When people talk about meditation today, many imagine silence, calm breathing, and observing their thoughts. In Tantra, however, meditation could look very different.
What Did Tantric Meditation Involve?
Practices could include:
– repetition of mantras; – visualization of deities; – working with mandalas; – concentration on sacred symbols; – complex inner imagery; – breathing and yogic techniques.
The goal was not simply relaxation. Meditation could form part of a broader religious practice aimed at transforming perception, consciousness, and one’s understanding of the self.
In Buddhist Tantra, for example, deity visualization became an important practice in which the practitioner works with the image and qualities of a deity as part of a spiritual method.
Tantric meditation is not a single technique, but a broad range of practices that vary considerably depending on the specific tradition.
In the next article: Tantra and Yoga — are they the same thing?