Tantric Yoga
Some self-styled “gurus” or teachers have presented tantra to the unknowing world as just some sort of sacred sex, and that has led to the misunderstanding of this spiritual concept. Tantra, in fact, is more than that. It is a way of life. While sexual tantra is concerned with the union between an individual and a partner, the purest form of tantra is concerned with unifying the male and female essences within a person.
The origin of the pure Tantra dates as early as the Indus Valley civilization. Its main aim is to harmonize the male and female aspects within an individual in order to achieve creative wisdom and most importantly, spiritual regeneration. One way to reach that goal is through Tantric Yoga.
“Tantra” means expansion, while “Yoga” means concentration. Hence, Tantric Yoga pertains to concentrating on expanding one’s energy in order to achieve the goals of tantra.
Tantric Yoga is not just exercise. It is more like a philosophy of life. It may be based on different beliefs, which include Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and the New Age movement. Tantric Yoga acknowledges that the whole universe is an expression of either the Spirit, the Cosmic Mother known as Shakti, or the divine life force, depending on what belief it is based on. It is difficult to master because one cannot just learn it from the books. A tantric yogi must be devoted to one’s guru in order to master it.
A Tantric Yoga meditation session typically goes like this. A guru sits calmly, his mind freed of impure thoughts and desires. Using imagination and feeling, the student then gathers his or her own life force. This is moved up from the tailbone to the neck through the spine, and continues to rise until it reaches the forehead. The collected life force is then directed out of the forehead to form a body of light and energy that will expand until it is as large as a human being.
This imaginary body of light and energy actually represents the tantric yogi’s soul and essence. Tantric Yoga directs love towards it before moving it back to the forehead, then all the way back down to the base of the spine. When the light has returned inside, the tantric yogi feels enlightened and spiritually awakened.
A good tantric yoga student must have faith, purity, courage, and devotion to his or her guru. Tantric Yoga beliefs can be so imbued within a devoted student that this type of Yoga can also be a way to overcome negative habits such as smoking, drinking, and overeating. It is certainly a good way to maintain physical, mental, and spiritual health.
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Basics & Backgrounds
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