Tantra is the religious philosophy in which the Divine Mother of the universe, or Shakti, is worshiped as the ultimate Reality.  Right-handed tantra involves worship of the Divine Mother through mantras and meditation, whereas left-handed tantra additionally involves the direct use of sexual energy and, sometimes, intoxicants, to awaken the spiritual power within man. Derived from this ancient Eastern belief system, Tantra is now commonly used to refer to a variety of different approaches to sexuality which also incorporate some form of spirituality. Some people study Tantra as part of their spiritual path, while others study it solely to enhance their understanding and appreciation of sexuality and intimacy.

 
 

As a culture, we Americans are a bit uptight about sex.

Our discomfort with lovemaking starts at an early age: Young children, ever since the colonists first landed, have come to dread "the talk" as one of the most extreme forms of torture. How can a culture that seems so sexual, that has reveled in everything from the Kinsey Report to the philosophy of Hugh Hefner,  be so uptight about sex?

A little-known Eastern practice called "Tantra" — perhaps you've heard of it — could totally revamp the way that we as a culture think of the big S-E-X. Tantra turns the misconception that sex is "dirty" on its head, stressing the fact that sex is a spiritually fulfilling pastime that can have positive effects on all aspects of one's life — so listen up, all you New Age enthusiasts.

Tantra can be translated as "sacred sexuality," which means that while we as animals have the sexual urge simply because of the pleasure it entails, sexual desires also correlate with a desire to fulfill a spiritual void. For most people, the enjoyment of sex provides some sort of physical release from the daily stress of life. By following tantric methods, there is not only a release, but a deep spiritual enlightenment as well.

The basic teachings of tantra stress the total surrender of all mental, emotional and cultural conditioning that one has experienced regarding sex. Once these stresses are abolished, a new realm of awareness can take place. Our sexual energy becomes our ally.

But enough about the theory, let's move on to putting tantra into practice between the sheets. Tantric sex is not about "getting off;" quite the contrary, actually. It's about embracing yourself as a sexually liberated human being and having a spiritual connection with your partner.

"There is no goal in tantric sex, only the present moment of perfect and harmonious union," explains Nitya Lacroix, author of the book "The Art of Tantric Sex." Concentrating on your partner's energy, touch and warmth of his or her skin can help you remember that you are not the only one feeling pleasure.

Tantra practices aim to prolong the process of having sex and help practitioners focus intently on the orgasmic energies running through their bodies. With this meditative mindset, orgasms of 20 minutes or more can occur, and can recur the same way for hours.

So next time you meet someone at a bar and his or her pick up line is, "I can last for hours!" it may not be a lie. Although in our sexually repressed culture, chances of being picked up by a person familiar with tantra are slim.

Tantric sex can promote non-sexual benefits as well. You learn to become more comfortable in your own skin, after abolishing all the negative sexual connotations that American culture has kindly bestowed upon you. Also, while having sex, tantra teaches you to be patient and relax, which can carry over to helping you take a meditative outlook on life. Lastly, tantra teaches you to be honest and open about what you want in sex and in life. Ultimately, though, a tantric lifestyle leads its followers away from sexual and emotional repression, and encourages them to express their passions.

I recommend tantric sex as a good experience for any couple. While it is easier to learn if you're in a committed relationship, it can also work if you've known your partner for, say, 15 minutes. So instead of engaging in the same, routine romp between the sheets, try something new.

Remember, college is the perfect time for experimentation, including sexual experimentation. Why not release your inhibitions and try something new? Your sex life could not only be more physically pleasurable, it could be more spiritually rewarding.

 

 

 

Most of humanity has lost that special insight or balance that moves us beyond mere physical pleasure to a deeper and more satisfying wholeness. Long before so-called civilization permeated our culture, humans cultivated sexual pleasure as a means to transcend into higher dimensions of consciousness, using the material, animal orgasm to move far beyond it.

Thousands of years ago, people had achieved a high degree of awareness and an alchemical formula for converting what we know as sex energy - called by many names such as chi, ki, vital force, etc. - using it to enter into a state of divine ecstacy. Their spiritual philosophy held sexuality as a divine rite and an expression of union or yoga. This period was 4300-1700 BC. At the end of this period, the newly developed civilizations failed to develop the deep spiritual connection to this vital energy that we call tantra.

Tantra is the art of spiritualizing "sexuality" getting rid of fear and attachment and choosing instead love and universal acceptance.· Put simply, Tantra is the total surrender, or letting go of all mental, emotional and cultural conditioning, so that universal life energy can again flow though us like a river without any effort. It is a surrendering to universal unity ..to love. When fear disappears, love remains. The process is called Tantra, which can be defined as "sexual intimacy without sexual intercourse."

The word "Tantra" has many definitions, and perhaps its real meaning has been lost to antiquity. Some scholars claim it comes from the Sanskrit or Hindi word for fabric or tapestry, meaning that it is the weaving together of many consciousnesses. Others say that is comes from two Sanskrit words - tanoti and trayati. Tanoti means to expand consciousness, and trayati means to liberate consciousness. One might then say that Tantra expands and liberates consciousness, weaving the individual into the fabric of existence. While not a religious philosophy, Tantra embraces a deep spiritual understanding of life, and an ancient art of living in harmony with existence. It is a poetic science of "super sexuality" that dates back thousands of years. It was used as a vehicle to achieve cosmic consciousness and union with divinity.

Tantra treats sexual energy as a loving friend, rather than something to be suppressed or talked about secretly in low tones. It does not deny sex, or consider sex a hindrance to enlightenment or Heavenly Grace. To the contrary, Tantra says that sex is sacred, and not a sin, or something against God. In Tantra, sex is always loving. Love is what Tantra encourages - total unconditional love, including the mind, the spiritual and the body. Tantra supports development of this vital energy to achieve union with Life. The essence of Tantra is the full expression of being - a merging with, rather than a withdrawing from. In Tantra, the orgasm is with the universe. You become part of the primal energy of everything.

Tantra teaches us how to make love with everything, letting go of all barriers. Sex becomes sacred when you approach it from your heart and body, rather than your mind. The body is only layers of invisible energy in form, and it can be awakened if we let go in sex. This is the way of Tantra. It affirms the life energy within you in totality, so that those on this path find themselves whole and self-confident, with a positive panoramic view of everything. Tantra changes one's view of relationships as well. Relationships are less co-dependent, jealous or neurotic. They tend to be harmonious, fun and energy-filled. In the way of Tantra, you also discover that the relationship you seek outside is already within you.

In Tantra, sexual energy is used in healing as the means of triggering and amplfying the Kundalini force, the body's biological life-energy system, merging it/you with universal energy. Unlike Taoism (which actually stemmed from ancient Tantra) that says bring your energy inside for longevity, Tantra says let it go..let it all go! There is no reason to hang onto anything if eternity exists. In Tantra, sex is used to create the polarity charge, or potential, that connects with the primordial energy from which everything in the universe arises.

Tantra uses sexual energy in an extended way, using the electromagnetic force field created/released by playing with others. Tantra welcomes the full expression of bodily pleasure, recognizing that in the body is hidden the "bodiless," or the spiritual. The body is only layers of invisible energy in form, and it can all be awakened if we let go to the sexual energy.

Links to Tantric sites:

SACRED SENSUALITY SITES

White Lotus East

Adult Tantra 

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