"Buddhist tantra" and "Esoteric Buddhism" redirect here. For the esoteric Buddhist scriptures, see Buddhist tantric literature. For the book by A. P. Sinnett, see Esoteric Buddhism (book).
A vajra and bell (ghanta), which are classic ritual symbols of Vajrayāna
Part of a series on
Vajrayana Buddhism
Traditions
Historical traditions:
Ari-Acharya
Burmese-Bengal †
Yunnan
Indonesian Esoteric Buddhism †
Filipino Esoteric Buddhism †
East Asian
Chinese
Japanese
Nepalese
Inner Asian
Tibetan
Altaic (o, x, b, t, k, y)
New branches:
Gateway of the Hidden Flower
New Kadampa Buddhism
Shambhala Buddhism
True Awakening Tradition
History
Tantrism
Mahasiddha
Sahaja
Pursuit
Buddhahood
Bodhisattva
Kalachakra
Practices
Generation stage
Completion stage
Phowa
Tantric techniques:
Fourfold division:
Kriyayoga
Charyayoga
Yogatantra
Anuttarayogatantra
Twofold division:
Inner Tantras
Outer Tantras
Thought forms and visualisation:
Mandala
Mantra
Mudra
Thangka
Yantra
Yoga:
Ngöndro
Guru yoga
Deity yoga
Six yogas:
Inner heat
Luminosity yoga
Dream yoga
Death yoga
Sex yoga
Festivals
Ganachakra
Ullambana Puja
Tantric texts
Anuttarayoga Tantra
Cakrasaṃvara Tantra
Guhyagarbha Tantra
Kulayarāja Tantra
Mahāmāyā Tantra
Mañjuśrī-mūla-kalpa
Mañjuśrīnāmasamgīti
Tattvasaṃgraha Tantra
Vajrasekhara Sutra
Yuthok Nyingthig
Symbols and tools
Damaru
Ghanta
Melong
Phurba
Vajra
Yab-Yum
Ordination and transmission
Esoteric transmission
Pointing-out instruction
Samaya
Vajracharya
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Vajrayāna (Sanskrit, "vajra vehicle"), also known as Mantrayāna ("mantra vehicle"), Mantranāya ("path of mantra"), Guhyamantrayāna ("Secret Mantra Vehicle"), Tantrayāna ("tantra vehicle"), Tantric Buddhism, and Esoteric Buddhism, is a Buddhist tradition of tantric practice that developed in the Indian subcontinent and spread to Tibet, Nepal, other Himalayan states, East Asia, and Mongolia.
Vajrayāna practices are connected to specific lineages in Buddhism, through the teachings of lineage holders. Others might generally refer to these texts as the Buddhist Tantras.[1] It includes practices that make use of mantras, dharanis, mudras, mandalas and the visualization of deities and Buddhas.
According to contemporary historical scholarship, Vajrayāna practice originated in the tantric era of medieval India (c. the 5th century CE onwards). However, traditionally, the adherents and texts of Vajrayāna claim these teachings have been passed down by an unbroken lineage going back to the historical Buddha (c. the 5th century BCE) or to other mythical Buddhas and bodhisattvas (e.g. Vajrapani).[2]
According to Vajrayāna scriptures, the term Vajrayāna refers to one of three vehicles or routes to enlightenment, the other two being the Śrāvakayāna (also known pejoratively as the Hīnayāna) and Mahāyāna (a.k.a. Pāramitāyāna).
There are several Buddhist tantric traditions that are currently practiced, including Tibetan Buddhism, Chinese Esoteric Buddhism, Shingon Buddhism and Newar Buddhism. Historically, there were also other esoteric Buddhist traditions, such as that of maritime Southeast Asia, which are no longer practiced today.
Vajrayāna (Sanskrit, "vajra vehicle"), also known as Mantrayāna ("mantra vehicle"), Mantranāya ("path of mantra"), Guhyamantrayāna ("Secret Mantra Vehicle")...
stemming from the latest stages of Indian Buddhism (which included many Vajrayāna elements). It thus preserves many Indian Buddhist tantric practices of...
three main existing branches of Buddhism, the others being Theravāda and Vajrayāna. Mahāyāna accepts the main scriptures and teachings of early Buddhism...
The Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia (Malay: Majlis Penganut Buddha Vajrayana Malaysia; Chinese: 马来西亚金刚乘佛教总会; abbrev: VBCM) is a council or umbrella...
common classification among scholars is threefold: Theravāda, Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna. In contemporary Buddhist studies, modern Buddhism is often divided into...
(Standard Tibetan: dorje) is the symbol of Vajrayana, one of the three major schools of Buddhism. Vajrayana is translated as "Thunderbolt Way" or "Diamond...
rules known as the Pātimokkha (Theravada) or Prātimokṣa (Mahayana and Vajrayana). In the Mahayana monasticism is part of the system of "vows of individual...
manifestations of Buddhahood or enlightened mind. Yidams are an integral part of Vajrayana, including both Tibetan Buddhism and Shingon, which emphasize the use...
Vedic rituals use mandalas such as the Navagraha mandala to this day. In Vajrayana Buddhism, mandalas have been developed also into sandpainting. They are...
In Vajrayāna Buddhism, esoteric transmission is the transmission of certain teachings directly from teacher to student during an empowerment (abhiṣeka)...
which one works for the liberation of all sentient beings. Additionally, Vajrayāna (lit. 'Indestructible Vehicle'), a body of teachings incorporating esoteric...
The Tibetan Kangyur, which belongs to the various schools of Tibetan Vajrayāna Buddhism, in addition to containing sutras and Vinaya, also contains Buddhist...
Zanskar. The locations of preparation and sky burial are understood in the Vajrayana Buddhist traditions as charnel grounds. Comparable practices are part...
consecration ritual for a Hindu temple. In Vajrayana Buddhism or Mantrayana Buddhism, one enters into the path of Vajrayana Buddhism by receiving the four stages...
as a ritual implement (bowl) in both Hindu Tantra and Buddhist Tantra (Vajrayana). Especially in Tibet, they are often carved or elaborately mounted with...
frequently associated or confused with Shambhala which figures prominently in Vajrayana Buddhism and Tibetan Kalachakra teachings and revived in the West by Madame...
Buddhism's presence in the Philippines date back to the 9th century, when Vajrayana was known as the dominant branch of Buddhism. No early Buddhist written...
Vehicle") and Guhyamantra ("Secret Mantra") in Buddhism. In Buddhism, the Vajrayana traditions are known for tantric ideas and practices, which are based...
This tradition was also linked by the maritime trade routes with Indian Vajrayana, Tantric Buddhism in Sinhala, Cham and Khmer lands and in China and Japan...
language and communication system associated with tantric traditions in Vajrayana Buddhism and Hinduism. It includes visual communication, verbal communication...
A fortune deity is a deity associated with fortune, luck and wealth in mythology. Lakshmi: Goddess of wealth, fortune and luck. Rukmini: Goddess of fortune...
followed in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka. The third largest body of schools Vajrayana, is followed mostly in Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, Mongolia and parts of Russia...
(Sanskrit: भैरव, lit. 'frightful'), or Kala Bhairava, is a Shaivite and Vajrayāna deity worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists. In Shaivism, he is a powerful...
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