Spiritual Discovery: Yoga vs. Tantra - Aspects of Naad Yoga
Yoga
One question that might arise is if we are dealing with vibrations and sound based practices, why is this thought of as a Yoga? To answer this, let’s look at the fundamentals of Yoga.
Yoga comes from the root word “Yuj” which means union. The basic tenets of Yoga are Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi.
Yogic philosophy is generally centered around these main ideas:
The ultimate goal is to find union of one's energy with divine source energy and live in a state of oneness of conscious energy flow, or Samadhi
In order to achieve this, we will define our boundaries to create energetic containment by following certain yamas (don’t’s) and niyamas (do’s)
Transcend our physical body’s limitations and patterning through physical movement and breathing (Asana and Pranayama) to optimize the flow of consciousness or life energy (prana) so that our body is prepared for focus and meditation (dharana and dhyana) without interference from physical discomfort, desires, or cravings - actively turning our consciousness inward away from them (pratyahara)
In the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Patanjali mentioned that Samadhi has been achieved when one can hear the Anahata Naad of the universe - or the unstruck vibrational current that is the universal frequency. This is the very aim of any form of yoga. Naad Yoga aims to do the same, and is a complete system of practice using manifest sound vibration to guide us through understanding vibrations, into attunement with the universal frequency.
Yoga is also deeply connected to Vedic philosophy with earliest mentions of it in the Rig Veda. It is a structured philosophy according to Vedic principles. Naad Yoga is central to all Vedic practice as it is the very thing that must first be understood in order to be able to chant a mantra and invoke energy through vibration. Sound and vibration itself is seen as divine and sacred, and considered to be the origin of creation itself. Therefore it is respected as its own subject and has been given the name Naad Yoga.
When we say Naad Yoga, we are talking about a system designed to find union or connection of the body/breath/mind/spirit through vibration to the universal frequency. There is a great deal of physical practice and breathwork required to hold specific energy states so that one can transcend the physical discomfort, or cravings and distractions that arise while doing the practice to turn inward for focus and meditation. There are rules - do’s and don’t’s - for every Raaga to maintain a specific intended vibrational energy field. Raaga practices were developed specifically as sonic asanas following specific rules to generate and hold specific energy fields. These asanas break patterns of the mind, move us through stuck energies, and usher in the most optimal flow of life energy bringing the practitioner into a state of oneness with the universal consciousness. This leads us to attunement of the divine, and allows us to reach a state of Samadhi where the divine flows and expresses through our Naad.
As a general overview, these are the core reasons why Naad Yoga is called a Yoga.
Tantra
While Naad Yoga falls under the classification of Yoga, is considered a part of Tantra as well. To understand how this can be, let’s observe what Tantra is.
Tan = physical/body
Tra = comes from trayate = to transcend
Tantra is a practice that acknowledges firstly that we are physical beings in this material world. Instead of trying to renounce physicality or get it out of the way, turn inward away from the senses, and sacrifice physical desire, Tantra uses desire as energy in spiritual practice and considers the divine embedded in the physicality of the world to help us move to a state where we don’t live reactively to our physicality. Rather, we move to a state of living consciously, as aware beings within our bodies to transcend the binds of physicality.
A simple way to think of this is as a practice that helps us maintain conscious control over our bodies rather than being controlled by our bodily impulses. It helps us develop the ability to respond rather than react. We work with our desire such that the desire no longer is something we crave and thereby transcend it.
Tantric paths are organized by and centered around techniques. Any tantric path is centered around techniques that make up a practice. Often, these practices can be extremely powerful and give the practitioner great siddhis, or acquired skills along the way. A modern example of this could be Wim Hof’s breathing and cold plunge techniques. This is a physical set of practices that tangibly give the practitioner abilities over the body to help transcend its control and be more responsive rather than reactive. It is something that allows the practitioner connection to a deeper energy state. There is a specific method of practice, and must be taught from teacher to student. It could be argued therefore that this is a lineage of tantra.
Anyone who can develop a technique or set of techniques or practices that help us integrate our physicality and develop control over ourselves transcending physical limitation or binds to make way for deeper energetic connection to source can have their own lineage of tantra. This is why sometimes there are very varied paths of spiritual practice that have their own set of texts such as Agamas and Tantra Shastras. These sometimes are alternatives to Vedic paths, and are not all compatible with Vedic practices. Some even reject Vedic philosophy as a basis of thought instead outlining their own philosophical basis.
While Tantra can be a separate path in its own right, there is often overlap between certain Vedic paths such as Advaita Vedanta, and certain Tantric paths such as Sri Vidya. There can often be Vedic aspects in Tantric paths, and Tantric aspects in Vedic paths. Naad Yoga is one such discipline. Interestingly, sometimes it is called Naad Yoga Tantra. Naad Yoga is also integrated into Samayachara Srividya Tantra, which is a compatible tantric practice with Vedic practices. Its core technical practice is centered around activations of vibrational energy states primarily through mantra. Moreover, sound and vibration are seen as a representations of the divine feminine, represented as the Goddess Shakti - or in energetic terms, the moving energy force of the universe. In this way, Naad Yoga is integrated into Tantra sadhana as well.
These Tantra philosophies generally maintain these main principles:
All is the will of the universal consciousness
Our role is to clear the clutter to allow it to express through us
We are physical beings and therefore we can work with our physicality in order to experience integrated oneness with it
These principles are also integrated into Naad Yoga. Because the Aahat Naad practices involve audibly expressing vibration, our active technical practice is to clear clutter - where we take a yogic approach to doing so, and the ultimate expression is when it expresses through us.
Guru Shishya Parampara
The other aspect that is deeply tied to both Yoga and Tantra is the Guru-Shishya Parampara. In Tantra, it is perhaps more deeply integral given the fact that passing down a specific set of technical practices discovered or defined by a specific Guru must be learned by going to that person or someone from that lineage of practice. Tantra is propagated very intimately from Guru to Shishya. In Naad Yoga, especially in Raaga practice, there is a very strong emphasis on Guru-Shishya parampara. It is heavily passed down as an aural tradition, from Guru to Shishya generation to generation.
A Guru is not the same as a teacher.
A Guru is someone who takes energetic responsibility for the Shishya. A Guru accepts the Shishya’s energy as a part of their own, and guides the shishya energetically through their energy blockages to open them up to the experience of a flow state with pure consciousness.
First and foremost, the Guru must have the spiritual fitness to take on a Shishya. They must have deeply experienced what they are teaching, and must also have a certain level of spiritual awareness to be able to guide a shishya energetically through the practice. It is not just about giving someone information or raw knowledge. It is about merging spiritual energy to allow the experience of divine wisdom to flow to the Shishya. Committing to a Guru is a deeply personal, spiritually intimate thing.
The Guru is responsible for safely guiding a Shishya into certain practices assessing the Shishya’s personal temperament and fitness when they are ready. The Shishya also must have deep trust and surrender in this process with their Guru. This is a core tenant of Tantra. Any tantra will require a Guru to be able to work with a Shishya to guide energy in this way. While Guru-Shishya parampara is also a Vedic concept, there is a level of personalization and customized energetic guidance that is more closely like a Tantric relationship in Naad Yoga. When strictly followed, this process can be something transformative and truly life changing.