TANTRA YOGA

Tantra is a collection of spiritual traditions originating in India. Tantra is not just a particular kind of spiritual practice as found in other forms of Yoga. Tantra is composed of a variety of practices and philosophies belonging to the many and varied schools of self-realization in India and Tibet. Some schools of Tantra contradict each other in their philosophy and practices of Union with Divinity.

Today, Tantra is predominantly perceived as a form of spiritual sex. This is one of the biggest misconceptions in Western society when it comes to Tantra. Tantra has become synonymous with sex. Although there are sexual spiritual practices in the Tantric traditions, sex is a small and insignificant part of the grandeur of Tantric philosophy and practices. Tantra is a lot of information and various practices that aim at Human Enlightenment, Divine Communion with the Absolute. Tantra encompasses a lot of religions or spiritual philosophies, which have the same thing in common, only the way to get there differs.

The word Tantra has many meanings. One of the oldest meanings of the word Tantra is that of Divine Teaching or it is that of Text (Book) of Divine Teachings. This was the name of the first published texts where tantric philosophies and practices were presented. These tantric books presented various deities and the practices through which man can enter into communion with them. Another meaning of the word Tantra is that of “To Weave”, or “To Combine”, or “To Interlace”. It refers to the same thing, to the attempt to unite man with Divinity. In Tantra, this can be achieved through the union of the Feminine Energy (Shakti) with the Masculine Energy (Shiva).

Tantric philosophies and practices have influenced many spiritual schools and sects in India (Hinduism) and Tibet (Buddhism). Tantra comes from a universal source of self-knowledge (Shiva) and similar philosophies and practices can be found all over the world.

Tantra has a different approach to Pantajali’s Raja Yoga. In Raja Yoga, the body and mind are seen as obstacles in the way of Spiritual Liberation. Tantra sees the body and mind as divine instruments that can be used for spiritual liberation. Raja Yoga and other branches of Yoga want to give up the body and the illusion of the material world in order to find oneself spiritually. Tantra Yoga looks at the body and the material world as a Feminine expression of the Masculine Divinity and with the help of the body and matter, one can reach Human Deification.

In Tantra Yoga, Shiva is worshiped as the Divine Masculine (Shavism) and Shakti as the Divine Feminine (Shaktism). Their union is the Universal and Unitary Divine Consciousness. Shiva is the Transcendental Divine Consciousness that is the source of the Created Universe. Shakti is the Divine Energy of the Created Universe, of the material world. Shiva is the latent potential of divine creation and Shakti is the manifested divine creation. Shiva is the active (Yang) and creative force and Shakti is the passive (Yin) force that manifests what it receives from the creator. Shiva is the instruction and Shakti is the execution.

The objective in Tantra is to unite Shakti with Shiva in the human being and there are a multitude of practices to achieve this Divine Union. Tantra is divided into two essential branches: Right Hand Tantra and Left Hand Tantra. The Right promotes conventional practices such as meditation, mantras, offering rituals, and various movement and breathing practices to raise the Kundalini energy from the pelvis to the head. The Left has all kinds of unconventional practices such as meditating on the dead, covering the body with ashes from the cemetery, using drugs, alcohol, meat and sex. These practices are intended to remove the ego from Bipolar functioning where the duality of good and evil is seen. These more extreme practices are less understood and can also bring unpleasant experiences if not practiced properly under the guidance of a master. Few followers follow the path of Left Hand Tantra, it is easy to see why. I for one am a follower of Right Hand Tantra, but I have also had some left hand tantric experiences, which include sexuality and drugs (but not at once).

I will present only a few practices from Tantra Yoga that are better understood and known by me. Tantra offers a too wide variety of practices and there is no way to know and adopt them all.

Yantra is a geometric symbol of a Deity. In the adjacent image, we have the Shiva Yantra representing the God of Tantra, Lord Shiva. The presence of the geometric symbol or the graphic representation of the deities, brings their qualities and blessing into the follower’s life.

