Vajrayana

Vajrayana is a school of Buddhism first practiced in India. It is sometimes called esoteric Buddhism. From India it spread to Tibet, Mongolia and Bhutan. Since the annexation of Tibet by the People's Republic of China in 1959, the Tibetan form of Vajrayana has spread to many Western countries and has gained great popularity.

Vajrayana is a third and separate major school of Buddhism, the other two being Theravada and Mahayana. Vajrayana Buddhism comes from Mahayana Buddhism. Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism has its own texts in the Tibetan and Sanskrit languages. It also contains the older Mahayana texts in Sanskrit and Theravada texts in the Pali language.

Vajrayana is sometimes known as Tantric Buddhism in the west. Tantric practice is one kind of Vajrayana Buddhism, but there are also other forms.

Vajrayana Buddhism is also known as "The Diamond Vehicle".

Features of Vajrayana

The main features of Vajrayana are:

• The use of mantras, a form of chanting
• Strong focus on the guru, or teacher
• The importance of meditation, including concentration techniques such as the visualization of bodhisattvas.

Followers are introduced to these practices through initiation which is also called empowerment.

Tibetan 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 is the most popular form of Buddhism in China, Korea and Japan.

Levels of practice

In the ancient or Nyingma school, the teachings are divided into six levels:

• Outer Tantras
  • Kriyayoga
  • Charyayoga
  • Yogatantra
• Inner Tantras (Anuttarayogatantra)
  • Mahayoga
  • Anuyoga
  • Atiyoga (also known as Dzogchen)

The new schools (Sakya, Kagyu, and Geluk) divide the teachings into only four levels. The first three are the same as in the Nyingma school. The last level is simply called Anuttarayogatantra ("Highest Yoga Tantra"). These Highest Yoga Tantras are divided into "mother", "father" and "non-dual" tantras. The new schools use a practice called Mahamudra in place of Dzogchen.

Vajrayana Media

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  A vajra and bell (ghanta), which are classic ritual symbols of Vajrayāna

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  Diamond Realm mandala, based on the tantric Vajrasekhara Sutra, and symbolizing the final realization of Vairocana Buddha in Shingon

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  Vajrayana adopted deities such as Bhairava, known as Yamantaka in Tibetan Buddhism.

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  The central deity of the Cakrasaṃvara Tantra, which according to scholars like David B. Gray and Alexis Sanderson, appropriated numerous elements from nondual Shaiva Tantra

• The 9th-century Agusan image, a holy Vajrayana Buddhist relic from the Philippines

• Tangut Auspicious Tantra of All-Reaching Union

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  Manjushri, the bodhisattva associated with prajñā

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  Monks attending the 2003 Kalachakra empowerment in Bodhgaya, India. Some empowerment ceremonies can include large numbers of initiates.

• Video of a Shingon Goma Fire Ritual at Yakuōin Yūkiji, Mount Takao

• A video of the Cham dance, a traditional practice in some sects of Tibetan Buddhism

Other websites

• The Berzin archive, Archive on texts and teachings of Vajrayana, Tibetan Buddhism, Islam and Bon
• Himalayan Art Resources, an online educational resource with over 30,000 images of Vajrayana art and ritual implements