Basics of Tantra
Tantra is a system that comes from India that developed around the 5th century but reached its peak around 1200. Some point to the 4th Buddha, Saraha, as the enlightened Human who first learned Tantra from an Arrow Smith woman who shared great magic and wisdom of the Teachings of Shiva and Shakti. Tantra seeks to find balance in opposites; the merging of masculine and feminine, light and dark, our fierce nature as well as our grace. It supports the liberation of the mind and body as they merge into one. It seeks to remove the divisions that keep us from our full magnificence.
Tantra is a holistic approach towards living life and finding union in communication, emotions, spirituality, psychology, sexuality, psychic ability, self-healing, relationships, and material success. It includes sacred art (Yantra), music (Mantra or Japa), movement (yoga or mudra), advanced breathing (pranayama), and so much more. This sacred practice is huge in scope. There’s much confusion to those first learning Tantra due to its rich history of mysticism and ritual.
The more one sets out to learn; the more one can find libraries of ancient text, scriptures, and sutras. It’s deeply rooted in (what’s now known as) Hindu deities and tradition, ancient aboriginal practices, and yogic approaches. The teachings of Mahamudra Tantra release many from the need to put Tantra into a specific box. It offers the freedom to explore and experience life in full awareness, bliss, and ecstasy while having success on all levels of life. We witness that we are not ruled by karma but can allow karma to be our teacher as we learn that each footstep on this planet creates a ripple effect.
Living life in the blissful moments of awareness allows less karmic debt to be gathered, as our eyes are more open to seeing both the inner and outer universe. The ability to see all that life has to offer is a powerful insight that guides us towards joy and bliss. The simplest things in life can seem so complicated. Moving out of our own way is key to fully unlocking the secrets of Tantra. You have most likely already experienced the beautiful nature that this life has to offer.
Tantra gives us the roadmap to experience this more often, and with a practice of full awareness, we become able to dwell continuously in our ecstatic nature. There is a large movement in the United States over the past 40 years that has illuminated Tantra after years of being kept in great secrecy. Social norms around morality have created a population that has repressed the natural and sacred aspects of sexuality. Tantra offers clear wisdom to using sexual energy in all aspects of life.
As social transformation is occurring, more and more people look to be educated in the art of higher sexual energy. As this information is becoming more available, the larger context of Tantric wisdom has been somewhat diluted, and advanced sexual union techniques have come to the forefront.
Most Western beginning students of Tantra are looking to receive sexual techniques that will allow them to become a better lover or experience more sexual pleasure. Although this is a wonderful residual effect of practicing Tantra, the totality of Tantra is often overlooked. Connecting to and using sexual energy is like tapping into an endless source of electricity. Keeping this electricity at the source is wasting the full potential of using this energy across the whole body.
Nevertheless, Tantra allows us to create and move this energy and looks at things that might limit this energy to correct them. Using this same metaphor, Tantra allows us to transform and grow as we produce greater amounts of this positive electricity.
Tantra Questions:
Q: So the question is, is Tantra about sex?
The answer is yes, and so much more. Sex is a minimal aspect of Tantra, yet it is potent all the same. To understand why Tantra and sex are related, a new definition of sex is needed. Tantra explores sex far beyond the act. In fact, the act rarely speaks about; it’s more the meditative, magical, and energetic aspects that are spoken of. Sex is often addressed to reach a state of “no-mind” and enter into the place of all creation.
Q: Can I use Tantra to have better sex?
Yes, but why limit yourself to just great sex when you can have a great life? Pleasure is just a part of it. Tantra has 3 levels of experience: pleasure, joy, and bliss. Pleasure is external, Joy is internal, and bliss is spiritual. This is a vital part of understanding the sexual teachings of Tantra. Not all pleasure brings us joy. Not all joy leads us to bliss. So, one increases pleasure and stays aware of what opens us to joy. Being aware of the state of joy unlocks bliss. I know it sounds overly simple, but that’s because it is simple.
Q: I have heard Tantra is NOT about sex. Is that true?
There are practices of Tantra that do not include sexual teachings. Even in celibate Tantric practices, the use of sexual energy is still taught. It is just used for your own spiritual growth. Today there are three main areas of teachings…
White Tantra– a very spiritual approach that includes ritual, pure, self-practice, yoga, breathing, Mudra, chanting, and esoteric studies. White Tantra is more internal and very similar to Zen.