Some of the greatest teachings that come from the Tantric traditions are the concepts of the Kundalini Energy and the Chakras.

Kundalini (Shakti) is the creative sexual energy in the human being, which is at the base of the spine. Kunda means loop and is associated with an inactive coiled snake. This sleeping serpent (the Human Divinity) is waiting to be awakened and raised up through the spine in the head, where she achieves the union with the Universal Divinity (Shiva). This concept of a serpentine energy rising from the pelvis to the head is found in most spiritual systems around the world. The snake is a powerful symbol in human life.

Kundalini represents the divine energy of man through which a new life can be created. Kundalini is the most powerful and dense energy in the human body. Most of the time, this energy is felt through sexuality when it arises through arousal and sexual relations. This energy is usually lost from the body through ejaculation in men and terminal orgasm in women.

Kundalini is also activated during certain artistic experiences such as dancing or singing. Those artists, who are always inspired and always connected with their creative source, have a special aura. They have activated, to some extent, their Kundalini energy. This divine potential is an infinite source of energy and creation.

Yogis have developed various practices of breathing, meditation, movement, mantras and bandhas (muscular contractions) with the aim of awakening and elevating the Kundalini energy. In all parts of the world, there are all kinds of practitioners who aim to bring what is called Kundalini Awakening to Earth. It is desired to create a society where all people always have access to this divine potential and manage to use it to create fulfilled lives defined by spirituality.

Kundalini circulates through 3 main channels located on the spine, starting from the first chakra (Moodladhara) and ending in the sixth chakra (Ajna). Kundalini passes through these channels through all the chakras until it reaches Ajna (the 3rd eye). The 3 energy channels or nadis are: Ida, Pingala and Sushuma. Kundalini can ascend gradually through each chakra using the complementary Ida and Pingala channels, or Kundalini can ascend directly from one chakra to another (skipping the chakras in between) through Sushuma. Through Ida and Pingala, it is a slower and more progressive ascent, where all chakras need to be open to move forward. Through Sushuma, it is a direct and powerful ascent. It takes a certain level of spiritual preparation to be able to deal with this kind of experience. Those who are not sufficiently prepared can go through a very unpleasant experience. Kundalini is like a current of very high intensity and our body and mind are 2 consumers of this energy. If the consumers are not strong enough to handle the current, they will be burned or damaged.

The Ida Nadi controls the mental processes and is known as the Moon, and the Pingala Nadi controls the vital processes and is known as the Sun. Ida and Pingala work alternately and represent the balance between male and female energy in the human being. Sushuma is the channel for awakening spiritual consciousness. These 3 channels are the pranic, mental and spiritual force.

Tantra is based on using these channels to fully awaken the human being to its true potential.

Ida and Pingala cross in the middle of the chakras and have the role of feeding them with energy to unlock, activate and open each individual chakra.

Chakra means wheel or vortex and refers to a spinning energy field. This energy field is an intersection of numerous energy channels called nadis. These energy channels are connected to all organs, tissues and cells in the body. Chakras are vital centres of spiritual powers in man. They govern the inner workings of the human body. There are many chakras and chakra systems in different visions. The most adopted variant is the one with 7 main Chakras, which are located on the spine. Each chakra has a specific meaning and governs a specific expression of human experience, a specific gland and a specific part of the body.

