Sahasara:

Sahasara - 7th Chakra, the crown center, located at the top of the head

(See also: Sahasara, Tantra, Tantra Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Sahodara:

Sahodara. Brother or sister.

(See also: Sahodara, Tantra, Tantra Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Sama:

Sama. Equipoise consciousness. A state in which all is viewed equally. Balance. The same. Equal.

(See also: Sama, Tantra, Tantra Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

TANTSU TANTRIC SHIATSU

Tantsu Tantric Shiatsu is a unique form of bodywork on land. It was invented by Harold Dull who also created Watsu, or water shiatsu. Tantsu brings Watsu’s in-water nurturing and power back onto land.

In a Tantsu session, the giver cradles the receiver with their whole body. No oil is used; the receiver lies fully clothed on the floor, while the giver kneels or stands beside the person.

Like shiatsu, Tantsu is based on point work and powerful stretches to release chi (life force) along the body’s meridians and in the energy centers, or chakras. Tantsu focuses on connecting the chakras and freeing the natural movement of energy along the spine.

 Learning to give a Tantsu session involves the giver in a process that leads to a deeper connection with others and with one’s own centers and flows of energy. (Definition taken from Dull’s book, Bodywork Tantra: On Land and in Water, Harbin Springs Publishing, 1987.)

(See also: TANTSU TANTRIC SHIATSU, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

Because of the wide range of groups covered by the term "tantra", it is hard to describe tantric practices definitively. The basic practice, the Hindu image-worship known as "puja" may include any of the elements below. Mantra and Yantra: As in all of Hindu and Buddhist yogas, mantras plays an important part in Tantra, not only for focusing the mind, often through the conduit of specific Hindu gods like Shiva, Ma Kali (mother Kali, another form of Shakti) and even Ganesh, the elephant-headed god of wisdom (refer to the Ganesha Upanishad). Similarly, puja will often i ...

See also:

Tantra, Tantra - History of Tantra, Tantra - Hindu tantra, Tantra - Tibetan tantra, Tantra - Japan's Shingon sect, Tantra - New Age tantra or Neo Tantra, Tantra - Tantric practices, Tantra - Tantra in the modern world, Tantra - Hindu tantra, Tantra - Buddhist tantra

Read more here: » Tantra: Encyclopedia II - Tantra - Tantric practices

More specifically, Tibetan Buddhism is a subset of Tantric Buddhism, also known as Vajrayana Buddhism for its common motif of the vajra, the diamond thunderbolt (known in Tibetan as the dorje). A surprising aspect of Tantric Buddhism is the common representation of wrathful deities, often depicted with angry faces, circles of flame, or with the skulls of the dead. These images represent the Protectors (Skt. dharmapala) and their fearsome bearing belies their true compassionate nature. Actually their wrath r ...

See also:

Tibetan art, Tibetan art - Greek influence brought by Alexander the Great, Tibetan art - Mahayana Buddhist influence, Tibetan art - Tantric Influence, Tibetan art - Bön Influence

Read more here: » Tibetan art: Encyclopedia II - Tibetan art - Tantric Influence

Tara as a focus for tantric deity yoga can be traced back to the time period of Padmasambhava. There is a Red Tara practice which was given by Padmasambhava to Yeshe Tsogyal. He asked that she hide it as a treasure. It was not until this century, that a great Nyingma Lama, Apong Terton rediscovered it. This Lama was reborn as His Holiness Sakya Trizin, present head of the Sakyapa sect. A monk who had known Apong Terton succeeded in retransmitting it to H.H. Sakya Trizin, and the same monk also gave it to Chagdud ...

See also:

Tara Buddhism, Tara Buddhism - Emergence of Tara as a Buddhist Deity, Tara Buddhism - Origin as a Buddhist Bodhisattva, Tara Buddhism - Tara as a Saviouress, Tara Buddhism - Tara as a Tantric Deity, Tara Buddhism - Sadhanas of Tara

Read more here: » Tara Buddhism: Encyclopedia II - Tara Buddhism - Tara as a Tantric Deity

Black Hat Tantric Buddhist Feng Shui (Black Hat Sect Feng Shui): Form of feng shui promoted by Nancy SantoPietro, a psychotherapist specializing in the psycho-spiritual healing process. SantoPietro has claimed that, when one's environment is aligned, one's chi can flow and all things are possible.

The Black Hat Sect is an esoteric school of feng shui that emphasizes YI: the powerful use of blessings.

