Tantra
The word tantra comes from two words, tanoti, which means expansion, and trayati, which means liberation.
Tantric practices aim at unifying the polarities inherent in the world and one’s self. These opposites are symbolically known as “Shiva” and “Shakti” or consciousness and energy, personified as male and female forces of nature.
Everything in life is about Tantra. The rain dropping onto the earth, or lovers embracing (or argueing!), or when the wind blows through the tree’s that is tantra, that’s creation and merging. Everything in life is always dancing with the polarities, with the interchangeable energies. Tantra takes the Whole person or experience, including all desires into account.
Unfortunately, a large number of tantric enthusiasts, in both the West and the East, mistakenly identify tantra as witchcraft, seduction, black magic and an amalgam of techniques for influencing others. When this falls into the hands of charlatans, it is inevitably misused giving tantra a bad name. Fortunately, however, there are still true masters and authentic scriptures to undercut such false and distorted notions and make it possible for us to gain a better understanding of this sublime path.
