2.7 What is meant by references to "Western, non-religious tantra yoga"?
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This article is from the Magick Tantra FAQ, by Tyagi Nagasiva nagasiva@luckymojo.com, Catherine Yronwode cat@luckymojo.com with numerous contributions by others.
2.7 What is meant by references to "Western, non-religious tantra yoga"?
"Western, non-religious tantra yoga" is an oxymoron. Tantra
yoga is always Asian in origin and always religious in nature.
The term "Western, non-religious tantra yoga" may be naively
applied to the syncretic Western form of sex-mysticism that
is more properly called neo-tantra (see above), but since
even the most heterodox of neo-tantra teachers strive to
preserve and transmit truly mystical and spiritual insights,
clothed though they might be in New Age self-help paradigms,
they cannot really be said to be "non-religious."
Very often the label "Western, non-religious tantra yoga"
is just a cover for what were previously called "swingers'
parties" or "promiscuity." As such, this term capitalizes on
the paltry education provided to modern adults regarding
sexuality in order to sell itself as a mystical tradition.
These posers call what they are doing "tantra" merely because
it involves sexuality. Spiritual and religious elements are
removed in favour of mostly sexual instruction. While there
is nothing wrong with instruction on the techniques of
sexuality, categorizing this as "tantra," "sex mysticism,"
or "karezza" robs these important references of their deeper
meanings.
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