1. Moodladhara Chakra – The root (foundation) is at the base of the spine (under the coccyx, at the perineum) and is red. The meaning of this centre is Survival. This chakra is intended to bring the basic needs of life such as food, water, a place to sleep, comfort of living and physical health. Next to the chakra location, there is a vestigial gland (inactive because it is not used) that resembles a knot. Within this gland resides the enlightening female energy Shakti, or Kundalini Energy. Through continuous practice (Kundalini Yoga, Kriya Yoga), one can awaken this divine energy and rise through the spine into the head into the crown chakra, where the Masculine Illuminating Energy Shiva resides. In this way, Shiva is united with Shakti and the Divine Communion of the human being is produced.
2. Swadhisthana Chakra – The seat of the Self is at the base of the spine (coccyx, above the root) and is orange in colour. The meaning of this centre is Creativity and Sexuality. This Chakra is about our ability to be creative and our ability to create life through sexuality. Sexual energy is the creative energy in the human being. Swadhisthana is connected with the sexual organs. The dormant sexual energy is in the root chakra and when stimulated through sexuality, it rises into swadhisthana. It fills the sexual organs with Kundalini sexual energy.
3. Manipura – The City of Jewels is located behind the navel and is yellow in colour. The meaning of this centre is Will, Inner Power, Dynamism and Realization. Manipura is meant to help us get what we want in life. It gives us the strength and inner desire to fight to achieve our goals in life. It is the body’s source of vital energy. Manipura rules the adrenal glands. A very active man is a man who has this chakra very open. In the common man, the Kundalini energy does not rise this far.
4. Anahata Chakra – The Love Centre is behind the sternum, in the centre of the chest and is green in colour. Anahata is the emotional centre and has the meaning of Love and Union. Through Anahata one experiences Self-Love, Love of partner, family and friends, Love of animals and the planet and Love of God. The greatest expression of this chakra is Infinite and Unconditional Love. This state is the state of Spiritual Bliss. Those who live with an open heart and feel a lot of love are very happy people. Most of us have a closed heart chakra due to all the traumas and conflicts experienced in life. Anahata governs the thymus gland and influences the body’s immune system.
5. Vishuddhi Chakra – The Purification Centre is in the throat and is blue in colour. This chakra is the centre of communication and the centre of sounds. Through this chakra we express ourselves verbally to outsiders. Communication is a very important aspect in society. Through free and honest expression, we can get to know ourselves and those around us better. Many fail to do so. We live in a society where controlling and inhibiting the personal expression of others is practiced. For fear of the other’s negative reaction, many end up not expressing their true thoughts and feelings and end up suffering because of it. The gland associated with this centre is the thyroid. Those who have this centre open and use it properly, end up being people listened to and followed by others.
6. Ajna Chakra – The 3rd Eye is located in the brain behind the eyebrows and is indigo / purple in colour. This is the centre of Intuition and Visions. Everything we see through the imagination of the inner eye is due to this centre. It is considered a command and communication centre. Through this centre the connection is created with the higher self (inner guidance) or spiritual guides. Ajna is a spiritual radar/receiver through which one can connect/communicate with various spiritual or multidimensional beings and with which one can see or experience by astral travelling (through the astral body) other realms or dimensions. Anja Chakra is the best known spiritual centre of man and the most desired objective is the opening of the 3rd eye. Anja is connected to the Pineal Gland, which secretes many special neural compounds such as DMT. The Pineal Gland is revered all over the world for its ability to give man access to different dimensions and to the Spiritual Plane of Existence. Kundalini (Shakti) having reached this point, has only one more step to the last centre where Shiva (Divine Universal Consciousness) is located.
7. Sahasrara – The Crown Chakra (unlimited) is located at the top of the head and is light purple or luminous in colour. This centre is the link between the Divine and matter. It is more spiritual in nature than the other chakras, which are more material. Sahasrara is the final destination of Kundalini energy. In this centre, Shiva unites with Shakti. This union is seen or described as a transcendental spiritual experience where the ordinary world disappears or is transformed. This experience of Spiritual Communion with Divinity is also called Samadhi, Ascension, Enlightenment, Nirvana, One with God, Paradise, etc.

Tantra includes many ways to work with Kundalini Energy, with the 3 main energy channels (Ida, Pingala and Sushuma) and with the 7 Chakras. Two styles of Yoga using kundalini energy that come from Tantra are Kundalini Yoga and Kriya Yoga. Both have the same goal of raising the Kundalini Energy through all the chakras and bringing about union with the divine. They differ by the methods approached.

