What is Tantra?

Tantra is an ancient esoteric science of transformation, leading to self-realization and enlightenment. It uses both quiet contempative awareness and dramatic internal and external visualizations, rituals,and iconography to bring about physiological and spiritual changes in the brain and body of the practitioner.

The highest practices of Tantra are almost completely internal.Tantric rituals serve as symbolic reminders of the internal practices. These emotional, sensualized visualizations may include sexual ornatural imagery, and beatific or horrific visions used to bring the practitioner closer to an absolute state of awareness.

There are celibate, non-celibate, and even extremely sexual practitioners of tantra. Monks, householders, and those highly sexual beings who live on the “fringe” of society, can all be included within the spectrum of tantric practitioners.

There are tantrics who use yogic practices of love and sex to fuel their transformations of consciousness. There are other tantrics who maintain celibacy and simply use the power of their own breath and sexual energy to fuel their meditations.

The “Tantras” are ancient Indic, Chinese, and Tibetan scriptures detailing the philosophy and practice of Tantric science. While the
oral tradition and symbolic artwork of Tantra date back more than 5500 years (verified by carbon dating statuary and ritual artifacts) Tantra’s written tradition began only in the first few centuries A.D.

Parallel practices exist in China in the practical and philosophical Taoist traditions, in Greece and Iran in the Western Mysteries, and in various shamanic traditions the world over.

Modern science is increasingly demonstrating 1) that tantric cosmology parallels quantum physics and astronomy and 2) that tantra’s
meditation methods are indeed part of a profound science affecting human brain chemistry, emotions, awareness, and brain longevity.

Recent brain scans of Tibetan Tantric Buddhist monks have revealed that profound changes in the size, shape, and adaptability of a
meditator’s brain occur over a two-year course of tantric meditation. Sections of the brain responsible for anger and sadness shrink, while those responsible for happiness get physically larger, etc…

Even simple tantric techniques can prove extremely effective in changing negative perceptions of reality, and are eventually put
together into advanced practices. Many of tantra’s more mundane techniques have been adopted by modern self-help devotees.

Until next time,
Smile, Breathe Right, and Keep Your Tongue Up!
Tao Semko