Buddhism
The Development of Vajrayana Buddhism
· 8 min read
How vajrayana Buddhism formed in India, with tantra, deity, and non-duality practice.
Origins of Vajrayana
Vajrayana ("Diamond Vehicle") or Tantric Buddhism developed in India between the 3rd and 8th centuries CE.
The Four Classes of Tantra
Kriya Tantra (Tantra of Action)
Basic level. External ritual practices.
Charya Tantra (Tantra of Conduct)
Purification practices.
Yoga Tantra (Tantra of Union)
Union of wisdom and method.
Anuttarayoga Tantra (Tantra of Supreme Union)
Highest level. Subtle body practice.
The Main Concepts
The Deity (Yidam)
The practitioner visualizes a deity as a manifestation of the Buddha mind.
The Guru
The guru is seen as the manifestation of all Buddhas.
The Main Vajrayana Practices
- The Six Yogas of Naropa
- Mahamudra
- Dzogchen
The 4 Tibetan Schools
- Nyingma (oldest)
- Kagyu
- Sakya
- Gelug
Expansion to Tibet
Introduced mainly by Padmasambhava, Atisha, and Tsongkhapa.
Current State
Vajrayana is the majority religion in Tibet, Mongolia, Bhutan, parts of Nepal and Russia.
Sources
- John Powers: Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism
- Dalai Lama: The World of Tibetan Buddhism
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