What does Tantra really look like in practice? Whether its "right" hand path Tantra or the so-called "left" hand path, Tantra is essentially a form of Deity Yoga, that is, an ongoing practice of cultivating a deep, personal, devotional relationship to a Deity.

Importantly, the "deity" is a particular reading on the one, Absolute Reality. We call the deity an Ishta, the "Chosen Ideal." Since we are all of us unique, the way we are each of us going to understand the Absolute Reality, the way we will come to It and the way we will express It is necessarily going to be different & unique to us and our qualities, competency & proclivity.

As such, while Tantra is essentially deity yoga, it is also a tradition that maximally offers innumerable deities, paths, lineages, rituals & practices so that no one is excluded and that everyone, whatever they're individual spiritual tastes may be, can find a practice (i.e choose an ishta, a deity) that most resonates with them, most inspires them and is most able to spiritually nourish them!

We discuss how the Vijñāna-Bhairava Tantra and the various sahasranāma stotrams make a case for the illimitable and infinitely, maximally variegated nature of Reality, which the Tāntrik tradition tries to reflect by offering diverse deities, paths, lineages, rituals & practices all along the spectrum from "right" (orthodox) to "left" (transgressive).

Mainly, we contemplate how Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda & Swami Brahmananda reflect the above ideals in their lives and teachings as part of our Swami Brahmananda Jayanti celebration!

Jai Guru Maharajji Ki Jai!

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The Eternal Companion

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