Two Paths to Authenticity

Many Tantric texts encourage practitioners to identify their “true self” or to be their “natural self”; in other words, to live authentically. But how exactly are we supposed to do this?

The non-dual Tantras teach that there is one single all-encompassing divinity and we are all manifestations of that divinity. An imperfect example would be an ocean - if the ocean is all of existence and we are each a drop in the ocean, then divinity is both the entire ocean and each drop in its entirety. Any perceived separation is merely an illusion.

This illusion of separation is made possible by our individual egos, or what the Tantras call the “false-I”. Whilst this is necessary for the divine to experience and observe itself, it is also a cause of suffering and conflict. When the Tantras speak of liberation it is a liberation from these internal and external conflicts - caused by an over indulgent “false-I” - of which they speak. The remedy then is to identify your “true-I”, your underlying divinity, and allow yourself to be guided by it.

Despite non-dual Tantra recognising a lack of separation - between God and the soul, or the spirit and the body - it still centres around certain Indic deities, in particular different forms of Shiva and Shakti. These deities are in fact themselves analogies for two aspects of the divine - consciousness and energy. But they can also be understood as two paths towards authenticity.

The Shiva path is one that focuses on developing an awareness of oneness, an experience of unity with a single underlying consciousness. The Vijnana Bhairava Tantra is a good example of an “instructional guide” along this path. It contains a variety of meditational and contemplative techniques designed to heighten awareness of your shared divinity. 

Many examples focus on taking ordinary experiences (such as those involving pleasure or pain) and looking beyond any involuntary or superficial responses toward the underlying observing consciousness that provides a constant witness to your individual experience.

In this conception the experiencer is the “false-I” and the observer is the “true-I”. Cultivating a sense of presence in each moment as an observing witness - rather than an experiencing agent - is therefore the path towards true authenticity.

However, following the Shiva path without also following the Shakti path is doomed to fail. In Tantra the all-encompassing divine is only accessible when these two aspects unite.

If the Shiva path is one of underlying consciousness, the Shakti path involves the cultivation of underlying, or subtle, energy. This is the path that involves awakening our subtle bodies, our kundalini-shakti and associated energy centres, or chakras.

Perhaps the archetypal subtle body guidebook is the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, which provides a compilation of subtle body techniques taken from a variety of Tantric texts. These are primarily sensual techniques that utilise the physical body to awaken our latent kundalini energy.

It is worth noting though, that both paths - the Shiva and the Shakti - require the purposeful deconstruction of the “false-I” as a prerequisite to successfully connecting with our “true-I”. This involves the removal of psychological and physical constructs, the scaffolding that is used to support the egotistical “false-I”. This de-construction practice includes various techniques that are essentially eco-tantric.

Both the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra and the Hatha Yoga Pradipika advise practitioners to remove themselves from mainstream society and to identify quiet secluded spots among nature for their practice. The Vijnana Bhairava Tantra espouses the use of natural phenomena as part of the recommended contemplative exercises, whilst the Hatha Yoga Pradipika advises practitioners to set themselves up in a sparsely decorated hermitage away from civilization. Clothing of course is another influential scaffold of the “false-I”, and so the removal of clothing whilst escaping to nature is a powerful technique that can enhance your practice; not only will this help practitioners to connect with their true self, but it will also help them to appreciate the ubiquitous presence of divinity and the beautiful serenity of the natural world.

Neither path is easy. And neither path will be successful in isolation. The true-I is well hidden beneath layers of egotistical narratives and social constructs that can be difficult to identify, let alone remove. But through practice we can learn to ground ourselves in the presence of each moment, free from the attachments of the past or ambitions for the future, and allow our true-I to express itself. Cultivating the Shakti path allows us to access our underlying power, imbuing us with self-assurance and a sense of innate fulfillment; whilst the Shiva path encourages us to remain humble, respectful and appreciative of our shared divinity, regardless of wherever we find ourselves and whoever we encounter. 

It takes time and practice, but the benefits of Eco-Tantra are huge - liberation from suffering, freedom from psychological oppression and interpersonal conflict. Ultimately, practicing Eco-Tantra in this way gives us the confidence to be our own version of God, without fear of judgement and self doubt. So why not give it a go? Start your journey now and see how far you can go!