SACRED KNOWLEDGE · SACRED TANTRA
Glossary of Tantra and Taoist Thought
A clear, referenced introduction to twelve frequently encountered religious, historical, and contemplative terms.
Tantra
Tantra refers to diverse Hindu and Buddhist ritual and contemplative traditions, not a single sexual technique.
Neo-Tantra
A contemporary reinterpretation often emphasizing embodiment, relationships and personal exploration.
Mandala
An image or spatial design with meanings that depend on its religious, artistic, and historical context.
Mantra
Sacred utterance or repeated sound used within particular religious traditions.
Tara
A significant female figure in Buddhist iconography and practice, associated with tradition-specific interpretations.
Yin and Yang
Relational and dynamic concepts in Chinese thought, not immutable biological labels for people.
Qi
A multivalent term in Chinese philosophy and cultural history; not one accepted biomedical substance.
Neidan
Inner-alchemical language and practices developed across diverse Daoist traditions.
Fangzhongshu
Historical Chinese arts of the bedchamber, interpreted in their textual and social context.
Cai yang bu yin
A historical formulation involving yin–yang vitality ideas; it is not established biomedical energy transfer.
Embodied awareness
A person’s attention to breathing, posture and bodily sensations without requiring a particular interpretation.
Consent
An ongoing, informed choice that can be withdrawn; not a one-time permission covering all activities.
Further reading
Oxford Research Encyclopedia: Tantra · Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Religious Daoism · WHO: Sexual Health