Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the reflexive, "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness. Meditation often involves turning attention to a single point of reference. It is recognized as a component of many religions, and has been practiced since antiquity. It is also practiced outside religious traditions.
Different meditative disciplines encompass a wide range of spiritual and/or psychophysical practices which may emphasize different goals—from achievement of a higher state of consciousness, to greater focus, creativity or self-awareness, or simply a more relaxed and peaceful frame of mind.
For the purposes of the Tantric Meditator, we need a more specific definition. Susan Helene Kramer simply defined Tantric Meditation as the "balance of the vibrant male and female energy." When the complimentary energies are balanced within the individual we become whole and complete. The idea that we must find another person to ever be "complete" can become an obsession and clearly a block to inner development.
The-tantra-guide.com defines Tantra as "the way into spiritual freedom and love. Tantra is a path you follow. It will bring you closer to yourself and the world. The spiritual art of love...of connecting spirit and soul. It is experiencing love through the beauty of the earth and all existence. It is about acceptance, rather than denial. It also embraces compassion...about truth with unconditional love. By tantra you will have more pleasure in life and all it's aspects. In the growth process you detect love in yourself and in your heart. Read more
Tantra purifies your heart so that the rest of the world and the divine in yourself can be experienced, you can feel one with everything around you."
When no opposition exists between you and the reality, you understand that you are part of it--that it s a whole. The path of Tantra brings you to understand and accept yourself as you really are and that you are "one" with all that is.
What's written here is meant to be a very simplistic definition of Tantra and Tantra Meditation. As the student learns more, she or he can experience a mystical sexual union where both parties engaged in the act become one soul. By making the pleasure of your partner of paramount importance, and minimizing the importance of oneself, both are consumed in the infinite Joy and Pleasure the experience will bring. Many practitioners of Tantra employ yoga asanas and pranayama to move balanced energy through all the chakras from the base of the spine through the genitals, the wiil center at the belly button, the heart center, the throat center, the ajna center between the eyes, a center in the middle of the head where the pineal gland is located and the crown chakra at the center of the top of the heard. A technique known as Kundalini yoga is used in the process and it said to bring complete enlightenment
No matter what form of meditation is employed, they all have a common factor if they are to be effective. In all cases, the little self within that thinks it's real and never ceases to chatter to itself before meditation is commenced must come to exist in a state of silence--not reaction--in the now.
And because it is motivated primarily by fear and desire it always is in a state of remembering the past in order to manipulate the future and, as a result, it's natural state is to be constantly reacting in the moment of the NOW--it reacts right through the present instant of the NOW which is where all Truth has Eternally resided. Only illusions exist in the past and the future.
When the ego becomes silent, anything becomes possible for only in that silence dies real freedom and peace dwell. It is only from that void within that one can discover what lies beyond the false self. In Tantra, as in every form of meditatitn, the small self, the ego must come to be silent-stop it's incessant chatter before any real work can begin
Buddha was once asked: "What is the difference between an enlightened being and an ordinary person lost in Samsara, the illusory world filled with pain and suffering in our sphere of pain on this planet called Earth. Buddha replied: "Just one thing! Perseverance!
Another story originally told by the Buddha but repeated often by my first teacher, Jiddu Krishnamurti put deep meditation in this rather jocular context:
"Three monks had been sitting in deep meditation with silent minds for 5 straight years. One of the monks said one morning: 'It is the beginning of a beautiful day, isn't it?' Five more years passed and the second one said 'It is a fine day but we could use some rain.' Five years later the third monk said: 'Will you two stop chattering?"
