What is Tantra?

The following is the foreword from Tanja's book "Beyond Sex: Tantra"

What is Tantra?

My definition of the concept of Tantra is, quite simply:

"Tantra is the ultimate love affair with yourself and all of your existence. In the process of igniting your internal flame, you come to experience all ordinary moments as extraordinary experiences. Immersed in that experience, you realize that you embody the divine, there is nothing else to need or want but that moment."

Tantra, however, is anything but simple. It is a spiritual practice as well as a scientific one.

Tantra explains that it is possible to reach a spiritual path while engaging the world around us. No need to sit in a cave somewhere. Tantra is for the householders of society. Tantra is for people who have to work, and choose to have families and active lives. I daresay the old masters didn’t know quite how active we were going to be today moving at Mach-1 with our cell phones in our ears.

I created Modern Tantra ™ to bring a relevant educational system to those of us who need and desire to be awakened from our apathetic slumber, and to embrace a conscious way of living.

Tantrikas, those who have studied Tantra, maintain that suffering isn’t caused by lacking some understanding of the divine. Suffering is caused by lacking knowledge of how the world functions. Until one can understand the subtle forces of the working world, one can not hope to
regulate them and thereby regulate our internal environment.

Tantra consists of highly organized study in various disciplines, or Tantric formulas if you will, and the purification of mind and heart. It is the weaving of the ethereal and the physical together.

Most people today are not going to learn the classical art form of Tantra. We are neither committed enough nor will we make the time. We can however use some of the philosophies and exercises to create more Tantric moments. Creating Tantric moments will make the difference between simply existing in a dreary experience or living and loving your life to its fullest capacity.

By learning Tantric philosophies we are able to take delight in our senses. We are being present and focused in what we are able to "feel" physically as a way to celebrate our existence. It is the mastery of living in the now, fully embracing each moment with all that you are, using the spontaneity of non-thinking, simply experiencing.

Tantra has been around for 6000 or more years. The literature is so vast, with the majority written in Sanskrit, it would be impossible to study even a small part in one's lifetime. It is a widely misunderstood and misinterpreted art form. Although it is all encompassing, it has a particular systematic approach.

The complete rituals in Tantric text are never fully disclosed; therefore in the pursuit of learning Tantra one must find an adept or master. Rituals and studies are passed from master to student as they have been for centuries.


As a science, as well as an artistic discipline, Tantra increases the speed of evolution in the practitioner throughout their lifetime, ever expanding their knowledge and experiences.

The practitioner is always a student and revels in the magic that presents itself daily. The goal is to activate the Shakti, the power of the divine force within, or power of the soul. Without access to Shakti, true spiritual illumination is not possible.

Tantra was, long ago, divided into 3 schools for a more systematic approach to learning. The school of Kaula (divided into a right and left-handed path) is the one that uses material objects, the senses and the body.

This path enabled everyday household members to experience the divine by using everyday life, and all that lives within as a form of spiritual development. Amongst the 64 art forms were dancing, cooking, flower arranging and the art form of union. Sexual union is the art that most of us are interested in today.

This can in fact be so unbalanced that Tantra in many places has become synonymous with sex work, erotic massage, orgies, polyamory and a host of other things that just aren’t it. “Tantra teachers” are popping up by the dozen and telling people they need to take their clothes off or engage in sexual activity and this stands to counter the base ideas of Tantra. Neo Tantra as it's called deals mainly with the using Tantric, Kama Sutra and Taoist techniques to enhance sexual feeling.

Though Tantra does address the subject of sexuality for spiritual growth, less that 3 percent of the literature is relegated to that subject.

It's believed in classic Tantra that if two people cultivate and practice the art of Tantric union (intentfull sexual intercourse) that their combined energies would form a pathway to the divine. Their joy and bliss would fill their household with love, and that, in turn, would make their children happy and flow over into the whole community. Everyone would benefit from this practice of conscious loving.

Tantric union enables healing to take place as well by using the powerful energy of creation to blast through ego, fear, and illusions. Tantric union is not a path to sexual indulgence or self-gratification, and like with anything in life, due diligence must be followed if looking for a teacher to train with.

Tantric union isn't just a matter of techniques. If that's all it took, everyone would be Tantric masters at loving. There are enough books on sexual technique to keep you reading for a lifetime. It takes a spiritual relationship with oneself first, in order to create that path with another. A spiritual relationship makes sexual union a magical space, not the other way around.

Learning to be conscious of our sexual energy can enhance not only our lovemaking, but also our entire lives. Sexual energy is the most powerful force that we have; when harnessed it can be used for more creativity and life enjoyment.

We teach 5 levels to Life Mastery in the Modern Tantra ™ Program. Tantra of Awareness, Tantra of Self, Tantra of Relations, Tantra of Business and Tantra of Life Mastery. Modern Tantra ™, is a practice we can embrace today, in the lives we are living. Embraced and lived in our lives filled with technology, complications,conveniences, at our crazy pace, and in our new family structures.

I know my life is an amazing journey that continues to evolve beyond what I could ever have imagined as I continue my spiritual journey with Tantra. There are few limits when you have the tools to unleash the power of the universe within and out.

I welcome you to educate yourself and become conscious about an art form that you can practice on your own or with a partner. I assure you, this journey will change your life.