Introduction
Next Tantra Training:
19th of december 2010 -
8th of january 2011 (South Africa)
(International Sahaja Tantra Teacher Training)
In the touching of two bodies,
in the midst of feeling close -
the HERE.
In the ecstasy
of the senses,
in the storm of passion -
the NOW.
How could your body,
how could your
passion,
how could the beauty of the world
not be a part of the divine whole?
Use your
body, your senses
your passion, your dreams
as doors and pathes towards being.
Connect
and live
visions of happiness with ecstasy.
Meaning and philosophy of tantra
Tantra - what is this actually? Sexuality oder Spirituality? Body or soul? Or both?
Many
different phantasies and ideas circle around the word tantra in the head of most
people. Everybody has got some vague image about it but no one really knows exactly
what it is and means if one asks for details.
Let us start from the beginning: What
does the word „Tantra“ actually literally mean? The word comes from the Indian Sanskrit
and consists of two syllables: „Tan“ (from „tanoti“ = expanding) and „Tra“ (from
„trayati“ = liberating). So one could translate „Tantra“ as „way of liberation by
expansion“.
But than again what does "expansion" actually mean? Well, it very practically
means that the tantric expands consciousness step by step in every aspect of his
life. A tantric learns step by step to regard everything as holy. Nothing is condemned,
everything is included so that the tantric finally comes to an all including unconditional
love.
Because body and sexuality are the most condemned aspects of living in in most religions and spiritual tradtions and at the same time they actually form the foundation of all life, Tantra focusses especially on liberating, cultivating and expanding consciousness in in these parts of your life.
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The three central points of focus for Tantra are therefore the body, the senses and
the sexual energy.
I. The body
Different to most other spiritual traditions and religions Tantra does not refuse the body but on the contrary worships the body as the temple of the divine. The meeting of two bodies is seen as a holy meeting and consciously celebrated. Being in contact becomes meditation in tantra.
II. The senses
The five senses are seen as doorways towards being. The are used as keys to find entrance to the true self that is omnipresent in every sensual experience.
III. The sexual energy
The sexual energy or kudalini-energy - as it is called in Tantra - is the most powerful energy of this planet. In Tantra you will learn to liberate, expand and direct it so that it opens you for a direct experience of the divine. So sexual energy is used for spiritual transformation in Tantra. Therefore tantra is often called "the quick way towards enlightenment".
The body, the senses and the sexual energy are the focussed themes of tantra. But of course all other aspects of living are also brought to light and liberated, like the various different human emotions, the likes and dislikes, the dreams and visions, as well as birth and death.
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It is also helpful to clear up what Tantra is actually not:
Tantra is not therapy in the conventinal sense but a spiritual path. Therapy tries
to change your conditioning so that you feel normal and can function well in society.
In Tantra on the contrary your are not asked to change but to bring awareness in
your whole life and recognize the freedom that you are already one with the universe
and that no aspect of your personality is bad or a problem in itself. By consciously
accepting all your human conditionings there will probably naturally occur changes
in your personality, but these changes are a by-product and not the goal in itself.
Oirginally Tantra is also not a school for relationships. Many people come to Tantra workshops to find a partner or to fresh up their relationship. In itself there is nothing wrong about this. It is very likely that you will meet and connect with wonderful people in a Tantra workshop and it is highly likely that your existing realations will be lifted up to new dimensions. But this again is only a nice by-product of Tantra.
Neither is a Tantra workshop an exotic swinger club experience. Some tantric rituals can be very passionate and sensual, but the enjoyment alone is not the essential goal of Tantra. The essential idea is the recognition of the inner freedom and the deep inner experience of unity. It is often not easy to recognize this from the outside. That is why tantra is often misunderstood. And that is also why no video can ever replace the direct experience.
Tantra is also not always harmonious. Generally Tantra workshops are dealt as well being and well feeling groups. But harmony and feeling great is only one aspect of Tantra. In an intensive Tantra group you will most likely be confronted with many different emotions: with your likes and dislikes, with your inner strengths and weaknesses and with feelings of ecstasy as well as with jealousy, anger and fear. Only by consciously experiencing and integrating all feelings true transformation and liberation is possible.
And finally Tantra is not a fixed life philosophy. Tantra does not tell you what
kind of life you should live. It does not tell you if you should live monogamous
or polyamorous. It does not tell you if you should make your living as a doctor or
as a prostitute. It does not tell you wether you should live in luxury or in modesty.
No outer form of living is seen as superior or inferior. Tantric philosophy is in
itself amoral and just says: Bring awareness in your life. That alone will liberate
you.
Tantra is liberation by consciously living and accepting all experiences in life.
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