tantric

Tantric refers to traditions and practices within Hinduism and Buddhism that are grouped under the broader category of tantra. The term comes from Sanskrit, often rendered as weaving, framework, or expansion of consciousness. In historical contexts, tantric lineages claim to reveal methods for realizing the true nature of reality and transforming experience through disciplined practice, ritual, and the cultivation of subtle energies.

In Hinduism, tantra encompasses diverse lineages, often associated with Shaiva and Shakta movements and other sects. Core features include the guru–disciple relationship, initiation, and the use of ritual technologies such as mantras, mudras (hand gestures), yantras (geometric diagrams), and deity yoga. Practices may involve meditation on a deity, ritual offerings, breath control, and engagement with the subtle body, including concepts like kundalini energy and chakras, with the aim of spiritual liberation or attaining specific siddhis within a traditional framework.

In Buddhism, tantric or Vajrayana paths developed in India and spread to Tibet, Nepal, and East Asia. They emphasize rapid cultivation of realization through visualization-based practices, guru yoga, deity yoga, and the use of mandalas, mantras, and ritual instruments. The goal is enlightenment through transforming ordinary experience into sacred insight, guided by tantric vows and lineages.

Misconceptions about tantra often center on sexuality, but sexual rites are only a minority in certain lineages and are not universally practiced. Historically, tantra is an esoteric tradition that also emphasizes ethics, discipline, and ritual context. In modern times, tantric ideas have influenced various spiritual movements and yoga, sometimes detached from its historical and doctrinal settings.