Red Tantra- tribal, sexual, and hedonistic, with a heavy emphasis on the earth and esoteric ritual. Red Tantra takes more of an external, natural perspective.
Pink Tantra- A more modern, western hybrid of white and red Tantra. Pink Tantra has become very popular within the New Age movement as it attempts to merge spiritual practice and sexual practice into one seamless form. It can be seen as taking the best of both worlds that Tantra has to offer.
Q: Do I have to commit to Tantra for a lifetime of practice?
The life path of Tantra is not for everyone. I like to think of it this way… if you are going to martial arts class for one month, you will not come away with a black belt; however, you may learn a few techniques that you could use for the rest of your life. Tantra is the same, there are multiple lifetimes of lessons you can explore, but there are also straightforward and practical techniques that will support you in your life today, right now. So the answer is no, you don’t have to commit to anything. However, you might find it fun to commit to a practice that supports every aspect of your well-being.
Q: Is Tantra a cult?
The Merriam-Webster online dictionary lists five different meanings of the word “cult”:
1. formal religious veneration. Worship.
2. system of religious beliefs and ritual; also: its body of adherents
3. a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also: its body of adherents
4. a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator
5. a great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book); especially: such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b: a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion
Similarly, the Random house dictionary lists: 1. a particular system of religion, especially with referring to its rites and ceremonies 2. a group that devotes itself or venerates a person, ideal, fad, etc. 3. a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist 4. the members of such a religion or sect
So sure, you could say that Tantra is a cult, but most people don’t use Cult in this way. It is usually used about anything that runs counter to Orthodox Christian beliefs or psychologically and financially exploited by a group or an individual. Tantra can be perceived by many as a negative type of cult due to their lack of knowledge or education. Most people who practice Tantra are very empowered individuals who seek to connect deeper with other Tantricas because of the profound experiences one can have with one who is also on a Tantric path. Many modern Tantricas seek to experience the middle path, the path of non-duality.
Q: Can you practice Tantra without a partner?
Yes! Tantra is very much about the inner journey. The more one begins to identify with the internal; the more one offers in a relationship. The idea here is learning to love yourself more gives you a greater ability to love others. Clearing the path and having your own deep personal relationship with yourself has huge benefits. Much of the Tantric wisdom available supports Tantra without a partner. Self-practice is still a significant part of Tantra, even if you are in a relationship.
Q: I am in a same-sex relationship. Can Tantra still be useful?
Yes! Tantra works on the principle of polarity, and many same-sex relationships engage polarity. One of the wonderful aspects that are so appealing about Tantra is how it offers great wisdom in maintaining healthy relationships. The truth is that relationships are relationships. Tantra is beneficial for all people.
Q: But what’s so different between normal sex and Tantric sex?
Nothing and everything. Normal sex is great. It feels good and allows us to connect deeply to who we are with. It’s pleasurable, passionate, and exciting. Tantric sex expands on more than just the pleasurable aspects of sex, taking the connection to a new level of richness and intensity. It merges spirituality and sexuality as one. It allows you to have profound experiences on a more consistent basis. It heightens your awareness beyond the normal levels and enhances overall well-being. It takes pleasure in a new place. It offers extreme healing, deep integration, and huge awakenings.
The more one experiences Tantric sex, the more possibilities of releasing limitations that are decades old, maybe even centuries old. It provides an opportunity for core issues in our psychology to be eliminated so that we may be in our full God/Goddess state. Physically speaking, Tantric sex allows us to extend lovemaking and interpersonal connections. It’s a deeper way to communicate.
The teachings go into detail about the benefits of surrendering and flowing your energy, relaxing your body, breathing, and using sound while moving your body in sexual union. These practices deepen your capacity for non-judgmental awareness. They offer men and women a greater possibility to become multi-orgasmic. It calls for greater intuition as a lover and releases us from limiting goals.
Q: As a man, does this mean if I practice Tantra, I will never have another ejaculation?
No. Tantra offers great wisdom and techniques to support you in maintaining the high orgasmic states found just before ejaculation. This means being able to ride the orgasmic wave rather than having the wave crash on you. Extending this area of orgasmic peaks becomes just as addictive as the feeling of ejaculation release. Allowing yourself to master the moment of ejaculation is beneficial not only to yourself but also to your partner in your ability to extend their pleasure, thus sharing a grand ride.
Ejaculation is a sacred offering. Becoming more aware and mastering your ability to decide when to ejaculation is a skill that offers benefits on many levels. This is called ejaculation mastery. It’s your choice.