The transformation of classical Tantra in the modern Neotantric movement (on the example of Russia)

The article reflects on the transformations that classical Tantra has undergone in the West and in Russia in the 20th – 21st centuries. The basis for the image of Tantra in the Western imagination was the model of «non-dual» Shaiva-Shakta Tantrism. The first serious interpretation and exegesis of Tantra was provided by J. Woodroffe (1865–1936). In parallel with him, the first popularizer of the new Tantra, P. Bernard (1875–1955), worked in the United States. He paid great attention to the themes of love, body and sexuality. But the soil for Neotantra was formed later, and the New Age and “sexual revolution” became its main ingredients. The first Neotantrist should be considered the Indian guru Osho Rajneesh (1931–1990). In Osho’s sermons, classical tantra was combined with Zen Buddhism, Taoism, Western psychotherapy, the teachings of Gurdjieff and Krishnamurti. Osho taught his students spontaneity, naturalness, totality, rebellion against the “slavery of the mind”. Many Neotantric teachers popular in Russia are students of Osho. The arrival of Swami Virato Nostradamus (1938–2013) in 1992 can be considered the beginning of the spread of Tantra in Russia. Among the well-known domestic Neotantric teachers are L. Teternikov, A. Lapin, P. Ostrikov, S. Slyusarev, A. Shelyakov, A. Lyubarsky, S. Knyazev and others. The article analyzes the views of Russian Neotantrists on human nature, their reflection on Tantra, attitude to yoga, religion, women, sexuality. In general, these views are dependent on Osho and his disciples. There are some similarities between Neotantra and classical Tantra (eg., syncretism, practicality, interest in the concept of energy, etc.), although the context of these traits should always be considered. There are more differences between them. In Neotantra we see: rejection of religiosity; declining value of mentoring; rejection of concepts important for classical Tantra (moksha, karma, samsara, etc.) or their remaking; emphasizing the importance of sexuality; absence of sacred texts and sacred language; psychologization. Neotantra is gradually becoming an increasingly organic part of the westernized global world.