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This passionate form ofintimacyis actually derived fromtantra, a centuries-old spiritual practice rooted in Hinduism.

a colorized closeup image of a person kissing another person’s neck during sex

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What is tantra?

This channel is said to only open on three occasions: When you’redreaming, dying, or orgasming.

So, what is tantric sex?

erotic stonecarved Kamasutra sculptures in temples of Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh India

In India’s Madhya Pradesh state, the famous Khajuraho temples boast a range of stunning art, including erotic stone-carved sculptures.

Well, tantric sex is basically theoppositeof that, and it focuses on sexual liberation for everyone involved.

“Equating tantra with sex positions is likeequating democracy with voting machines.”

What’s a tantric sex position, and what’s TikTok got to do with it?

Erotic stonecarved Kamasutra sculptures from the famous Khajuraho temple in India’s state of Madhya Pradesh

In India’s Madhya Pradesh state, the famous Khajuraho temples boast a range of stunning art, including erotic stone-carved sculptures.

“Equating tantra with sex positions would be like equating democracy with voting machines.

Useful, perhaps in expressing the meaning of the concept, but not equal to the concept.”

What does TikTok get wrong about tantra?

A young LGBT couple lying in bed together hugging and kissing

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“[It’s] basically mindfulness with your pants off,” she says.

How did this reduced take on tantra come about?

According to Yarian, Europeans in the 1700s and 1800s discovered the Eastern tradition when they arrived in India.

Gray adds that neotantra hit the mainstream in the United States in the20th centuryduring the 1960s counter-cultural movement.

“Western youngsters discovered [it] and went to India for pilgrimage,” he says.

How can I try tantra in aninformedway?

Think you’ve got the option to fuck your way to enlightenment?

“It’s easy to read and it makes no pretenses about enlightenment.”

“It is a little bit like ‘buyer beware,'” says Dr. Yarian.

“Tantra is about exploration while suspending the cultural norms.”

Whether that means a slow, passionate, hours-long affair a laTitanicor a steamyEyes Wide Shutscenario is your choice.