A spiritual and philosophical system in Hinduism and Buddhism that uses rituals, meditation, and symbolic practices to achieve enlightenment. In popular Western usage, it often refers to practices combining spirituality and sexuality.
From Sanskrit तन्त्र (tantra), meaning 'loom,' 'weave,' or 'system of principles.' The word literally refers to the warp of a loom, metaphorically representing the interconnected threads of spiritual practice. It entered English through scholarly translations of Hindu and Buddhist texts in the 19th century, though Western interpretations often focus on only one aspect of this complex tradition.
The original meaning of tantra as 'weaving' is perfect - it describes how practitioners weave together meditation, ritual, mantra, and daily life into one unified spiritual practice! Most Westerners only know about tantric sexuality, but that's just one small thread in a vast tapestry that includes everything from temple architecture to cooking as spiritual practice.
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