You have probably heard about the word tantra that means “woven together” in Sanskrit and the best that you would learn about it was sex. Learning about Tantra is interesting and that is one reason tantra workshops are frequented by couples. The main purpose of this is to weave humanity to the divine and man to woman. It weaves together the spiritual and the physical in Buddhist and Hindu. What you may learn about Tantra today could be different from what was actually practised in the beginning. What is practised in Asia is different from what is practised in the West.

Although it is highly considered to be all about sex known as Tantric sex, it is not. It involves being sensitive to feelings, intimacy and relationship all geared towards awakening. Tantra helps in love regeneration and promotes energy that flows between two people to keep positive feelings towards each other alive.

Tantra in Hinduism

In Hinduism, Tantra has had a lot of influence in icons, arts and temple buildings. The texts that describe Tantra as a genre of literature are known as pancaratra or samhitas in Vaishnavism, Agamas in Shaivism or tantras in Shaktism. Shaktism is the goddess that is associated with the tantra tradition and is followed by  Shaivismthen Vaishnavism follows Shaktism.  prakarana, upanisad, tika, kavaca, kosa, paddhati texts and nighantu are some of the other types of Tantric literature.

Tantra in Buddhism

Also known as the cult of ecstasy, Tantra in Buddhist tradition has influenced religious traditions. The imagery in Southeast Asia, cave temples in India and Tibetian artworks have highly been influenced by tantra as a genre of literature in Buddhism. Extensive Tantra practices and ideas can be experienced in the Vajrayana tradition of Buddhism.

Tantra translations

Most of the Hindu Tantras that are available have never been translated and thus only those that speak the language can understand. Kirana Tantra, Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, Parakhya Tantra, Mahanirvana Tantra and Malini-vijayottara are some of the Tantras that have been translated.

Tantric vision

As you get to understand what Tantra is, you realize that its main purpose is to unify the opposites. Nothing is deemed as good or bad since every situation gives the practitioner a chance to learn. It teaches that it does not matter what you do to the other person, but it is how you do it. One important lesson in Tantra is that you should embrace everything.

Tantra is not all about sex

This is a misconception that many have had about tantric practices and Tantra texts although eroticism, emotions and sex are considered desirable. Although it is a practice that has been there and has helped many couples become unified, it is not all about sex. It involves a wide range of topics including spiritual ones. In fact, as the West engages in antinomian elements during Tantra practising, engaging in sexual ritualism is not there in Jain, Buddhist and Hinduism Tantric texts. It has been said to help in building the lost basics of intimacy and that is one reason couples engage in it.