Not All Tantra Is the Same! Three Key Differences Between Tibetan and New Age Tantra

One thing you should always keep in mind about Tantra is that not all forms of Tantra are the same. In fact, much of what is marketed today as Tantra has little to do with this ancient and sacred discipline.

The simplest way to describe Tantra is as a branch of Yoga. In Tibetan tantric practice, it is indeed regarded as the highest form of Yoga, and not everyone is ready to undertake this discipline.

There are three conditions that must be met in order to practice the traditional methods of Tantra.

They are:

Inclination, that is, a genuine desire to practice
Capability, that is, that you CAN apply the methods described
Sufficient time set aside for regular practice

There are several ways in which authentic Tibetan Tantra differs from other forms. Below I outline the distinctions between Tibetan Tantra and the Indian or Hindu traditions of Tantra that are most often presented in the West.

tantra differences

The first difference is evident in the mapping of the energetic system. Tibetan Tantra employs a completely different chakra model. It uses a five-chakra system, where the locations, colors, and associated elements differ entirely from those used in Hindu practice.
The second difference concerns the orientation of practice. The emphasis is not on balancing Shiva & Shakti energies, because the full focus is placed on the central channel where there is NO duality. The so-called masculine and feminine energies are naturally balanced through this approach to Tantra.
The third difference lies in the very term Tantra, which in the Tibetan tradition literally means to weave light and sound with form. Tibetan Tantra may be practiced in both sexual and non-sexual ways and serves a specific purpose, the healing of mind, body, and spirit. Better sex, more frequent orgasms, and deeper intimacy are natural outcomes of this practice.

If my memory does not fail me, many of the original Tantric teachings in India were destroyed during the Muslim occupation from the 13th to the 16th century.

According to Tibetan sources, many of these original Tantric practices were brought to Tibet.

There they were practiced and transmitted until China occupied Tibet, when the custodians of this knowledge fled to the West.

What do you think? Do you meet these three conditions for practicing Tantra?