Tantra: Love and Sex
From seed to plant, plant to tree, tree to fruit, and fruit back to seed—this cycle is acknowledged both by modern science and spirituality. Everything moves in a circular motion, returning to its origin. Night follows day, summer follows winter, and the eternal rhythm of nature continues. The birth of divine incarnations on Earth is the most profound example of this cycle. Forests thrive on this principle of circular motion until we disrupt them. If nature adheres to this cycle, how can we, living within nature, move against it? Consequently, our virtuous thoughts and actions must also return to us as good outcomes. This understanding is why spirituality teaches that the essence of God resides within us in the form of the soul, which ultimately merges back into the Divine—a circular motion.
Building on this shared foundation of spirituality and science, Tantra emerged. Tantra extends spiritual principles, anchoring them in the practice of meditation. While spirituality offers various methods to achieve meditation, Tantra is singularly focused on it. Yoga is an integral part of Tantra but interwoven in a unique way, giving rise to the term Tantra-Yoga. However, the form of Tantra presented today is vastly different from its true essence as it existed three or four centuries ago.
The Essence of Tantra
Unlike many spiritual traditions that demand physical and mental purification before embarking on the journey, Tantra embraces you as you are. It neither compels you to renounce nor adopt anything because it begins and remains at the soul level. Transformation in Tantra starts internally, naturally extending outward, whereas spirituality often starts externally and works inward. Much of what is present in modern spirituality owes its origin to Tantra.
Tantra emphasizes that meditation has no rigid rules, nor does it require renouncing or clinging to any aspect of life. This profound idea, however, is often misunderstood or misrepresented.
The central tenet of Tantra is that the entire universe is one. Modern science reveals that we and the universe are composed of 99.99% atoms, reinforcing Tantra’s assertion that there is no fundamental difference between our bodies and the cosmos. Similarly, there is no separation between us and the Divine. In the same vein, there is no absolute distinction between good and evil. This is why Shiva, the ultimate symbol of Tantra, is both the destroyer and the creator, embodying asceticism and sensuality. Shiva’s own energy manifests as Parvati, reflecting the Tantra principle that every man carries a feminine essence, and every woman carries a masculine essence—a fact now supported by modern science.
Misrepresentation of Tantra
Today, Tantra is often viewed through a distorted lens, primarily due to its association with practices like Tantric Sex or Sexual Yoga. This branch, often claimed to have originated abroad, is misrepresented as a means to maximize physical pleasure. However, historical texts like Tantraloka by Abhinavagupta, written around 800 years ago, clarify that this form of Tantra has always existed in India. The association of Tantra with Kama Sutra has led to its vilification.
While sex is a component of Tantra, it is unrelated to mere physical pleasure. Tantra never promotes indulgence in sensuality. Rather, it describes specific rituals where sexual union, guided by spiritual practices, can lead to divine realization. These practices transcend physical desire, using it as a stepping stone to rise above. Unfortunately, this sacred aspect is now exploited and misrepresented as a means to amplify physical pleasure.
Love in Tantra: The Highest Form of Union
Love is the most significant phenomenon in existence. It is said that love can bring stone to life, and even God is drawn to it. This principle is most often exemplified through Krishna, who is considered the originator of Bhakti Yoga (the path of devotion). His flute drew not only humans but even animals, transcending all barriers. Krishna’s love was not emotional but profoundly spiritual, flowing from the soul outward.
When one is immersed in divine love, they become like a well brimming with sweet water—self-sufficient and endlessly giving. This selfless love expects nothing in return, yet it never depletes. Instead, it grows endlessly, much like the love of Radha or Meera.
Tantra celebrates and fosters this kind of love—pure, divine, and selfless. Unfortunately, this sacred love has often been misinterpreted as mere physical pleasure. In Tantra, if lovers engage in physical union, it is solely to bring joy to their beloved. When this act is mutual, it transcends into divine love, reaching the pinnacle of spiritual unity. At this point, meditation and even the idea of samadhi (spiritual absorption) become secondary, as the union itself becomes an expression of the divine.
The Duality Within Us
According to Tantra, both masculine and feminine energies reside within each individual. The external body is necessary only until one awakens the power of inner love and spiritual strength. Once this awakening occurs, the physical body becomes secondary.
In love, there is no need for structured meditation. True spiritual love is itself a form of meditation, naturally drawing the Divine closer. The body serves only those who have yet to ignite the flame of love within. Most meditation techniques start with the body and gradually reach the inner self through persistent effort. However, a true lover enters meditation effortlessly, without any method or practice.
Tantra and the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra
One branch of Tantra, the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, focuses deeply on practices involving breath, love, Kundalini, and other meditative techniques. This ancient text describes 112 methods of meditation, each tailored to guide seekers toward spiritual awakening. Why these 112 methods exist and how they function will be explored in the next part.