Tantra comes from India. If it is extremely popular nowadays in the Western world, its origin dates back to the Life century after Jesus Christ. Tantra was first transmitted orally before giving rise to a multitude of diverse texts, methods and teachings which were then spread through Buddhism and Hinduism. The word "tantra" means "method, tool, technique" in Sanskrit. It also means "expansion of consciousness".
Here are the principles and applications of Tantra.
Knowledge is gained through experience
The texts provide theoretical support and encourage those who really want to discover Tantra to experiment with it. The Agamas' teaching encourages listening to the truth that lies deep in the heart. It is inscribed in each one of us, just let it rise from the depths of the unconscious to the collective consciousness. To make this effort is to find the path to happiness and freedom. The principle of tantra rests on the awakening of the "bond" that links man to himself, man to other kingdoms (plant and animal) and man to other humans. The union of the feminine and masculine polarities is discussed in more detail in the book by Jacques Lucas and Marisa Ortolan: Tantra, sacred horizon of the relationship.
This link is called Love. That is why Tantra is often associated with this feeling, this state of mind of union and harmony. Love in this context should be understood as sharing with the other, beyond physical possession. To know such love, one must experience it and live it in full consciousness. Like Love, universal truth is in the realm of the impalpable, which is why it must be lived and felt.
Bringing together the inner man and woman
The second principle of Tantra is the search for the unification of man and the removal of his dualities. He must learn to reintegrate the spiritual with the material, to link his individual consciousness with a universal divine consciousness, to unite his masculine and feminine essence. It may seem surprising but we are all composed of these two energies, they are not in opposition. The "Agamas", works of compilation of the tantras, teach that the different aspects of man are linked and that there is no delimitation. Harmony is possible only if the individual is seen as One, in the image of creation.
These 3 dimensions must be in balance: physical - psychic - spiritual. The energy that circulates in each of us serves to connect these elements.
The way of Tantra
The practice of Tantra is to bring forth and grow this universal consciousness. It is about achieving total fulfilment, beyond the limitations of individual consciousness. Lovers of meditation and Kundalini Yoga will recognize the very principles of their art. During meditation, it is common to reach Awakening, that state of consciousness where everything seems to make sense. All those who have ever experienced the rise of Kundalini perceive that all ancestral philosophies and knowledge are aimed at this goal of unification, of understanding the world in which we live.
Tantra applied to sexuality
tantra couple : There are many tantra courses for couples or more generally for sexual development. Most of them work on the transmission of energy. The exercises and techniques vary from one practitioner to another. The methods aim to connect the heart to sex and to establish a true emotional communication with one's partner. This idea remains in the fundamental principle of Tantra which is the unification of the 3 dimensions of Being. By creating an energetic contact with the other, a psychic connection is created which can lead to a physical rapprochement. Sex is not considered as an end in itself but rather as an exchange between the subtle bodies. Tantra for couples is developed in The Art of Sexual Ecstasy: The Path to Sacred Sexuality and Tantra for Western Couples and Tantra, Sexuality of Tomorrow.
Tantric massages
They take the form of classic massages. However, the intention of the masseur and the "massaged" is to get in touch with the energy of the other. We place ourselves at a more subtle level than that of the physical body. The partners listen to themselves and to the other.
Tantric dance
Its aim is to soften the pelvis and the different parts of the body that are on the path of the 7 chakras or energy centres. When these are aligned, the individual is harmonized. He is thus more at ease in his relations with the other. The movements and exercises are proposed by the practitioner.
Tantric Breathing
It may consist of hyperventilation at the solar plexus. The partners are placed face to face, each in turn, they breathe by inflating the solar plexus and then they raise the breath upwards towards the forehead. Alongside these exercises and specific practices, it is recommended to integrate Tantra into daily life. Other techniques are also used, including yoga.