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Tibetan Buddhism is largely a Tantric form,
taken up from Indian Tantrics in Bengal and Bihar. Such Buddhism
of mantras, mandalas, deities, yoga and meditation is much
closer to Hindu Tantric and Vedic disciplines than it is to
the older Buddhism of Sri Lanka and Thailand.Tantric teachings
have been important for most of the main gurus of modern India
since Ramakrishna and Vivekananda, including Aurobindo, Shivananda,
Anandamayi Ma and many others. Yet this tradition is even
older. The main Yoga gurus over the past thousand years or
more have been mainly Nath Yogis, who are Tantric Shaivites,
starting with Goraknath and Matsyendra Nath. Such Nath Yogis
were the founders of many important approaches to Tantra.
The teachings of modern Yoga guru, Krishnamacharya, are attributed
to tradition stated by one Natha Muni. This means that without
understanding real Tantra it is hard to understand Yoga.
Like the Yoga Sutras and in more detail Tantra teaches asana,
pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi, but providing
many more specific forms and techniques. It gives the details
on mantras and methods that are only alluded to in the Sutras.
We can also explain real Tantra as a yogic approach to science
and art. In this regard, there is a cross over between Vedic
and Tantric sciences in such disciplines as Ayurveda, Jyotish
and Vastu. Tantra is the basis of the Rasa Shastra or alchemical
side of Ayurveda and much of Ayurveda’s psychological
treatments. Tantra uses the rules of Jyotish for determining
favourable times for ritual, pujas and so on. Tantric architecture
and temple building develops from Vastu. In fact, it is in
Tantra, contrary to modern academicians who fail to see the
obvious connection, that we find the most detailed applications
of Vedic teachings of ritual, mantra, yagya, pujan and meditation.
So whether we like it or not, Tantra is and will remain a
dominant force not only in Indian but also in world spirituality.
Tantra is the practical and energetic application of all the
yogic wisdom of life, time, space and energy. If you approach
it with the right intention, it can offer you much more than
the fulfilment of your desires, it can help you gain the supreme
goal of your life or realization of the entire universe within
your own awareness.
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