Dawn 7
New Delhi

The day was Tantra. But first of all what is it that you feel when you read this word?
Does it evoke complexity? Mixed emotions? Were you uncomfortable? Does the sound of it makes you uneasy? You should tell me.

I have grown knowing Tantra in two forms that came from two masters. The first one was an elderly, who poured his grace for weeks in me for all the time I could spend in his space. He talked in Sanskrit and Hindi. And he introduced me to the simpler, most basic and foundational form of Tantra. Probably because he must have grown infinitely from within simplifying aspects of life by himself.

One morning as we sat facing each other after the concluding homa, the sacred fire. He said tan is body and tra is rhythm. It is only a practise of rhythm of the body. And thus he simplified mantra and yantra. The other two forms of body sciences were prevalent since the Vedic times specific to a few tribes but were not known by this name. Mantra being rhythm of the mind and Yantra being rhythm of the tool of that particular deity. We all have our own yantras. The sanatana temples were primarily were used as a tool between body and the absolute created to awaken or heighten the awareness of the body, mind and spirit in relation to the stars and constellations. Like body is a tool for the mind.

My second master was young and came from south. More than a master he was a friend and never expected any greetings or usual Indian norms of respect. He once said that tantra to expand and to liberate yourself to be formless.

There are such aspects of Tantra that I must take up to share with you but I shall spare a different elaborated post for it. I am sure you will not only like it but also connect with it.

Seeing children at school today was an exhilarating experience. Seeing their energy, was motivating. But as one grows, Innocence takes a toll and as life progresses eventually it gets lost in the race of competitions and expectations. Hearing all the ideas and dreams that a child sees in the future for his country above all was exhilarating. I spoke with them about the meaning of freedom. Not in the literal sense because it does not matter in that way anymore. Because Freedom is also personal and only if you find your individual self free from negative thoughts and likewise, then only you can feel the essence of true freedom.

Freedom to question and freedom to just be is slowly becoming a fight. In an extremely free world, we have closed ourselves as much. Freedom means different to different age groups, phases in people’s lives or in an organisation. It is known that who has grown has been because his ability to adapt to different situations. Increased adaptability gIves insight and gradually foresight. Hearing teachers and students was a warming experience. These kind of debates change and challenge children, to widen their periphery of perception. These kind of days prepare them and make them strong.

But coming back to tantra before I sign off. Breaths need to deepen. The use of dairy and dairy products need to be shunned unless you know the animal from which it is coming from. Dhyana or an increased meditation time should become a priority. Bathe with cold water and sit. Open your eyes, inwards.

Shubham Mangalam