What Is Tantra? And Why Is It So Misunderstood?
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“Do we have to get naked?”
“Will I have to touch someone’s genitals?”
“Is anyone touching mine?”
As a Tantra Educator, these are some of the more revealing questions I’ve received before an event.
And let’s face it, if you found this article, you’re probably wondering too.
Tantra has been misunderstood, misquoted, and maligned so often it’s literally become a buzzword. You won’t find two Tantrikas (practitioners of Tantra) who agree on exactly what it is:
Is it Hindu or Buddhist?
Is it about sex or not?
How many chakras are there and where are they?
There have been so many different focuses (Classical Tantra, Red Tantra, White Tantra, Dark Tantra, Neo-Tantra, Pseudo-Tantra, etc), that an entire book has been written to track the lineage.
Understandably, all of this just creates more confusion.
So then what is Tantra, really?
For one thing, Tantra has to do with presence.
Imagine this:
You’re driving. And you’re in a time crunch. Your lover calls, and what starts out as fun flirty banter somehow turns into a heated argument. At the same time you have to navigate pedestrians, trucks, bicycles, traffic lights, and other cars. Twenty minutes later you get to your destination, late and distracted, and finally hang up the phone.
Can you recall exactly how you drove from point A to point B?
Chances are, you can’t. But you can probably remember every detail of that argument.
Why? Because your attention wasn’t on your drive.
Sure, you had your butt in the seat and your eyes on the road, but who are we kidding? You were on autopilot.
You were physically there. But most of your mental and emotional awareness — and therefore your consciousness — was elsewhere.
You weren’t present for your drive.
One aspect of Tantra is to be fully present in everything we do: from driving a car, to making love, to ordering a cortado at your favorite coffee shop.
So, no, Tantra is not about sex. But imagine how great sex could be if there was more of you in it?
I mean, if you’re going to make love, don’t you want to feel every sensation? And in exquisite detail?
If your bedroom artistry has been uninspired, the best way to “spice it up” is to look at where you’ve been going through the motions and bring your full attention instead.
But what about techniques you say? Aren’t there techniques that can help me become a better lover? Absolutely; we’ve got treasure chests full of them. Your toes will do backflips.
But the key is being present for the experience. If you’re not, then none of the tips and tricks will get you anywhere.
So the next time you’re driving, or making love, or ordering a coffee, try putting your full attention on what you’re doing. See how you can truly connect and be present.
Are you engaged with the road at every curve?
…with your partner at every caress?
…with the barista as they hand you your cortado?
Try it and see what opens up for you.
Oh, and if you still want to know the answer to those naked and sex questions…
If you’re asking, then no, there’s no sex or nudity.
You have to take our advanced courses for that.