(See also: Black Hat Tantric Buddhist Feng Shui, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

The situation takes on a different complexion in Mahayana and Tantric Buddhism. Here one encounters the notion of the Buddhas as kinds of cosmic wizards or magicians, as the creators of, and rulers over, “Buddha fields” (Buddha Paradises – whole world systems of spiritual exaltation and instruction). Although there are countless Buddhas, their essence is one - that of "Tathata" ("suchness" or "that-ness") - , and it is in this sense that the Buddha proclaims himself as "Tathagata" and ...

See also:

God in Buddhism, God in Buddhism - The God Idea in Early Buddhism, God in Buddhism - Mahayana and Tantric Mystical Doctrines, God in Buddhism - Literature

Read more here: » God in Buddhism: Encyclopedia II - God in Buddhism - Mahayana and Tantric Mystical Doctrines

Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rimpoche, is usually credited with bringing Tantric Buddhism to Bhutan, but two rare sites representing an earlier influence predate him. Kyichu in Paro and Jambey in Bumthang where built in 659 AD, a century or so ahead before Guru Rimpoche's arrival, by the quasi-legendary King of Tibet Songtsen Gampo. In the 8th century the Indian Guru Padmasambhava arrived in Bhutan, bringing Tantric Buddhism (which would evolve into Tibetan Buddhism over the next 400 years). He establishing a number of temples and monasteries, including the famous Taktshang monastery built high on a ...

See also:

History of Bhutan, History of Bhutan - Prehistory, History of Bhutan - Arrival of Tantric Buddhism, History of Bhutan - Bhutan emerges as a country, History of Bhutan - Treaties with Britain, History of Bhutan - Civil wars, History of Bhutan - Establishment of the monarchy, History of Bhutan - End of absolute rule, History of Bhutan - Emergence from isolation, History of Bhutan - Draft of the Constitution distributed March 2005, History of Bhutan - Current threats to stability, History of Bhutan - Assamese separatists, History of Bhutan - Ethnic Nepalese refugees, History of Bhutan - Bhutanese Communist Party BCP

Read more here: » History of Bhutan: Encyclopedia II - History of Bhutan - Arrival of Tantric Buddhism

Within Tibetan Buddhism Tara is regarded as a Bodhisattva of Compassion. She can be seen as the female aspect of Avalokitesvara, and in some origin stories she comes from his tears, but she has older antecedents as a Mother Goddess, before Avalokitesvara and the Bodhisattva ideal emerged. Tara is also known as a Saviouress, as a heavenly deity who hears the cries of beings experiencing misery in Samsara. And Tara is also a Tantric deity, whose practice is used by practitioners of Vajrayana to develop certain inner qualities and understand o ...

See also:

Tara Buddhism, Tara Buddhism - Emergence of Tara as a Buddhist Deity, Tara Buddhism - Origin as a Buddhist Bodhisattva, Tara Buddhism - Tara as a Saviouress, Tara Buddhism - Tara as a Tantric Deity, Tara Buddhism - Sadhanas of Tara

Read more here: » Tara Buddhism: Encyclopedia II - Tara Buddhism - Emergence of Tara as a Buddhist Deity

Tibetan Buddhist canon - Organisation of Tantric texts. Tibetan Buddhism typically divides the Tantras into four hierarchical categories, namely, Kriyayoga Charyayoga Yogatantra Anuttarayogatantra further divided into "mother", "father" and "non-dual" tantras. An alternate division is used by the Nyingma school: Three Outer Tantras: Kriyayoga Charyayoga Yogatantra Three Inner Tan ...

See also:

Tibetan Buddhist canon, Tibetan Buddhist canon - Exoteric tradition, Tibetan Buddhist canon - Important Indian scholars, Tibetan Buddhist canon - Five traditional topics of study, Tibetan Buddhist canon - Five treatises of Maitreya, Tibetan Buddhist canon - Esoteric tradition, Tibetan Buddhist canon - Organisation of Tantric texts

Read more here: » Tibetan Buddhist canon: Encyclopedia II - Tibetan Buddhist canon - Esoteric tradition

Tara also embodies many of the qualities of feminine principle. She is known as the Mother of Mercy and Compassion. She is the source, the female aspect of the universe, which gives birth to warmth, compassion and relief from bad karma as experienced by ordinary beings in cyclic existence. She engenders, nourishes, smiles at the vitality of creation, and has sympathy for all beings as a mother does for her children. As Green Tara she offers succor and protection from all the unfortunate circumstances one can encounter within the samsaric wor ...