These styles of Yoga are vast, I will present some practices known to me that are more related to Tantra and Kundalini. Kriya Yoga has a secret practice. To really practice Kriya Yoga, you must be initiated by a guru from the line of gurus that comes directly from Babaji, the incarnation of Shiva who spread the practices of Kriya Yoga.

Meditation is the most important practice in Yoga and essentially, Yoga is Meditation. There are various meditations that activate the chakras, raise the Kundalini energy and acquire the divine nature. You get nicely into a comfortable posture and begin to direct your unwavering attention to the chakras, to the energy channels and to the Kundalini energy that flows through them.

Pranayama, or breathing exercises, is another method of awakening and raising the Kundalini energy. The most well-known breathing technique in Kundalini Yoga is the Kalapabhati Breath, also called the Breath of Fire or the Purifying Breath. This is a nose-only breath that emphasizes strong abdominal pumps on the exhale only. Exhalation is forced with the push of the abdomen into the body, as close as possible to the spine. Inspiration is passive, it is a natural recoil of the lungs after strong exhalation. The intense movement of the abdomen greatly stimulates the primary chakras where the Kundalini energy is located. After a few tens of pumps, a very deep inhalation is performed and then the breath is held, and muscle contractions (bandhas) are used to direct the stimulated energy from the pelvis to the head. During retention, attention is directed to the spine and head. It feels like the energy goes up the spine and fills the head. At a certain point, you exhale, you perform 3 full yogic breaths for recalibration, and then begin another cycle of forced pumping.

Movement is another important technique in Tantra, Kundalini Yoga and Kriya Yoga. During the movement exercises, the attention is kept on breathing, and one meditates on the fact that the energy stimulated from the chakras and from the body is absorbed through the spine into the head. Man is an energetic being that has many energy substrates. Through the energy produced by the movement of the body, we want to awaken and increase the latent divine potential. Tantra has many movements focusing on the pelvis, Kundalini has many movements focusing on the spine and Kriya has various movements using all parts of the body. We move the pelvis to stimulate the first two chakras, we move the spine to stimulate the next 2 chakras and we move the neck to stimulate the upper chakras. Whatever we move, be it pelvis, spine or neck, influences all chakras, some more and others less. There are also exercises where the legs, hands and shoulders also move. They have the same role of generating energy through the body following movement. The faster and more you move, the more energy you generate in the body and the more you open the chakras and stimulate the Kundalini Energy more strongly. After a certain exercise, the movement is stopped, and one meditates on the fact that all the energy in the stimulated area is raised through the spine and absorbed by the head. A tingling vibrational energy will be felt in the head. One can also meditate on the aura around the head created by the energy brought to the head.

Mantras are used in any style of yoga and have a great effect within the practitioner. Mantras use the power of sound to awaken and move energies through the body. A mantra is a sound or a group of sounds that have a certain role or define a certain centre or a certain deity. The mantra OM (AUM) is the most famous mantra in the world representing the creative sound of the universe.

Asanas (postures) are used to open and charge the chakras. Each chakra corresponds to certain postures. The practitioner enters the posture and keeps his attention on the chakra and meditates (focuses) on opening and energizing the chakra.

Sexuality is an interesting method of raising the Kundalini energy in the head. It is a more recent method of Tantra that has gained a lot in popularity. The reason is simple, the human being is biologically programmed to be sexual. No matter how much you want to inhibit your sexual desire, you’ll still wake up once with a bonner, if you’re a man, and with your pussy tingling, if you’re a woman.

