What is Tantra?

Tantra is a most extraordinary teaching promulgated for the dark-age, Kali-Yuga, and is difficult to elucidate because of its scope and technicality. Tantra can be suitably described as a series of intricate techniques, collective experiences and world-embracing philosophies, rather a spiritual culture at large, aimed at Ātmadarśana or self-realization. Here the self, is the Self—the Supreme Self, also the transcendental Ātman. The transcendental Ātman is distinct from the Jīvā-ātman, which is the individual personality the ego identifies with to maintain life. However, when the Devi Kundalini, or personal ātman ceases to self-identify, life ceases. The spiritual aim of the Tantrika, succinctly put, is liberation or Moksha, or freedom from limited conditions that impede awareness. A more advanced practitioner can fully identify with the Deity in a non-dual, transcendent state, but begins by worshipping Deity through a form. The term Laya is often synonymous with Samadhi, the absorbent ecstasy experienced by perceiving unified reality—the fusing of subject and object. When the Self is realized, the Sādhaka also activates Siddhi or “supernatural powers” that might perceivably seem to “rise spontaneously” but really are a result of skillful manipulation of accumulated Shakti (power), and the freedom this delivers. Often this Shakti has accumulated over many lifetimes, which is why some beings incarnate with a different level of awareness than others. However, all beings come to a higher understanding at some point, as the enlightened master was once unaware. Each being has a distinctive Dharma and some must be fully emmeshed in the world, and are not to bother with more intense spiritual themes if it doesn’t naturally appeal to them. This is why most Tantric authorities maintain, there is no use in demanding someone “renounce”, as worldly concerns fall away and burn up in the spiritual fire naturally, if the proper conditions and intent are present. A capable aspirant or Adhikārin looks differently according to different Yogic traditions, but according to Shiva-Samhita, the single most important qualification is a positive frame of mind, or vishvāsa.

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