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The highest of all possible human goals
is the attainment of complete enlightenment, an ultimate
state of peace in which all obstacles obscuring the mind
have been removed and all good qualities such as wisdom,
compassion, and skilful means have been fully developed.
However, we cannot reach this ultimate goal merely by waiting
for it; we need to use the appropriate methods to take us
there. Tantra is a method, a technique or a path of worship
through the use of various materials and natural substances
in specified forms, under set rules and regulations.
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Tantra
appears to offer both spiritual and worldly success to a superlative
degree. It covers not only internal yogic experiences of chakras,
lokas and deities, but also has many important healing practices
for body and mind. Most notably, it offers special means of
heightening sexual pleasure, |
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| making money, gaining recognition
and defeating one’s enemies – with Tantric methods
available for achieving all human desires. Tantra is the use
of natural power for attainment of health, wealth, happiness,
and spirituality. It can also be used to gain protection against
enemies, get victory in war/ law suits, or help in hypnosis,
where the other person’s mind is controlled for his/ her
own benefit. |
Tantra can be performed by a person from
any religion or belief, since it is only a means, and hence,
can be used to pray to the Deity/ God in which one has more
faith. Tantra is not a religion or a cult, and it is definitely
not magic, mysticism or ‘Jadoo Toona’, as it
is often misunderstood.
In India, usually Tantrics are portrayed as great magicians
with special powers to overcome difficulties and fulfil
our desires, using gems, mantras, yantras and pujas to get
the Gods on our side and remove negative forces and bad
karmas that get in the way of our happiness.
Some Tantric gurus are considered to be
so powerful that their touch or glance alone can grant whatever
we wish. Naturally, this ‘Tantric guru’ image
can be easily exploited. This magical form of Tantra makes
for entertaining stories and good novels, giving it an additional
glamour and grounds for exaggeration.
This fascination with Tantra is nothing new in human cultures.
Tantra is another version of the same old attraction to
magic, the occult and ritual that we find to some degree
in all cultures and was very prominent in the ancient world
everywhere. Ancient Vedic rituals, much like modern Tantric
rituals, can similarly be employed for all the goals of
human life from kama or enjoyment, to victory in battle,
to moksha or liberation.
Looking to God – whether in the formless sense, or
in the form of various Gods and Goddesses, or saints and
gurus – to fulfil our human desires is one of the
first and most common ways of human religious seeking. Tantra
provides one of the most elaborate ways of doing this and
recognizes its value as a first step in getting people onto
the spiritual path.
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