RELG 356 Lecture : Nov 12 - Sakta-Tantra.doc

• School: McGill University
• Department: Religious Studies
• Course: RELG 356
• Professor: Davesh Soneji

Document Summary

From the root tan - to expand . Kind of mode, path that is meant to expand consciousness and ways of perceiving the universe and reality. Tantra as spiritual discipline, is therefore multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary. It necessarily is fabricated from number of extent disciplines/modes of knowing many types of tantric religious traditions: All forms recognize the fundamental connection between microcosm (body) and macrocosm (the universe, ultimate reality) Tantric traditions centered around understanding ultimate reality as devi/sakti. Most prevalent form of tantric religion in india, but also most commonly misunderstood and misrepresented. Many people in modern india could misrepresent tantra as simply black magic . Because of esoteric/obscure nature tantric religions are often misrep"d. Primarily sexualized, othered , sometimes seen as degenerate forms of religious thought and practice. While 19th ce. colonial/orientalist writers saw these traditions as antithetical to. Civilized western attitudes towards religion, today tantra is trendy precisely because it seems to embody these aspects.