Tantra is a Sanskrit word meaning ´weave, fibre, chord, fabric, etc´  later translated to mean also ´teaching, system, theory, doctrine, authority, etc´. Tantra is a system of spiritual practice which explains how the universe is woven together, what parts were used and how they were threaded to compose the fabric of life. It is a spiritual science in explanation of the nature and structure of the universe from macrocosm through microcosm, which provides practical tools which unfold awareness, mastery and transcendence of nature. The science of the essential natural phenomena and their esoteric sound keysis ment by the word Tantra. Sound understood as being the essential nature of  phenomena.Tantra is a creative spiritual science.

In western folk psychology today however, Tantra has become a watch word for sexual gymnastics or something vague and whimsicale with no real importance or relevance. In the west we have been exposed to ´Neo-Tantra´ and ´Tantra massage´ and the sexual aspects of Tantra and through these modifications, which are often represented unclearly, we have our folk psychology idea of what Tantra is. But what is Tantra really?

Tantra, as used in context with Citi-Zen practices will be taken to mean ´a skilful method of transforming the fabric of desire, its stress and pain, into lasting joy and freedom´. 

Almost every culture, time and religion has had some progressive impulse which employed spiritual science. Since this is not an historical essay, lets take the Indian as an example to clarify Tantra. Beyond the above misperceptions there are three further classifications of Tantra possible; Black, Grey and White. Generally speaking Black Tantra are those practices which empower the seperative ego to become more powerful and hence can empower whatever latent negativity is there. Grey tantra are those practices which seek for unfoldment of light, but not exclusively and retain some lenience in the perception of spiritual and unspiritual momentums. White, or Spiritual Tantra are those practices which seek to unfold a spiritual awakening and embodiment of spiritual nature, love, truth, beauty, honour for all life, etc, through using morally decent spiritual science to transform the obstacles to such unfoldment. Black Tantra has a similar reputation in Asia, though for other reasons, as Neo-Tantra, etc, has in the west. Tantra is a large subject and our concern in theses pages will be on Violet Diamond Tantra.