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Vajrayana

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 212.182.203.20 (talk) at 13:33, 27 September 2003 (Introduced the more common fourfold division of tantras besides the sixfold one of the Nyingma tradition. Removed bön and cha'an from the list (these are traditions separate from vajrayana).). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Revision as of 13:33, 27 September 2003 by 212.182.203.20 (talk) (Introduced the more common fourfold division of tantras besides the sixfold one of the Nyingma tradition. Removed bön and cha'an from the list (these are traditions separate from vajrayana).)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)


The Vajrayana (Sanskrit: lit. The Adamantine Vehicle) school of Buddhism, practiced predominantly in Tibet, Mongolia and Bhutan, consists of a collection of techniques for the practice of Mahayana, along with the texts that expound those techniques (the Tantras). It is also known to the west as Tantric Buddhism. Being the foundation for Buddhism, it is sometimes expounded as a third and separate major school of Buddhism, alongside the Mahayana and Theravada.

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.

  • 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:

The practice of Atiyoga is divided into three classes: Mental (SemDe), Spatial (LongDe), and Esoteric Instructional (MenNgagDe).


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. The most famous teacher of Vajrayana is Guru Padmasambhava.

See also: Tibetan Buddhism

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