There is no Shiva without Shakti and yoga is a realisation of the unity of all things. Tantra is a diverse and rich spiritual tradition of the Indian sub-continent. Although in recent years, in the Western world, it has become almost exclusively associated with sex, and in India with spells, neither of these views is correct, and each wildly underestimates the wide-ranging nature of the different traditions. Further, there remains an ocean of tantrik and agamic literature still to be discovered and translated, spanning a period of time which at least reaches back to the 10th century of the common era (c.e.). The tradition or perhaps better, the traditions, underwent many phases and schools over this period of time, ranging from an extremely heterodox viewpoint to, in some cases, a very orthodox standpoint. In fact you will find yantra, mantra, tantra and other material relating to some of the different traditions; texts on the siddhas, gurus and yogis of the Natha sampradaya including Gorakhnath, Matsyendranath and Dattatreya; much about kundalini, nadis, chakras; images of tantric kula devas (gods) and devis (goddesses) including Kali, Tripura, Shiva, Ganesha, Chinnamasta, Durga and Tara; ritual and practices; meditations and dharanas. Tantra means a treatise, but a treatise or manuscript dealing with occult and esoteric subjects like astrology, secret medicine, numerology and spiritual expressions of sex. The words Kaula or Natha were originally used for the unique way of life or life style we now know as Tantra. This word has now established itself and appears in all modern dictionaries and literature. For this reason we continue to use the words Tantra and Tantrik. Thus Tantra, as a word, still relates to the Naths and Kaulas, now become synonymous.India was unique in proposing various methods, philosophies and theories relating to enlightenment. This Supreme Attainment, "Atma Jnan", Self Realisation, Moksha, Enlightenment was the greatest spiritual concept which emerged among humans. It is the process of development of the human spirit till it becomes one and unites with the Infinite Cosmic Spirit. To assist lesser minds, this Great Cosmic Spirit was symbolised and made more tangible as Gods and Goddesses, male and female, positive and negative, aggressive and receptive aspects. In Tantra the Lord Shiva and his Shakti Parvati dominated. These deities also symbolised the love, tenderness affection and enduring partnership which permeated the Tantrik way of life. All this was bound up with the supposition that the spirit was constantly reborn as god, man or animal and that this rebirth process had to be brought to an end. Rebirth on the earth plane, whether as man or animal was a fate one tried to overcome. Tantriks did not claim to know much about rebirth as a god or celestial. It was only temporary and rebirth as an animal or human could still take place again and again. All three are sensory planes of pain and suffering and all relate to the material cosmos. Tantra lore maintains that only enlightenment, attained by meditation or breath control, culminating in Self Realisation could end rebirth and bring about reunion of the Spirit with the Supreme Spirit of the Cosmos -the Purusha (Cosmic Spirit). But Tantra claims that there is another secret method by which this self realisation is attained easily. The supreme moment when the mind awakes to this realisation also can be attained at the moment (or seconds after) the attainment of a super orgasm at the termination of sexual intercourse. The expectation is that the yogi and his shakti both attain this at approximately the same time. That is why Tantra insists on a "trained shakti" as both are entitled to enlightenment and this is hardly possible with a casual woman who may think of sexual intercourse as only sensory joy and to be extended as long as possible and who may know little of it as a medium of spiritual attainment. The relationship of a yogi with his shakti is also unique. Although they both accept a standard of sexual equality, ability and entitlement, yet still the yogi will treat, worship and think of his shakti as his goddess and a personification of the Earth Mother. Tantra develops in the three aspects of high thinking - Insight, Intuition, Imagination. By these, developed in meditation, the mind awakes to understanding and union with the Cosmic Purusha and rebirth on the Earth Dimension is no more. Tantriks and Nathas learned the power to develop their way of life. Traditions and custom were useful guidelines but a spiritual way of life, its magick, mantras and fantastique patterns must be realised in the mind and created from practical thinking. The Naths did not have to hunt through old texts or turn the pages of ancient books to find new methods or formulae for their magick and to make life more delightful, or give them the power to work wonders. They knew that by simple meditation, breath regulation and a relaxed attitude to the world, they could create and formulate their own mantras and powerful vibrations to transform the sordid into the most beautiful. They energised the will and made things happen. They made madness a spiritual observance and insanity an escape syndrome. They knew that life was an enigma and that divine grace could often be grotesque and dangerous. The most reliable method was for mankind to solve their own problems and set out their own practical way and lifestyle. A Tantrik is not dedicated to serve God or religion. The only goal is to attain enlightenment. Second only to the supreme orgasm, Tantriks and Nathas learned the power to develop their way of life. Traditions and custom were useful guidelines but a spiritual way of life, its magick, mantras and fantastique patterns must be realised in the mind and created from practical thinking. The Naths did not have to hunt through old manuscripts or turn the pages of ancient volumes to find new methods or formulae for their magick and to make life more delightful, or give them the power to work wonders. They knew that by simple meditation, breath regulation and a relaxed attitude to the world, they could create and formulate their own mantras and powerful vibrations to transform the sordid into the most beautiful. They energised the will and made things happen. They made madness a spiritual observance and insanity an escape syndrome. They knew that life was an enigma and that divine grace could often be grotesque and dangerous. The most reliable method was for mankind to solve their own problems and set out their own practical way and lifestyle. A Tantrik is not dedicated to serve God or religion. The only goal is to attain enlightenment. Enlightenment is an expression of divine equality. Our life should have plan and purpose since most people blunder their way through life and generate misery for themselves and for others too. Our aims in life are to enjoy peace, freedom and happiness in this life but also to attain Enlightenment. All this depends not on divine benevolence but on the way we ourselves think and act.
