What is Tantra
Tantra is the way. The way of personal refinement and the way the universe is created, expands and the way it will be dissolved. It is all tantra. If our body is the yantra, a vehicle that runs on fuel of prana then Tantra is the inner working or mechanism. The knowledge of how the web of the cosmos is weaved is Tantra. The subtle aspect of how the mind works, how intelligence, memory and emotions shape us. How human beings come together to organize their society for example, democracy is all tantra also. The manner in which the mechanical workings of the human body is, the flow of blood, the flow of air, the postures is also Tantra. Tantra is also the flow of rivers and ocean and the dynamic nature and movements of the planets and the stars. Tantra is the way of matter and energies of the universe.
The first Tantrik of the cosmos is Shiva. He revealed the Tantra to his Shakti, his consort. This formed the basis and crux of all the Tantra knowledge we have amidst us. The manner in which Shiva revealed Tantra to his Shakti in form of conversation, gave rise to the whole system of Agama-Nigama. Agama where Shiva reveals and Shakti listens. Nigama where Shakti asks and understands Tantra from Shiva. All Tantra is Shiva - Shakti Tantra. This later gave rise to Shaiva Tantra and Shakta Tantra. Shakta Tantra then later also branched into Saura Tantra, Ganapatya Tantra, Vaishnava Tantra and others.
Shaiva Tantra is the journey back to the source of all manifestations, while Shakta Tantra through its diverse vidyas, upa vidyas, maha vidyas, parma vidyas and others expresses the beauty of manifestation through diverse lenses and iridescent colors.
Tantra reveals the objective sides of the universal self as tattvas or cosmic principles and it also reveals the wisdom of subjective side of the universal self through contemplation practices of visualisation, practices of cosmic sounds, and other mystical practices that uncovers the sheaths of Kalaa, Vidya, Raaga, Kaala and Niyati which veils the Shiva or universal self.
Tantra has two webs of expansion. One is the creation of an external universe from the Hiranyagarbha or ekarnava and the final dissolution into it. The second is the internal journey - creation of the individual self from the cosmic self and the final dissolution or merger into the cosmic self. These two journeys, the outside journey in the macrocosm and the inner journey in the microcosm have the same nature. This is the inner principle of resonance. This is Tantra.
Physically, our bodies contain the same minerals and matter that the stars are made of. The content of the vast universe is in us as well. And not just in physical matter but in the subtle energetic levels as well. From the tiniest quantum particle to the vastest of the galaxies, the energy of the universe that is ever transforming itself into diverse forms and other kinds of energies, have similar play in our body and mind as well. Siddhas realized these energies in various Mahavidyas. There is an implicit harmony in the universe even if one finds it chaotic or random. Similar harmony exists in our body and mind. When this harmony is disturbed or the balance is shaken, then that gives rise to diseases of body and mind.
Tantra is the refined lifestyle where the limited identity discovers the cosmic nature of its being and artfully expresses it. Tantra can enable radical changes to transform oneself at energetic, emotional and physical level. The arts of Tantra is the way of Siddhas through which one can realize one's true nature and achieve cosmic awareness. This allows the divine to manifest in oneself.
Tantra is a path from the limited individual self to unlimited cosmic self. Siddha Tantra offers ways to expression life in fullness through diverse artforms. To manifest the creativity latent inside through wisdom and transcendental acts.
Tantra is the expressway to rapid evolution. Sometimes it requires one to challenge the religious, cultural and political norms of society. It has challenged traditional models of womanhood by revealing the sacred feminine and its implicit violent and erotic power. Tantra teaches a way of fearlessness. The ways of Tantra has created lofty personalities of great men and women. It has transformed the lives of kings and socially marginalized as well. By shattering the society's conditioning of mind, Tantra transcends the ego-led emotions of fear and aversion and instead nurtures a non-discriminating attitude and acceptance of diverse ways and even taboos.
Tantra gives unfettered access to improve the quality of life in manifestation as well as the path of liberation. It promises longevity and invulnerability in the world. Tantra is also a double edged sword. One can easily be seduced by the power of manifestation one gains from the Tantra practices. This may cause one to get lost in the worldly indulgences. Therefore the ways of Siddhas are needed. It gives the art of Tantra through which one can balance the worldly material gains as well as the spiritual dimensions of life.
Siddha Tantra Arts sees these energies that drive the atoms as no different than the energies that drive our desires. Siddha Tantra Arts trains the mind to open itself by transforming all pleasures into transcendental experiences. Intense awareness of being, where body and mind are present in the activities that triggers sublime nature of one's being. This is the state of Siddha where one enjoys the happiness and joys that the material world offers blissfully , at the same time remains free from the attachments and delusions that one often sees in hedonistic or materialistic people.
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Our days are shaped by the motion of our desires. We are driven by our desires from the moment we wake up to the time we fall asleep. Even in dreams. Our senses want to grasp more of its sensory objects. Eyes want to see interesting shapes, colors, forms. Ears want to hear pleasing sounds. Nose actively tries to sniff good and bad odors. Tongue seeks exciting new tastes and our sense of touch wants contact. Siddhas recognize the mind as another sense or Indriya which feeds on ideas and thoughts. Mind is a sense that receives inputs from other senses. It is the desire of mind that drives one to pursue anything be it academics, sports, business, arts or even spiritual pursuits. One can even say that without desire, life is no different than death!
It is often assumed that if desires are fulfilled, it will bring happiness. But by the time a desire is satisfied, another takes its place. So in the quest of happiness through fulfillment of desires, one goes from one desire to the next. Thus the cycle continues. From the rat race of commuting to success, to the next great thing in life. This is the nature of Sansara or the world.
Many see the futility in all this and face existential moments. These surface as mid life crises, addictions to overcome the futility of it all, or even turns a person to spiritual pursuits. But such a spiritual pursuit results in shunning away the desires and in effect blocking the very existence or nature. This path of utmost denial is not a complete manifestation but a necessary step for many to evolve.
Unlike religious doctrines, Siddha Tantra does not believe in shunning the desires in this manner. Tantra sees the powerful energies flamed by our desires as vibrant potency and artfully channelizes it for spiritual evolution. Siddha Tantra Arts shows how every experience, no matter good, bad, ugly, religious or irreligious, all experiences can be transformed into the path of fulfillment. Desires are inseparable from life.
Many people have conflicts in their minds about experiencing pleasures and doing spiritual or religious practices. They assume that religion implies renouncing desires or shunning pleasures of life. Negating pleasures, desires, spontaneity and shunning freedom of expression is not their idea of religion. Religion appears as a mode of suppression for them. Religion is then battled off as mere superstition.
Because of quick results, tantra practices have become very common. Instead of shunning desires, tantra uses the desires as one uses ghee in fire. But desires can be double edged swords. If not carefully channelled with the right set of intentions, it can even lead a person astray. So tantra is considered a dangerous path as well.
To have a complete manifestation of life's creative expressions, one must become free from these conditionings. It is these conditionings of mind that are at the root of suffering. When one is free from these conditionings then one can experience the wholeness of the being. Tantra is a path to free the mind from the conditioning that limits its understanding of the true nature of being.
Tantra is for everybody. Knowingly or unknowingly one is performing Tantra expressions. It is about realizing it and refining it that separates an unconscious zombie from a cosmic person.
