Tantra Illuminated with Dr. Christopher Wallis What is Tantra, Really? Setting the Record Straight
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Jan 28, 2024 Exploring the differences between classical Tantra and Neo Tantra, the origins and spread of Tantra, reviving the Tantric tradition, and the essence of Tantra's world embracing nature.
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Modern Attendees Would Be Surprised By Authentic Tantra
- Wallis imagines teleporting a Neo Tantra workshop attendee into an authentic Tantric teaching to show how shocked they'd be.
- He stresses authentic Tantric ceremonies are rare and mostly private in modern India.
Book Claimed Classical Roots But Had None
- Wallis recounts reading a Tantric sex book that claimed roots in classical texts but contained none of those practices.
- He uses this example to show widespread confusion and false claims about classical Tantra.
Tantra In The West Is Largely Misused
- The modern Western use of 'tantra' mostly refers to Neo Tantra focused on sexuality, not classical Tantra.
- Classical Tantra is a distinct Indian spiritual tradition documented in Sanskrit Tantras with very different aims and practices.