Tantra is generally percieved by most in the
Western world as merely some
kinky sex thing the
East Indians came up with. A few of the slightly more
enlightened will tell you it has something to do with controlling or avoiding
orgasm. To those who've had the
pleasure of studying the
Kama Sutra and the Tantras, however, it can become almost an
obsession.
Western Tantra, or Neo-Tantra, is generally used in association with sacred sexuality. Original concepts have been blended with ideas from Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Wicca, Christian Gnosticism and more.
"Real Tantra", as it is known to the purists, is not only a vast field of study but also a very rigorous spiritual discipline. Students of Tantra seek altered states of consciousness, spiritual enlightenment, and inner peace through various rituals and processes, some of which are sexual in nature.
Basically, Tantra can be a religious experience, a field of study, a way of life, or a really fun part of your sex life. No matter how far you chose to persue it, however, it's definitely worth looking into.