- In five question and answers know what Tantra is not.
In earlier articles
I covered What
is Tantra FAQ, Elements
of Tantra in modern day Hinduism, Tantra
Demystified Q&A, How
to become a Tantric One way of understanding a concept is to know what it
is not.
Q1. Are Shamanism, Voodoo, Witchcraft the same as Tantra?
Tantra in all its branches, that is, Kashmiri Shaivism, Sri Vidya and Shakta Tantra is finally an assertion of monism (Advaita Vedanta). Tantra has only one goal --- which is the same as found in Advaita Vedanta: to realize that there is no second. I am That.
Shamanism, Voodoo are
methods to heal illnesses and other psychic disorders. Some consider Voodoo
to be a religion practised in the Caribbean islands, but it is generally
associated with the occult. Similarly, Shamanism is associated with Native
American Indian healing practises and with the Bon religion.
Tantra, on the other hand, is not
primarily meant for healing anyone or changing anything. Its one goal is to change
the practitioner so that the sadhaka realises that she or he is Brahman or
Shaktih. It is to be noted that Brahman is Shaktih,
or Power. The latter is not an attribute of Brahman. Tantra in its
original, purest form has nothing to do with the world or, samsara. It is
therefore called Anuttara or the
highest form of Yoga. Tantra, therefore, is Yoga. There is no difference
between the two.
Witchcraft, this author has no idea
about. There are feminist movements throughout the world who think of
witchcraft as non-black magic and see it as an empowering tool for women. Our
Dharma has nothing to do with it. And Tantra
certainly has nothing to do with either good or bad magic. Tantra is the
most ancient way to attain Mukti. Tantra is the negation of this passing world.
It is otherwise known as the philosophy of re-cognition. Sri Utpaladeva and
then Sri Abhinavagupta are two of the main philosophers of this Anuttara
philosophy of re-cognition.
Q2. Where is Tantra practised?
In one’s heart. Tantra, contrary to popular belief is not practised only in crematoria or deserted places. The adept practises this discipline in her heart. By performing the yajna/sacrifice of mental restraint (withdrawal of the senses from the world) in her heart, one attains moksha in this life itself. One does not have to go anywhere to practise Tantra. It is all about restraining the sense organs so that one perfectly practises the niyamas of the Yoga Sutras to begin with. Tantric rituals are first and foremost rituals aimed at shunning samsara.
They are not external rituals. All Tantric
rituals are internal. For example, one might feel anger at someone; Tantra
teaches us to consciously give up that anger and force the mind to erase the
differences between the adept and the person against whom one feels anger.
Because that other person is also I. There is no second. This is the philosophy
of re-cognition. I re-cognise myself as divine and
re-cognise others as equally divine. Tantra is the path of being in the
world without the world touching/staining the adept.
Q3. Who can be a Tantric?
One who hates none. One who feels happy
and one who practises the disciplines found in the Yoga Sutras of Sage
Patanjali. The ideal candidate for Tantra is not given to anger, to revengeful
thoughts and one who has no interest in the occult. The ideal candidate for
practising Tantra should be free from arrogance and will have no external marks
of being a follower of the Holy Mother of this universe and other universes.
Nobody can be a Tantric who defrauds others or uses Tantra to gain name and fame. Further, nobody has the right to be a Tantric unless the right Guru initiates the sadhaka. It is a grace freely given --- Guru Kripa. No amount of reading or meditating or self-effort can make one a Tantric. Even if one has the gift of healing, of performing miracles or has supernatural experiences, nobody becomes a Tantric unless the right Guru initiates the practitioner. Without
Guru Kripa, everything is arrogance and pride.
Q4. How does one find the right Guru?
There is no right or wrong Guru. The
Holy Mother, if She wants you to worship Her as a Tantric, will put you and
your Master in touch. You have to do nothing. Everything will fall into place
at the right time. You have to totally trust in Divine Providence. Your duty is
to seek the Holy Mother. It is up to Her to send you the Guru. There is no
other way.
Q5. Who should not even think of following the Tantric Path/Marga?
Those who feel anger towards others
should not dream of following the Tantric path. Anger, greed, and unchaste
thoughts disqualify a person from following this Marga. Someone who is
attracted to the occult should stay away from this path.
In short, someone who does not want to practise
meditation and tell the beads (japa) or, someone who is interested in name and
fame should keep a distance from this path. Someone who is even remotely
interested in harming others should not even read anything on Tantra. If your
only aim is divinising yourself, that is, living as a detached person in this
world, then this is your path irrespective of gender, caste, nationality, and language.
If you are swayed by worldly concerns,
then best to stick to traditional paths of our Dharma. If you find Deities
speaking to you or you find demonic beings in your life; you need to consult a
mental healthcare professional. Tantra has nothing to do with psychosis or even
the supernatural as is wrongly portrayed everywhere.
Western scholars keep writing that
Tantra is esoteric and antinomian (perverted). Nothing can be further from the
truth. Tantra is Sanatana Dharma. Not part of our Dharma. Tantra is the main
mode of our worship and even our temples are built following Tantric
injunctions. There is a huge business online and offline peddling Tantra and sex
in the name of Tantra. So, there is big money involved in slandering Tantra.
Much evil is done in the name of Tantra. Much evil is also done by sincere
scholars in their eagerness to write on Tantra which they have never practised.
They see the erotic everywhere. Whereas Tantra prohibits the erotic. The time
has come for us to clean up Tantra. And understand that it has nothing to do
with evil of any sort.
Author Subhasis Chattopadhyay has a Ph.D. in American Literature from the University of Calcutta. His reviews from 2010 to 2021 in Prabuddha Bharata have been showcased by Ivy League Presses. He has qualifications in Christian Theology and Hindu Studies and currently teaches English Literature in the PG and UG Department of a College affiliated to the University of Calcutta. He also has qualifications in Behavioural Sciences.
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Tantra
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2. Shakti – The Supreme Mother Goddess in Hinduism
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4. Where Tantra
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5. Vigyan Bhairav
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6. Sixty-Four
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7. Shakti Worship
and Selfhood in Kashmir
8. Album Kamakhya
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9. Album Karni Mata
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10. Meaning behind
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