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What is Tantra?
Think of the practice of Tantra as a tree with many branches, the lower branches represent the sexual aspects of tantra, the middle branches love and the higher branches mental training to harness and control forces including the lower nature (which is personality).
The highest tantra is practiced by celibate monks, nuns and lamas, so naturally in its higher form tantra has nothing to do with sex. Then there are several grades of tantra all the way down to people, who include the sexual practices.
It's somewhat like mathematics, where you get introduced to numbers in first grade, arithmetic in second and third, then fractions, percentages, etcetera in higher primary school, and eventually algebra and calculus and trigonometry in high school. It goes all the way up to advanced theoretical mathematics used in quantum physics and dimensional abstractions, so the range of "maths" is actually enormous.
The highest tantra is practiced by celibate monks, nuns and lamas, so naturally in its higher form tantra has nothing to do with sex. Then there are several grades of tantra all the way down to people, who include the sexual practices.
It's somewhat like mathematics, where you get introduced to numbers in first grade, arithmetic in second and third, then fractions, percentages, etcetera in higher primary school, and eventually algebra and calculus and trigonometry in high school. It goes all the way up to advanced theoretical mathematics used in quantum physics and dimensional abstractions, so the range of "maths" is actually enormous.
Tantric sex is like second-grade mathematics, all the way down at the beginning of the subject, but it's still tantra, just as second-grade addition and subtraction is still mathematics. It means that those who have studied it are not wrong, but perhaps may not even realise just how far tantra can really go to accelerate their healing process and evolution just as the second-grader is about what is possible with, for instance, theoretical mathematics in fourth-dimensional geometry.
So tantra is not ALL about sex, pleasure and orgasms, just like multiplication is included in the subject of maths, but isn't mathematics itself.
It is important to know that there is no right, wrong or judgement on the path of Tantra as everyone is exploring the different levels of branches on their tree, however we must learn to keep climbing.
As always, something to ponder on.
With love
Catherine
Tantric sex is energizing, it is likened to being on the most beautiful ocean aligning with the rhythms and vibration of a beautiful wave in an ocean of bliss. The sensation is endless, the pleasure is endless....it takes you into timelessness....the pure state of euphoria and cosmic orgasms and every fiber of your being is totally in the moment, everyone of your senses reaches heightened states of ecstasy. Tantra teaches that a kiss, a hug, a look, a sunset, a moment in time can be as electrifying as an orgasm and that all of life is this gift to behold.
Tantra is about LOVE not SEX. When love and sex are combined then together it becomes 'Tantric', merging matter with spirit.
The original Tantric way was most probably Hindu, although there is evidence in the Tantric texts that Tantra was prevalent in India and other countries. The ancient Hindus believed that food, drink and sex were essential parts of the human psyche. They also believed that sex is about experiencing the energy - sexual energy that we feel moving through our body. This energy known as Kundalini by the Hindus is to unite sexual energy with spiritual energy simultaneously. This is Tantra. The practice of Tantra also refers to the ‘goddess energy’ or ‘Shakti’. Shakti meaning force, power or energy In ancient Hindu mythology the goddess Shakti represents the active dynamic principles of feminine power and her male counterpart is ‘Shiva’ - Shiva representing the essence of male energy. It is said that when Shiva and Shakti unite, all of consciousness becomes ‘one’. Statues of Shiva and Shakti are still depicted in temples across India today.
The practice of Tantra has been described as ‘euphoria’ but what is euphoria and why do we seek it? The truth is euphoria exists in our mind, our own reality our consciousness. If someone gave you a rose, what would your reaction be? Would you look at it and say to yourself ‘what a nice rose’ and think nothing more about the rose or would you look at it for a long time in awe of its beauty, colour, smell, touch and perfection? If so then those feelings, that place you are in when you are in awe of such a beautiful rose become your reality, your euphoria, your choice to change the way you see the world and all its beauty. This is the same concept with making love. We create our own euphoria by letting go of all expectations and enjoying being in the moment physically, emotionally and spiritually with our beloved. If we keep searching for euphoria we will never find it because it is already there.
Khajuraho Temple - Madhya Pradesh India
