Tantra is difficult to define simply as a religion, philosophy, or practice. In different historical periods and traditions, it could combine all three.
Tantra as Religion
Historical Tantric traditions developed within Hinduism and Buddhism. They included deities, rituals, sacred texts, initiation, and spiritual teachers.
For this reason, Tantra was not a separate world religion in the same sense as Christianity or Buddhism.
Tantra as Philosophy
Some Tantric schools developed sophisticated ideas about consciousness, the nature of reality, the human being, and spiritual liberation. Particularly elaborate philosophical systems emerged, for example, within the traditions of Kashmir Shaivism.
Tantra as Practice
Tantra also included a wide range of practical methods:
– mantra; – meditation; – visualization; – ritual; – yoga; – practices involving symbols and the body.
The most accurate answer, therefore, is:
Tantra is a diverse family of religious, philosophical, and practical traditions rather than any one of these things alone.
In the next article, we will explore what Tantra meant before the rise of modern wellness culture.