israeli desert, where people will be able to come for meditation, seminars, and peaceful holidays in the silence of the desert.

 
Bc. Michaela: Thank you for the interview!

Questions translated by Alena Chrástová (Albi)