With the accelerating interest in Tantra today, more people are becoming familiar with the term, but have no real feeling for what it refers to. Television shows such as "Sex in the City", movies such as "American Pie 2", and celebrities such as Sting are all contributing to a mainstreaming of the word. When asked, many people will probably reply that it has something to do with sex, or sex orgies, or promiscuous sex. If they have a little more familiarity with Tantra, they may respond with images of sex with very little movement or in meditation, probably devoid of excitement and passion. Many people also reply that they don't have a clue.

So, what is Tantra? First of all, a bit of history: Tantra's roots probably start about 2000 years ago in India or Tibet. It may be considered a form of Buddhist mysticism that emphasized contemplative stages of experience on the path to achieving Enlightenment rather than focusing on doctrines. Like many spiritual traditions, the mentoring relationship between student and teacher was considered an essential component, so that the student learned to control their mental and physical processes rather than be dominated by them.

The steps toward Enlightenment begin with initiation by the master. Through meditation and participation in the outer world, the student is directed to focus upon the transitoriness of life, the relation of cause and effect of one's actions, and the suffering of humankind, building sympathy through outward experience. After this sense of compassion is evoked in the student, they are given yogic or contemplative exercises that help to produce inner experiences that correspond to the stages of spiritual growth. Meditating upon and identifying with various deities who symbolize qualities that the student wishes to integrate within themselves furthers the process of connecting with the Divine within. Mantras (sounds), mudras (meditative gestures and postures), and yantras (visual symbols such as mandalas or representations of deities) may all be employed to assist in deepening the experience.

The culmination of this process includes several preparatory stages leading to the maithuna or sexual coupling. This act is considered to be different from ordinary mating in that the initiate has already realized the voidness of all things and can act without attachment. Whereas the ordinary sex act gives rise to only momentary pleasure, the maithuna is the symbol for the attainment of Enlightenment and eternal bliss.