Vajrayana

There are four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism: Nyingma, Sakya, Kagyu, and Geluk. All four schools identify themselves as belonging to the Mahayana or "Great Vehicle" tradition, which dominates in China, Korea and Japan. Vajrayana Buddhism also went to China where it flourished only briefly, and to Japan where Kukai founded the Shingon school.

• The techniques are characterized by:
  • The use of mantras, or short verbal formulae
  • Strong focus on the guru, or teacher
  • A highly-developed tradition of meditation, including concentration techniques such as the visualization of bodhisattvas.

Practitioners are introduced to a collection of Vajrayana practices through a series of initiations.

These can be divided into four categories, namely,

• Kriyayoga
• Charyayoga
• Yogatantra
• Anuttarayogatantra, which is furthermore divided into "mother", "father" and "non-dual" tantras.

In the Nyingma tradition the division is sixfold:

• Three Outer Tantras:
  • Kriyayoga
  • Charyayoga
  • Yogatantra
• Three Inner Tantras, which correspond to the Anuttarayogatantra:
  • Mahayoga
  • Anuyoga
  • Atiyoga - Dzogchen

Vajrayana, which developed in Northern India circa 7th century, has its main philosophical roots in Madhyamika of Nagarjuna, Chandrakirti and Vijnanavada (aka Yogachara), Chittamatra) of Asanga, and Vasubhandu. Padmasambhava is the most famous teacher of Vajrayana in Tibet, and in Japan it is Kukai.

See also: Tibetan Buddhism, Shingon Buddhism

Referenced By