The word “Tantra” evokes sex and mysticism in the modern world. However, it is a spiritual practice fraught with controversy and potential harm. Though its origins are deeply embedded in South Asian spiritual traditions, Tantra has long been a subject of debate for its questionable methods and the risks it poses to practitioners.
Questioning Tantra’s Validity in Indian Buddhism
One of the most contentious aspects of Tantra in Indian Buddhism is its origins. Did these esoteric practices truly originate with the Buddha, or do they stem from darker, occult sources? Many argue that Tantra’s reliance on rituals, mantras, and deity possession deviates sharply from the Buddha’s original teachings. Instead, Tantra seems to delve into a realm of magic, where practitioners invoke powerful spirits or deities that are difficult to control. The secretive and arcane nature of Tantra has even drawn comparisons to Western Satanism, with parallels in symbolic inversion, forbidden knowledge, and the harnessing of dark energies. These troubling similarities raise serious questions about the true intent and origins of Tantra.
Tantra is believed to have emerged in India around the 5th to 7th centuries CE as a response to the rigid practices of Vedic Hinduism and early Buddhism. Its origins are steeped in secrecy and myth. The term “Tantra,” means “to weave” or “to expand,” and hints at its darker origins: the weaving of esoteric forces into the human psyche.
The Core Principles of Tantra: A Double-Edged Sword
Tantra appears to challenge dualistic thinking, presenting the material and spiritual worlds as interconnected:
Shakti and Shiva: While the union of Shakti (divine feminine) and Shiva (divine masculine) is portrayed as a balance, the rituals associated with this concept often involve the invocation of chaotic energies that can destabilize practitioners.
Sacredness of the Body: Tantra’s reverence for the body as a vehicle for enlightenment can lead to practices that blur ethical boundaries, and expose aspirants to physical and psychological risks. These practices often involve an extreme form of yoga that includes breath manipulation and physical postures designed to awaken kundalini energy. This wild and often uncontrollable force is said to be a dormant energy that resides at the base of the spine, but in reality, it involves possession by a spirit.
Ritual and Symbolism: The intricate rituals, mandalas (geometric designs), and mantras (sacred sounds) used in Tantra can act as portals and invocations to preternatural forces.
Tantra in Hinduism and Buddhism
While Tantra is often associated with Hinduism and Buddhism, its practices diverge significantly from the ethical foundations of these traditions. In Hinduism, Tantra became linked with Shaivism and Shaktism, incorporating rituals that many consider to be unorthodox and even dangerous. For instance, human sacrifice, though outlawed, is still secretly practiced in India. In Buddhism, Tantra’s form, Vajrayana, emerged as an esoteric path that relies heavily on guru worship, deity yoga, and visualization. These methods often blur the line between spiritual growth and occult manipulation. Critics argue that such practices betray the Buddha’s emphasis on ethical conduct and mindfulness.
The Spread and Evolution of Tantra: A Troubling Legacy
As Tantra spread beyond India, it adapted to local cultures but retained its core. In Tibet, for instance, Tantric rituals merged with indigenous Bon practices, creating a potent fusion. During the colonial era, Western scholars sensationalized Tantra, focusing on its sexual practices and scary looking deities while ignoring its broader implications. This misrepresentation led to a rehabilitation of Tantra in the West in the second half of the 20th century that idealized Tibetan Buddhist Tantra as purely benevolent, reframing and obscuring its darker aspects.
In the modern world, Tantra has been rebranded as a tool for personal empowerment, often stripped of its spiritual and cultural context. However, this simplification overlooks the risks associated with its practices. Authentic Tantra, with its emphasis on invoking and channeling preternatural energies, is a perilous path that can lead to psychological torment and spiritual dissolution. The allure of Tantra’s supposed transformative power can blind practitioners to its potential for harm.
A Warning
The history of Tantra is not merely a tale of spiritual innovation but also a cautionary story of occult manipulation and risk. Its practices, which often involve possession by spirits or deities, can have dire consequences even if approached with extreme caution. These entities, if angered or improperly controlled, can turn on the practitioner, leading to profound suffering. While Tantra may promise enlightenment, its methods carry a heavy price. Those who seek spiritual growth would do well to heed these warnings and consider safer, more ethical paths.
Tantric Deception 