Matt has been practicing the Sri Vidya of the Kaulachara tradition, as handed down by Sri Amritanandanatha Saraswati of Devipuram, India. In 2010, Matt received diksa from Sri Amritananda and has since been given permission to teach this wonderful vidya.
What is Tantra?
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Tantra is liberation through expansion. This means that everything within our life is a part of our practice. We practice to liberate all of the 5 elements in our life to realize that earth and heaven are no different. All is the expression of God.
What is Sri Vidya?
Sri means auspicious. Vidya is knowledge. Sri Vidya is the auspicious knowledge, also meaning the knowledge of the Goddess, who is none other than the powerful creative expression of our existence itself.
Sri Vidya is a very powerful form of Goddess based tantra.
This particular lineage follows the Dattatreya sampradaya, a mixture of both the right and left handed paths. This means that both external and internal means are used in practice, understanding no ultimate difference between the two. There is no duality.
What are the practices of Tantra?
Parasurama Kalpa Sutras lists 5 traditional practices. These are:
1.Mantra : Mantra means “protector of the mind”. Sri Vidya has developed mantra science to a very deep level. The mantra work goes right to the heart of our being and is the sound form of the Goddess herself.
2.Yantra : Yantra is the form body of the Goddess, employed through powerful geometrical representations. The highest expression of this is the classical Sri Yantra. The human body itself is an expression of Sri Yantra. Yantras are worked with through the practices of puja (ritual meditation).
3.Homa : Homa is the classical fire ceremony, a very powerful practice.
4.Tarpana : Tarpana is a water ritual, performed to clear the karmas of our ancestors and the deepest layers of our conditioning.
5.Shanthi : Shanthi is the practice of generosity, most often classically expressed through the giving of food.
These 5 traditional practices form the basis for classical bhuta shuddhi or elemental purification. Each of the practices purifies one of the 5 elements and helps us to realize non-separation from God.
There are many other sub-practices which supplement these major tools.
How can I get involved and learn the tantra?
We have ongoing chanting of the Lalitha Sahasranama (1000 names of the Goddess) and five-element puja to Lalitha Tripurasundari every week day morning at 5 am (ish) and Saturdays at 7 am at Yoga Source. We have an ongoing tantra class at a private residence every Friday morning from 8 to 9:15 am. We also hold occasional pujas and homas that are open to interested participants. This work is also available to be learnt through private study with Matt. Please contact Matt at vasistha@hotmail.com for more information.