Re: The Many Meanings of Tantra

hi

I will try to give the very short but helpful answer to what is the meaning of Tantra.

One can say they were two interweaving traditions that developed side by side in ancient India.

Tantra and Vedanta.

 Vedanta see the world as Maya (the cosmic illusion), a stinky illusive matrix of suffering and called for tearing the vile of Maya in order to reach Shiva (Purosha) the truth and bliss,

Tantra on the other hand see the world as Shakti, the power of Shiva, this different of philosophy, make a big different in practice...

Tantra means Interwoven (which means everything is interconnected), nothing is bad or good on its own side (emptiness) and everything can become a spiritual gate for transformation.

While Vedanta emphasis renunciation and detachment from the world and all its aspects (including the body) , Tantra see everything in the world as a step stone to reach Shiva (ultimate reality).

Tantra developed spiritual technology for using everything to reach Enlightment including sleeping yoga (Nidra), Eating meditation and off course sacred Sexuality...