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The
Sanskrit word Tantra literally means "warp (on a loom)",
or "extension". It proceeds from the verbal roots
TAN - "to stretch, expound", and TRA
- "to save", which give further hints upon the other
meanings of the word Tantra.
This name is applied both for a certain category of texts
of the Oriental spirituality, and for the doctrine, and teachings
which they contain. However, the Tantric texts, the TANTRA-s
- and there are several hundreds of them: proper TANTRA-s,
SHIVA AGAMA-s, VISHNU SAMHITA-s, SHAKTA NIGAMA-s, etc.
- are written in a kind of "code language", so that
without an oral explanation from a competent GURU,
a lot of passages are bound to remain unclear. Moreover, there
are still many untranslated, and secret Tantric texts under
the dust of forgotten, or private libraries. All these, plus
the extremely varied, and complicated nature of Tantrism renders
the manipulation of a single definition almost impossible.
That is why, it has been found useful to sketch some of the
main features of the Tantric system in a detailed manner.
Characteristics of Tantra
Yoga
1. Tantra Yoga offers an alternative,
and practical individual road to salvation, called a SADHANA,
(Spiritual discipline and practice) beside the Vedic one which
is often deemed to be antiquated. It is important to remark
here that the true Tantric SADHANA is accessible
to people of any caste, social status, age, women as well
as men, householders as well as ascetics.
2. The TANTRA-s are
presented as the most fit form of teaching for the men of
KALI YUGA, that is for the people of the "dark
age", in which we live today. KALI YUGA is often
connected with the "iron age" of the Greek mythology,
and with the "age of the wolf", of the Northern
Edda, deemed to have exactly the same meaning. Therefore,
nowadays, when the spirituality is declining while man is
desperately trying to reintegrate himself in a spiritual reality,
it is stated that Tantra is the last, and best way of salvation.
3. Tantra Yoga has a rigorous
metaphysical basis, of a very non-dualist nature. However,
according to its opinion an intellectual knowledge is not
enough, but there is need of direct, personal experience,
which becomes possible only through the agency of SHAKTI,
the power, the intense energy. The concept of SHAKTI,
the feminine energy is the specific colour of the entire Tantric
system.
4. Tantra recognizes, and
expounds mundane aims besides spiritual emancipation, as a
lawful goal for a practiser. Its aim is to transform the adept
in a kind of super-man, who not only has liberated himself
of the Universe, reaching Enlightment, but also - alike the
Supreme Lord Himself - is able to rule over it, and control
its secret forces. This involves that Tantric methods are
applicable for various sorts of practical accomplishments,
including astrology, medicine, parapsychology, alchemy, and
magic. Many written sources are pre-occupied with the description
of supernatural abilities (SIDDHI-s), and the ways
to attain them. There remains however, always a connecting
thread between the magical, and the spiritual.
5. The eminent place given
to the energy entails a brilliant revalorisation of the body.
This is not meant with the sense of object of idolatry, like
in the contemporary world, but as necessary instrument, unavoidable
premises of the spiritual realization. This is due to the
perpetually reminded analogy between the macrocosm, and the
microcosm, which is the human body: "What is here is
everywhere, what is not here is nowhere". A consequence
of this fact is the appearance of the HATHA YOGA
system in the Tantric schools; system which has as goal neither
the "health", nor the "well-being", as
it is commonly believed.
6. Tantra teaches the practice
of a special variety of YOGA, destined to transform
the animal instincts and functions, by creating an upward
movement in the body, along the energy- channels, NADI-s,
and through the centre-s of force, CHAKRA-s. The
process is most commonly expressed as "raising the KUNDALINI".
Connected with this YOGA is the elaboration of a
subtle physiology, in which the microcosm of the body is homologized
with the macrocosm, and the world of the gods.
7. Tantra Yoga emphasizes
the metaphysical, and operative importance of the feminine
principle. The Woman, the Goddess, SHAKTI represents
for the TANTRIKA-s the universal Power, the energy
of bondage and Liberation, who veils and reveals, blinds and
illuminates; the world is her toy, and her mirror. Therefore
we encounter here a genuine revalorisation of the woman, and
perhaps the only spiritual path that acknowledges a total
equality between the two sexes, at all levels. The importance
of the female manifestations extends on all the levels of
the experience, from daily life, till metaphysics.
| Authors
Details: Unknown Source |
Some
more articles on Tantra..
(Tantra
- What is it?)
(Tantra - An Introduction)
(Tantra Yoga
Introduction Part 1)
(Tantra Yoga
Introduction Part 2)
(Tantra Yoga Part
1)
(Tantra Yoga Part
2)
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