Why is the way of life prescribed by ancient tantra more essential today than ever before? It does not take a tantra teacher to reveal the reason – plain common sense and observation are enough.
In this day and age people, have started looking upon life and its benefits like they would upon coffee – they want them instant. It’s the same story when it comes to Nirvana - they want that in an instant too. The hunger for everything – fame, riches, sex and gratification of all the senses – has most people reaching out for quantity, not quality. Could they do less for sex? Unfortunately, by doing so, they reduce what the art of tantra reveres as most sublime pleasure given to mankind, to a mere fraction of its potential.
Most relationships are fragmented because people have little time and energy left over to tend and enjoy them. The pursuit of plenty has them in its thrall, and the tantra way of living in the moment – living in the bliss of simplicity and being attentively absorbed in every pleasurable experience in life – could not be further from them.
This continuous desire for plenty feeds on itself, and it seems that the more you get, the more you want. Nothing is ever enough, and thus unhappiness is created. Many people end up abusing alcohol, drugs and sex to ‘escape’ reality. However, a tantra master will tell you that whatever bit of happiness is thereby snatched from a few fleeting moments is short-lived. No one can escape reality.
A quick fix is wanted for every situation and desire in life. But tantra states that life is meant to be savored - hurrying through the journey to the finish line is hardly the most qualitative way to live. With the kind of environment that most of us grow up and live in, it is hard for most of us to believe that there is any other way to live.
The tantra master, however, says that there is an alternative - the only alternative. In fact, it is the only way to live, as happiness comes from the simple things in life. The art of tantra, which originated in India for the purpose of expanding human consciousness and foster ecstatic states of bliss and peace, dates back to eternity. It is the encapsulation of all ancient wisdom, and it says that the quest for plenty is a folly… a farce, and a caricaturing of what life was meant to be.
Tantra is a spiritual lifestyle grounded in simple practices that return us to our natural state of inner freedom and divine love. There are many different levels within tantra, offering different principles of awareness and practice. A proper, dedicated study of ancient tantra under the guidance of a qualified tantra teacher will empower you with the right means and methods of enjoying a satisfying sensual life. This, in turn, will allow you to be well and truly happy.
Tantra is not a religion, but a way of life. The good life. Tantra shows us the right path to peace of mind, and to true happiness.
