Today, Tantra is often almost automatically associated with sexuality. Historically, however, this is an oversimplification.
What Role Did Sexuality Play?
Some Tantric traditions did include sexual symbolism and ritual practices. In certain contexts, these were connected with ideas such as transcending conventional social boundaries, uniting opposites, or engaging in a particular form of spiritual practice.
However, such elements were not at the center of Tantra as a whole.
Much of Tantric religious life was concerned with mantra, ritual, meditation, initiation, worship, and philosophy.
Why Did the West Focus So Strongly on the Sexual Side?
Unusual and taboo subjects naturally tend to attract more attention. During the twentieth century, the image of Tantra was further transformed by the influence of Neo-Tantra, psychology, relationship practices, and wellness culture.
As a result, the word Tantra became much more strongly associated with intimacy than it had been in most historical Tantric traditions.
Sexuality was part of certain forms of Tantra, but explaining Tantra as a whole primarily through sexuality is historically inaccurate.
In the next article: why the modern West transformed the image of Tantra so dramatically.