Ask
any practitioner of Tantra what it actually means and each will give you a differing variation.
ABCFor me, one of the most succinct descriptions was by Stuart Sovatsky in his book Passions of Innocence in which he described Tantra as the development of the individual through the integration of our opposite aspects.
ABCOpposite aspects, referring to our inner man and inner woman, yin and yang, which for many of us at various stages in our lives gets out of balance, thus influencing the way we are within ourselves and with others.
ABCHowever, in recent times, the term 'tantric sex' has crept into the collective vernacular. An activity whereby a man supposedly has the ability to perform superhuman feats of sexual prowess and in the process, transport his female partner to an otherworldly state of nirvana.
ABCAs fanciful as this sounds this is not specifically true. What Tantra does, in essence, is merely to use one's sexuality as the gateway to the inner self." In this context, it was the great mystic, Osho who has had the most profound impact on modern tantric teachings around the world.
ABCIt was Osho who put tantra into absolute perspective.
ABCAccording to Osho, 'Tantra is where sex is transformed into love.
ABCAnd where love is transformed into meditation."
ABCA state that takes place in the depth of our being within the heart space that is our centre. As such, tantric sex as a specific activity does not exist because tantra is not about sex.
ABCTantra is about love.
ABCAnd intimacy.
ABCAnd sensuality.
ABCAnd touching.
ABCAnd nurturing.
ABCAnd caressing.
ABCAnd kissing.
ABCAnd stroking.
ABCAnd pampering.
ABCAnd hugging.
ABCAnd fondling.
ABCAnd squeezing.
ABCAnd sucking.
ABCAnd cuddling.
ABCAnd caring.
ABCAnd embracing.
ABCAnd holding.
ABCAnd feeling.
ABCAt its most intense.
ABCAt its most profound.
ABCAt its most spiritual.
ABCWhether you're a man or a woman, Tantra is about change.
ABCAnd of knowing your limitations and moving through and expanding them.
ABCWith honesty.
ABCAnd trust.
ABCAnd taking risks.
ABCAnd whilst it is not about sex, tantra is about your sexuality.
ABCIt is about your own body And your sexual And sensual relationship with your body.
ABCTantra is about you.
ABCThe self.
ABCSelf awareness.
ABCSelf realisation.
ABCSelf acceptance.
ABCSelf esteem.
ABCSelf love
ABCAnd once you come into that union with yourself, the way you are able to relate to others, transforms.
ABCAnd for you, as a sexual being, tantra allows you to explore your untapped sexual potential.
ABC Of finding love on a deeper and much more profound level.
ABC A level that goes far beyond sex
ABCAnd beyond your genitals.
Moreover, whilst tantra looks at the intimate and sensuous aspects of sexuality, it's aim is not to discourage intercourse, but to expand
ABCAnd it so it becomes an incredibly beautiful adventure.
ABCAn adventure that turns an act of physicality into an act of meditation.
The above is an extract from The Absolute Truth About Tantric Sex by Rajeev (Ian Oshlack) © 2006
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