Tantric Meditation
Meditation has always been perceived as an activity of concentration. The purpose, however, may vary from one form of meditation to another.
Emptiness of Self
Understanding the basics of Tantric Meditation requires an examination of its cornerstone: self-emptiness. This Buddhist principle, simply put, asserts that we have no Ego or Self. That is, man’s fate, his selfhood, his potential, is not pre-determined, and must be worked at and constantly cultivated.
The first step towards Tantric Meditation involves realizing this self-emptiness. Recognizing this empowers man to create his own destiny and truly maximize his potential. Without a solid concept of self as a starting point, man becomes a malleable clay that can be shaped to his maximum potential.
How do I empty myself?
Meditation practitioners proceed with self-emptiness through mentally detaching themselves from all the physical, psychological, and emotional bonds to free themselves of things that provide a false sense of selfhood. Among these may include beliefs, expectations, attachments, mental processes, habits, instincts, memories, childhood traumas, and the like. As man evolves, there are certain symbols that define his identity at a specific stage. A prime example would be roles. Assigned roles evolve as man grows, and this tends to attach itself to a person’s identity.
The whole point of self-emptiness is not to make the practitioner feel worthless. The aim of this meditation is to liberate the person from constraints that may be preventing him and limiting him from achieving their real desires.
What is Tantra?
The principle of Tantra asserts that man will be able to realize his potential once he realizes that he is devoid of a fixed existence. If man understands that he has no fixed pre-determined path set out for him, then he is free to venture into the one that will maximize his true potential.
Tantric Meditation and visualizations
Tantric Meditation takes off once a person fully understands self-emptiness. Once man realizes that neither biological, evolutionary, nor social roles set his identity or path, he can use something else in his quest for self-realization. In Tantric Meditation, this is where the Buddha steps in.
In Tantric Meditation, one must envision himself as a Buddha, or as an Enlightened Being. In saying this, a person doesn’t actually imagine himself as a God or an invincible and omnipotent being. Instead, he visualizes himself as a person who has attained true enlightenment. This would involve envisioning the actual stages of undergoing the necessary steps to achieve his goal. This practice, also referred to as “bringing the result into the path”, is meant to hasten the process of “reaching Buddhahood” or the state of enlightenment.
Although the whole concept sounds rather philosophical, Tantric Meditation is best for people who wish to achieve enlightenment in their lives. As there are few online sources on the topic, those who are seriously considering this form of meditation should seek out experienced Buddhists before attempting to meditate this way on their own.
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Basics & Backgrounds
in Dutch
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