In Tantra, the body is considered divine and a vehicle or instrument to achieve Divine Communion, to be one with the Spiritual Universe. Followers of Tantra understood that Kundalini energy is most strongly stimulated during sexual arousal. Sexuality provides a large amount of Kundalini energy to work with, but at the same time it is much harder to work with because it can easily get out of control. Through sex, man has the most intense physical, emotional and spiritual experiences. Normally, this energy is lost through discharge during sexual intercourse and does not pass above the second chakra. Continuous loss of Kundalini energy shortens life and degrades vitality and health.

Tantra offers a different view of sexuality. It is not an act of physical pleasure between two people, but a union between the Divine Masculine and the Divine Feminine. There is no emphasis on orgasm and ejaculation in men and ejaculation in women are prohibited. It is desired that the emphasis be placed on the state of communion, of unification with the other. The pair form a united team and help each other raise the sexual energy generated in the body. Attention is always kept on the spiritual and emotional level. Feelings of love are essential in Tantra. You cannot practice Tantra without love. It’s like driving a car without gas. In Tantra, there are various love practices that can be done during intercourse and before intercourse.

The most important aspect between partners is their degree of closeness, how comfortable and open they feel with each other. The intensity of love between them is the determining factor. Intimacy is the first step to being able to harmonize properly during intercourse. The freer and more natural they feel with each other, the more open their channels of sexual energy will be and the more powerful and transformative they will be able to experience their sexual energy. There are various meditative practices of love in which eye gazing, breathing, touching, movement, speaking and honouring the partner are used. In these practices, awakening, growth and exchange of feelings of love between the two partners are desired.

There is a practice called Heart to Heart, where partners sit down on their bottoms facing each other and place their right hand on their partner’s chest. With the left hand they receive the right hand on the chest and continuously look into each other’s eyes. With the right hand one gives and with the left hand one receives. Looking intensely into each other’s eyes, they both turn their attention to their hearts and focus on the feeling of love they feel for each other. They begin to move this feeling of love from one heart to another. With their intention, the feeling of love comes out of the heart and goes through the right hand to the partner’s heart. Through the right, love is given to the partner and through the left, love is received from the partner. This flow of love is created between the two hearts, which charge each other. The purpose of the exercise is to harmonize the two hearts, to increase the love between the partners and to bring them closer in sexuality.

After intimacy practices are foreplay practices. Here, in the same way, the creation of greater sexual openness and energization is desired. The foreplay involves a lot of kissing, licking and sucking various parts of the body including the sexual organs. Partners are aware that their partner’s body is sacred, and they revere it and treat it with a lot of love and respect. The man (Shiva) is a source of Divine Masculine Energy and has the Lingam (Wand of Light) as his sexual instrument. Woman (Shakti) is a source of Divine Feminine Energy and has the Yoni (Sacred Space) as her sexual instrument. Through these divine sexual instruments and through the rest of the body, one can drink from the partner’s sexual energy. During oral sex and foreplay there is a strong exchange of sexual energy. The man is charged with feminine energy and the woman with masculine energy. In this way, the partners polarize and balance each other, which will make it very easy for them to have sexual intercourse through penetration.

Tantra provides guidance during penetration in raising the generated sexual energy to the head. Basically, it’s the same as solo practice. It is desired that the energy from the basin be moved up the spine into the head. In this way, the Kundalini Sexual Energy reaches the Crown Chakra and unites with the Divine Universe. Continence (retention of ejaculation) is essential. It takes a long time to generate a lot of sexual energy and raise it in the head to achieve Spiritual Communion. Through continence one can reach many hours in a sexual act. The intention of the partners is also very important. During sexual intercourse, they cultivate more and more the feeling of love towards each other. Through this love, they want to unite with each other and then with the Universe.

There is a lot to talk about the practices of Tantra, both sexual and non-sexual. I wish to offer my general view of these practices, so that anyone reading this article can get some idea of what some of the tantric teachings mean. Those who feel attracted by what I have presented above, can look for more detailed information and even start a certain practice, or take a Tantra course or go to a Tantra retreat.

I will present some Tantra teachings and practices in my online sexuality course, which can be found in the Courses section.