Tantra is a physicality affirming science. Tantrikas move in harmony with the natural forces, which are manifestations of the divine, and instead of asceticism, go into the benefits of being in a body, letting it share in the bliss fully. The yogas of withdrawal traditionally focus more on detaching from the outside world, being in the witness, observing from a psychological distance, saying “no” to the play, and going within to the silence. In Tantra, however, we celebrate nature and humanity, seeing our interaction through the relationships of elemental forces, helping each other evolve. Using the body as a tool for moving toward enlightenment, we have countless exercises to chose from. Sadhana (the practice) comes from the word “sadh,” which means “to strive.” Practitioners are called Sadhakas (male) and Sadhikas (female), striving to become Siddhas (masters). Because the majority of people are materialistic, the Tantras focus on the animal nature in the process of overcoming Maya, or our belief that we are isolated entities rather than part of the continuum. “Tantra” means “the web” or interconnectedness of all things. Kundalini yoga is taught most fully in the books called the Tantras, otherwise known as the Agamas, of which there are 500 books. Shakti, the goddess, and Shiva, the god, supposedly give advice directly in this texts. There are also just as many Tantirc Shastras, otherwise known as the Mantra Shastras. The word “Tantra” also has the etymology of Tan, to spread, and Tra, to save. Tantra is full of profound concepts, but mostly, it is a guide to specific Sadhana using movement, breath, sound, visualization, and more.
Mahamudra Pose
Sit with your right leg stretched out straight, and tuck your left heel up against your pubic bone, and hold the big toe of your right foot with both hands. Keep your back straight, tuck your chin down. Breathe in through your nose and hold for a count of ten, then exhale through your mouth, repeating this ten times on each side.
Yoga Mudra
Sit in the Lotus position on the floor (legs crossed, spine straight) and hold your left wrist with your right hand, behind your back. Bend forward and put your forehead to the ground. Breathe slowly, for three to thirty minutes.
Mantras
Toning is important, such as the one most people know, Om, or Aum. Most people say this as one syllable, however, which isn’t the proper way of getting the most benefit. The three sounds of this as it is drawn out properly represent the three ordinary states of consciousness, waking, dreaming, and dreamless sleep, and the sound of silence after it is spoken represents that which goes beyond ordinary form. Say O slowly, vibrating, projecting. Then Ah, them Oommm. One of the meanings of “tantra” is treatise. It is practical work that has a predictable effect. The Yoga Sutra by Patanjali includes many Tantric exercises, such as the whole third chapter. Tantra is not simply about helping yourself. It is done for the sake of the whole, for the environment that you breathe in and out of during your Pranayama (breathwork), during every breath you take. It is done for the sake of animals, and people, for the sake of all that is, as it is all connected. You don’t have a heavy responsibility to sacrifice for them. You take the energy that you truly need first. That is important, to keep that belief system in place, so you don’t take in others’ negative thought forms, for give out all of your own wealth of energy. But remember that everything is flow; we are parts of the overall organism, doing out part.
In Tantra, as has been confirmed by numerous measurements in modern days, as well as psychic visionaries, the material body is the effect of the transformation of the basic prana, (life force) which is not solid, but which spins in a circular wave which is reducible to an infinitesimal point, called the “bindhu.” Through concentrating on it, we find it has incredible power. This form of the bindhu is everpresent.
Through the bodily bindhu point of power in the whirling vortex of the chakra at the third eye, we can open the doorway to vast realms of consciousness. To enter it takes long practice and purification. To go into it before doing such is dangerous. People who go to so called Tantra teachers and workshops who aren’t aware of the correct way to proceed are taking risks. Overstimulation of a chakra mobilizes the pranic forces but we must know what to do with those added energies, be able to contain them within a prepared body, and be able to direct them. If clairvoyance or clairaudience is awakened, for example, without a context, some may feel they are becoming insane. The etheric webs that protect each layer of the aura may break, leaving us vulnerable to everything, just like the skin breaking leaves us open to disease.
The bindhu is similar to the singuilarity at the center of a black hole, through which matter leaves and enters the universe, and unpredictable forces come through. Black holes are a kind of chakra of the physical world.
Tantrikas are told to avoid attachment to maya, or the illusion of separation described by the world of classical physics that saw all as individual particles of solidity. Tantra is not the New Age desire for manifesting great wealth, becoming focused on desires, and great sex.Practitioners have traditionally spent time in ascetic circumstances such as in caves, alone, learning to rely on nothing. Even in love, Tantrikas are traditionally asked to avoid attachment, possessiveness, obsession. Non attachment leads to a truer love. But of course, it’s easier said than done, and an arguable way to approach loving partnership.
Bindhu
Focus on the vortex of energy, the chakra, in the center of your forehead. Close your eyes and imagine you are breathing through it, in and out. Tune into the core bindhu that exists beyond location, time, understanding. Let the point in your head be the point through which elemental life force, prana, comes through into you, as you release the very concept of being “you,” a separate being. Release attachment to that, and just be Being itself. More than other forms of yoga, Tantra is concerned with the Kundalini. There are three main schools of Tantra: Kaula, or left hand path, externally worshiping Shakti, and including sexual rituals to raise the Kundalini, Misra, or the middle path, which raises the Kundalini to the heart chakra where it is worshiped as universal love, and Samaya, or right hand, uses yogic methods rather than ritual, including sexual art, focusing on meditation, particularly focusing on the crown chakra, with mastery over the charkas, nadis, prana, and concepts. Practicing diligently exercises such as the elementary ones I give here, and moving on to study more advanced methods may eventually lead to the raising of the Kundalini. But this is a rare occurrence. Many people are now using the term incorrectly. The actual event is highly dramatic, physically documentable, life changing. Yogis traditionally believe we live many lives practicing Tantra in order to one day raise the Kundalini from the cumulative effect, and then, we don’t need to return to more incarnations on Earth unless we decide to to help others along the path.