See also:

Tara Buddhism, Tara Buddhism - Emergence of Tara as a Buddhist Deity, Tara Buddhism - Origin as a Buddhist Bodhisattva, Tara Buddhism - Tara as a Saviouress, Tara Buddhism - Tara as a Tantric Deity, Tara Buddhism - Sadhanas of Tara

Read more here: » Tara Buddhism: Encyclopedia II - Tara Buddhism - Tara as a Saviouress

The earliest known mention of chakras is found in the later Upanishads, including specifically the Brahma Upanishad and the Yogatattva Upanishad. These vedic models were adapted in Tibetan Buddhism as Vajrayana theory, and in the Tantric Shakta theory of chakras. It is the shakta theory of 7 main chakras that most people in the West adhere to, either knowingly or unknowingly, largely thanks to a translation of two indian texts, the Sat-Cakra-Nirupana, and the Padaka-Pancaka, by Sir John Woodroffe, alias Arthur Av ...

See also:

Chakra, Chakra - Introduction, Chakra - The Seven Basic Chakras, Chakra - Origins and Development, Chakra - Chakras and the endocrine system, Chakra - Various models, Chakra - The Tantric Chakras, Chakra - Hesychastic centres of prayer, Chakra - Scientific basis, Chakra - References in Fiction, Chakra - Reference Material and Books

Read more here: » Chakra: Encyclopedia II - Chakra - Origins and Development

In Hinduism and its spiritual systems of yoga and in some related eastern cultures, as well as in some segments of the New Age movement -- and to some degree the distinctly different New Thought movement -- a chakra is thought to be an energy node in the human body. The word comes from the Sanskrit cakra चक्र meaning "wheel, circle", and sometimes also referring to the "wheel of life". The pronunciation of this word can be approximated in English by chuhkruh, with ch as in chart and both instances of a as in yoga (the commonly found pronunciatio ...

See also:

Chakra, Chakra - Introduction, Chakra - The Seven Basic Chakras, Chakra - Origins and Development, Chakra - Chakras and the endocrine system, Chakra - Various models, Chakra - The Tantric Chakras, Chakra - Hesychastic centres of prayer, Chakra - Scientific basis, Chakra - References in Fiction, Chakra - Reference Material and Books

Read more here: » Chakra: Encyclopedia II - Chakra - Introduction

In Tibetan Buddhism tantra (also known as Vajrayana) plays a central role, and is universally acknowledged as constituting the highest teachings of that religion. Tibetan lineages disagree as to whether tantric practice ought to be reserved for senior monks (which policy distinguishes the Gelugpa), or extended to laypeople and junior clergy (as in the other monastic lineages, notably the Nyingmapa). The suggested motivation for practicing tantra is no different from that of Mahayana Buddhism in general--the bodhisattva ideal, in which the pr ...

See also:

Tantra, Tantra - History of Tantra, Tantra - Hindu tantra, Tantra - Tibetan tantra, Tantra - Japan's Shingon sect, Tantra - New Age tantra or Neo Tantra, Tantra - Tantric practices, Tantra - Tantra in the modern world, Tantra - Hindu tantra, Tantra - Buddhist tantra

Read more here: » Tantra: Encyclopedia II - Tantra - Tibetan tantra

Sadhanas in which Tara is the Yidam can be extensive or quite brief. Most all of them include some introductory praises or homages to invoke her presence. Then her mantra is recited, followed by a visualization of her, perhaps more mantra, then the visualization is dissolved, followed by a dedication of the merit from doing the practice. Additionally there may be extra prayers of aspirations, of refuge, and a long life prayer for the Lama who originated the practice. Many of the Tara sadhanas are seen as beginning practices within the world ...

See also:

Tara Buddhism, Tara Buddhism - Emergence of Tara as a Buddhist Deity, Tara Buddhism - Origin as a Buddhist Bodhisattva, Tara Buddhism - Tara as a Saviouress, Tara Buddhism - Tara as a Tantric Deity, Tara Buddhism - Sadhanas of Tara

Read more here: » Tara Buddhism: Encyclopedia II - Tara Buddhism - Sadhanas of Tara

Nyingma - Tantric System. The structure of tantric teachings of Nyingma is significant aside from the terma-tradition. Nyingma-Schools decide 6 levels of tantric teachings; in other schools, 4 levels are common. Outer Tantra Kriya Carya or Ubhaya Yogatantra Inner Tantra Mahayoga Anuyog ...

