The word itself derives from Sanskrit, and can mean a “thread”, an interwoven line in a piece of fabric. Buddhist teachings are composed of sutras and tantras – think of them as parables - and these truth teachings “weave” themselves into our everyday lives, giving us a sense of continuity and connectedness with the world. A sense of both the humble and the divine informs this vision of the universe, and Tantric philosophy shows us how the divine is innate within us all, no matter what our position. True Tantric Therapists use that grounding to worship the divine, to honour the male Shiva and female Shakti energies, freeing and harnessing these forces in the pursuit of bliss and healing wholeness. The essence of what some religions term as God – truth, goodness and beauty – is inherent even in the lowest forms of creation. By a process of manual guidance, the mind, enabled by touch and sensation, will then be aided in its ascent to a higher plane of existence.
A doctrine of self enlightenment, Tantric Therapy involves exploring the body to reawaken the mind. The sublime energy within is freed from the constraints of the modern, material world – by relaxing into a pure state of sensation, through touch alone the mind can be excited by the body into a state of ecstatic bliss. In a world of pressing obligations, it is easy to forget the most basic obligation of them all, obligation to the self. Far from being selfish, being in touch with your individual self will inform and improve your relationships with others; a happy, fulfilled individual is an open, receptive individual who feels part of the whole.
Deep shame sometimes attaches itself to pleasure, especially sexual pleasure. Denying pleasures of the body denies us not only of physical pleasure, but of course, the psychic pleasure which results. Knowledge of the body is knowledge of the self, and opening oneself to another, trusting another, can be the first step on the path to spiritual awareness.
This is how a form of erotic massage derives itself from Tantric philosophy. By submitting and releasing yourself in the hands of an experienced Tantric Therapist, trusting their skill, your innate sexual energies will be released together with your mind and a glimpse of Divine Consciousness will be revealed. Mind, body and spirit are stimulated by the Tantric path, and come together in one-ness.
Two millennia of Tantric thought and practice has accumulated since Tantra’s conception in India, with the goal of helping mankind understand and unite with Divine Consciousness. Branches of Hinduism and Buddhism adopted Tantric teachings, and passed them down to our current generation, having recognised the value of such a radically positive approach to existence. Pure being, pure existence, pure bliss; that is reality, there is no illusion. There is no need for an ascetic way of living, divorced from sensation; by existing in bliss you have ascended to understanding the happy truth that the nature of being is joyful. All life is generated by the divine play of male and female, Shiva and Shakti. This inner structure of the universe can be mirrored by allowing oneself to enjoy this divine union, by enjoying this multiplicity of sensation that constitutes our universe.
What does Tantric massage involve today?
General awareness of Tantra in the West amongst the public arose in the 1960s, alongside New Age beliefs. However, many so-called practitioners, rather than commit to the study of Tantric ideas and techniques, merely appropriated Tantric terms and practiced their own brand of therapy on the unwary.
