by Murray Kilpatrick 
“What is Tantra?”
No matter how many times someone tries to explain this benign tradition which originates from the Indian subcontinent, it seemingly has to be repeated over and over again in countless articles, books, Youtube videos, and other forms of media.
For this very reason, Tantra can be considered the ‘Kwanzaa‘ of Asia. Most people have heard of these spiritual practices in one form or another — but the basic knowledge always seems to struggle to be permanently ingrained in peoples minds.
While the Wikipedia entry of Tantra does have a considerable amount of information on display, I have found the gist of it quite overwhelming and confusing — with no real expectation a casual reader can recall more than just a sprinkling of facts just one day into the future.
No wonder so many people have to keep asking what Tantra is, year after year!
This article will try and keep things very straightforward, while addressing both its literal and figurative meanings.
Tantra – The Literal Meaning And Definition
Tantra is a Sanskrit language term which quite literally means “loom, warp, weave“. In a more complete sentence structure, this can be interpreted as “interweaving of traditions and teachings as threads”.
(Doesn’t sound like it has much to do with sex now does it?)
This can also be more simply defined — without the implication it has anything to do with fabric — as “set of doctrines or practices”. It is essentially a set way of doing things, based upon a unique culture in India which thrived several thousand years ago.
That brings us to a very important question. How did this word wind up being so esoteric, and open to such widely varying interpretations?