See also:

Nyingma, Nyingma - History, Nyingma - Origins, Nyingma - 25 disciples, Nyingma - Early Period, Nyingma - Modern Developments, Nyingma - Features of the Nyingma Lineage, Nyingma - Tantric System, Nyingma - Termas and Tertons, Nyingma - Various Traditions and Important Historical Figures, Nyingma - Longchenpa 1308-1363, Nyingma - Jigme Lingpa 1730-1798 and the Longchen Nyingthig, Nyingma - The Rinchen Terdzod, Nyingma - Mipham Jamyang Gyatso 1846–1912, Nyingma - Six Mother Monasteries, Nyingma - The Nyingma Lineage Today, Nyingma - Contemporary Nyingma Teachers, Nyingma - Links, Nyingma - Literature

Read more here: » Nyingma: Encyclopedia II - Nyingma - Features of the Nyingma Lineage

Tara has many stories told which explain her origin as a Buddhist Bodhisattva. One in particular has a lot of resonance for women interested in Buddhism and quite likely for those delving into early 21st century feminism. In this tale there is a young princess who lives in a different world system, millions of years in the past. Her name is Yeshe Dawa, which means "Moon of Primordial Awareness". For quite a number of aeons she makes offerings to the Buddha of that world system "Tonyo Drupa". She receives special instruction from him c ...

See also:

Tara Buddhism, Tara Buddhism - Emergence of Tara as a Buddhist Deity, Tara Buddhism - Origin as a Buddhist Bodhisattva, Tara Buddhism - Tara as a Saviouress, Tara Buddhism - Tara as a Tantric Deity, Tara Buddhism - Sadhanas of Tara

Read more here: » Tara Buddhism: Encyclopedia II - Tara Buddhism - Origin as a Buddhist Bodhisattva

Tantra exists in Vaisnava, Shaiva, and Shakta forms, among others. Extolled as a short-cut to self-realization and spiritual enlightenment by some, left-hand tantric rites are often rejected as dangerous by most orthodox Hindus. The popular perception of tantra among Hindus, for example as expressed in Indian journalism, makes it more or less synonymous with black magic. This sentiment has also influenced the s ...

See also:

Tantra, Tantra - History of Tantra, Tantra - Hindu tantra, Tantra - Tibetan tantra, Tantra - Japan's Shingon sect, Tantra - New Age tantra or Neo Tantra, Tantra - Tantric practices, Tantra - Tantra in the modern world, Tantra - Hindu tantra, Tantra - Buddhist tantra

Read more here: » Tantra: Encyclopedia II - Tantra - Hindu tantra

Chakrology is a neologism sometimes employed by Alternative Medicine practitioners or esoteric philosophers for the study of chakras. There are many different chakrologies, some of them based on ancient Indian Hindu Tantric esoteric traditions, New Age interpretations, or Western occult analyses, as well as ancient Greek and Christian references. Croatian esoteric philosopher and physicist Arvan Harvat notes that it would be very difficult to develop a unified coherent chakra science that would integrate all the elements of the various present chakrologies. See also:

Chakra, Chakra - Introduction, Chakra - The Seven Basic Chakras, Chakra - Origins and Development, Chakra - Chakras and the endocrine system, Chakra - Various models, Chakra - The Tantric Chakras, Chakra - Hesychastic centres of prayer, Chakra - Scientific basis, Chakra - References in Fiction, Chakra - Reference Material and Books

Read more here: » Chakra: Encyclopedia II - Chakra - Various models

The following table sets forth some of the concepts associated with each chakra: For a discussion on chakra petals see Petal (chakra) Additionally, there is a Transpersonal chakra above the crown chakra. There are also many minor chakras, for example between the major chakras. ...

See also:

Chakra, Chakra - Introduction, Chakra - The Seven Basic Chakras, Chakra - Origins and Development, Chakra - Chakras and the endocrine system, Chakra - Various models, Chakra - The Tantric Chakras, Chakra - Hesychastic centres of prayer, Chakra - Scientific basis, Chakra - References in Fiction, Chakra - Reference Material and Books

Read more here: » Chakra: Encyclopedia II - Chakra - The Seven Basic Chakras