How Tantra Is A Spiritual Tradition

With so many religions and the world getting smaller every day, intricacies of a religion can easily be lost and with the taboo of discussing religion and politics in public, often times, these religions only come up when they are under fire. This holds true for Islam more than any other. To the outsider, Muslim traditions can seem strange, such as the call to prayer, but to the billion practitioners worldwide, it’s an invitation to accept Allah as God and Muhammad as his messenger (Prayer). Other, mainly Eastern religions, lose some of their potency in translation to the West. Practices like yoga in the Western world are mainly seen as exercise and a way to unwind but to religious practitioners, yoga literally means “to yoke” life, divinity and reality. The contemplative nature of the practice is lost on the West (Philosophical Hinduism).

While art does have its advantages, it will not solve everyone’s problems. It is true that not everyone enjoys the thrill of creating a beautiful masterpiece because they might have been forced to take that class. However, those who love these classes show that there is a relationship between creativity and

There is a time in all religious experiences that people look for spiritual growth by reflecting on the basics of life. An estimated 376 million people are considered to believe and follow Buddhist practices, the question of the four elements (sight’s), aging people, the sick, funerals processions and religion. These elements that Siddhartha Gautama saw, that led to him to seek religious enlightenment, and to give up his privileged life. These four elements come up in every religious walk at some point. Reflection on these elements can have astonishing effects in someone’s life. By looking at these elements, and by showing the effect they had on Siddhartha Gautama’s life, will show that anyone could grow in their spiritual belief by reflecting

Buddhism is the fourth largest religion on earth and is composed of three major traditions today; Theravada, Mahayana and Tibetan Buddhism (“Lecture 5”). The founder of Buddhism, known as Buddha, was a royal prince named Siddhartha Guatama from Northern India. Siddhartha’s father kept him closely confined inside of a large palace, with the intention of preventing him from taking up a religious life, so that he too would one day become a great king. However, one day while Siddhartha was outside of the palace, he observed four sights that would change his destiny forever. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the four sights experienced by Siddhartha Guatama, their significance and examine why they led him to seek religious

These are two empowering aspects but seem to be dwarfed due to the tantric form of Majusri. I did not even notice the sword or sutra in his hands because I was distracted by his face. This kind of outsider thinking expresses the detrimental nature of looking at one characteristic of religion in detail and ignoring the rest of it. Without looking at the full picture, you will only receive half of what it truly represents. This is where the comparative method seems to excel over the reductive method do to its ability to have initial sympathy towards a religion.

Robin Goharchin Professor Hamma English 102 1 October 2014 The Devastated Angel Siddhartha Gautama or Buddha said, “Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life.” This analogy demonstrates the power of religion to bring light where there is none. To believe in a higher power is an essential part life to many people. Although spiritual life may not mean anything to some, most of the world considers it to be the necessary guideline to life.

The mandala and sunyata are codependent, as the mandala allows one to fully comprehend sunyata. However, in order to understand sunyata, one must first acknowledge and comprehend the Theravada Buddhist teachings. Teachings, such a dependent variation, the no self, and even impermanence, are also intertwined with both each other, the sunyata, and the mandala. Therefore, while both sunyata and the Theravada Buddhist teachings may be taught through the mandala, these teachings are crucial in demonstrating the sunyata.

Experience is a key element of being creative. More so experience of life, rather than experience of arts or creating. The subject position of a creator can arguably be constructed through life experience. Elements such as culture, religion, relationships, etc. can alter one’s view of the world and their approach to creativity. For example, my own experiences with mental health and emotional abuse have allowed the creation of art that I may never have considered prior to these events. The photography Beethy uses her anxiety and depression to feed her artwork and inspire ideas. The piece ‘anxiety’ connotes her experience; ‘The creative process helps. The idea of the image is something that's been twisting and turning in my subconscious for a while.’ Therefore, significant life events and experiences allow creative abilities.

Huston Smith, explores, the various processes in which man could transcend the austere and lucid form of being to a more enlightened one. Smith, explores this notion, in the context of religion, and mainly the various religious traditions and practices that attempt to enlighten and save one's soul from the allencompasing, worldly, goods and desires. Smith’s arguments, tremendously, revolve around the notion of ‘transcendence’ and the important role of religion in facilitating the enlightenment of the mind and soul. This notion of transcendence is evident in almost all religions (however, mainly South Asian) i.e. Hinduism (Moksha) and Buddhism (Nirvana) these form of transcendence do not only differ in terms of the linguistically, but most importantly, in the ways at which they can be achieved. I believe that Hinduism does in fact facilitated the move from imperfection to perfection, however I would like to emphasises the notion that various other forms religion may play a similar role in transforming one's soul for the better. Therefore, in this paper I will explore the inevitable and vital role of religion (hinduism) in transforming one's soul, whilst simultaneously providing that basis to other

'They tie you by your thumbs, one arm over the shoulder, the other pulled around the front of the body. Or they stretch out your legs and tie your middle fingers to your big toes-' He showed me. A skinny old man in Tantric poses, he looked faintly preposterous. During the auto he flinched, then, a smile springing to his face, asked me to help him...”

* How does the ritual seek to change the participants? –Protect them from future sufferings, provides more insight into meditation

Hinduism and Buddhism affect one another from numerous points of view. The Buddhist idea of preservation and love toward every single living thing found it’s begins in India, while Mahayana Buddhism took its customs from Indian practices for reverential love. Buddhism also had a hand in influencing the development of the art and architecture of the Hindu religion and also contributed to the art of mediation and higher conditions of awareness. Yet the Hindu tantra impacted the inception and advancement of Vajrayana Buddhism.

Fisher, M.P. (2005).Hinduism, 3, 69-115, Retrieved March 6, 2007, from the University of Phoenix Web site: https://axiaecampus.phoenix.edu [Online course

Before we can understand what expressive art therapy is, however, an understanding of terms, like imagination and creativity, is necessary. There is a lack of consensus about how imagination and creativity are defined and who is capable of it. In therapeutic contexts, the essence of imagination is the substance of dreams. Dreams, however, are not just images. In dreams, sounds, rhythms, acts, etc. can be perceived in a sensory or experiential way (Levine & Levine, 2004). Creativity springs from imagination and is understood in terms of its qualities and characteristics: spontaneity, playfulness, motivation, originality, self-expression, inventiveness, divergent thinking, and intuition. Creativity pushes limits, breaks down barriers, and

There are many religions that share various common beliefs and philosophies. On the contrary, there are other religions that are on the opposite side of the spectrum, all with their own distinct beliefs aside from the majority. As religion is considered a controversial topic, Tantrism is among one of the most eccentric religions. It is considered an interesting religion due to the fact that sexual experiences play large roles in the process of redemption for its followers.