Vajrayana Buddhism

Vajrayana
Buddhism
Presentation by Megan Ade,
Corinne Powers, Lizzy Sam,
and Sara Treu
History/Background
Vajrayana was started in India around the 5th
century C.E, and is a branched off Mahayana
Buddhism. This branch of Buddhism is often
refused to as Tibetan Buddhism. “Vajrayana is
also sometimes called "Tantric Buddhism," a
esoteric extension of Buddhist thought and
practice which sees itself as a quicker, more
effective path to enlightenment. As with
Mahayana Buddhism, the Vajrayana emphasizes the role of the
bodhisattva, but the tradition tends to favor fierce deities, and
significantly expands the bodhisattva pantheon”
History/Background Continued...
Vajrayana Buddhism,
is also known as
"Diamond" or
"Thunderbolt
Vehicle”
Basic Beliefs
Most of the important Mahayana sutras (Buddhist
scriptures that include teachings by the Buddha)
The Mahayana concept of of bodhisattvas. That is,
one's personal goal is not to achieve Nirvana. It is to
almost achieve enlightenment, but to make the
decision to return to the world in their next
reincarnation in order to help others reach
enlightenment.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/budvaj.htm
Main Focus: Meditation, Chanting, Enlightenment in
one lifetime, Tibetan gods and demons, Religious
visualizations, Philosophical debate, Ritual, Yoga.
http://www.buddhastatues.org/buddhism.htm
Picture: Amitābha Buddha and his
attendant bodhisattvas
Avalokiteśvara (right) and
Mahāsthāmaprāpta (left)
Basic Beliefs
Vajrayana initiates practice deity yoga:
meditating on themselves in the form of a
Buddha or bodhisattva in order to embody
the enlightened qualities that the
practitioner wishes to manifest. (page 165
ch. Buddhism paragraph 4 book seventh
edition living religion by mary pat fisher)
The purpose of Deity yoga is to bring the
meditator to the realization that the deity
and the practitioner are in essence the same,
non-dual.
picture: tantra techniques.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tantra_techniques_(Vajrayana)
Worship Rituals/Ceremonies
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Ritualistic Tools
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Damaru
■
Hand drum; creates spiritual sounds that created the universe.
Phurba
■
Dagger; used to drive away evil.
Mudras
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Symbolic hand gestures.
Vajra
■
A ritual object used in ceremonies. It represents the indestructibility and irresistible
force of diamonds and thunder.
Mandala
○
Sand paintings; created to represent essence of Vajrayana teachings and the impermanence of
life. After creating the pattern and meditating, the mandala is destroyed.
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Prostrations
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Phowa
○
○
To become enlightened, they lay on the ground reciting prayers.
Death ritual; when someone is dying, they do phowa meditation to transfer their souls out of the
top of their heads. This way, the deceased don’t have to experience certain after death
occurrences.
Special Clothing/Holidays
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Holidays
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Buddhist New Year: Celebrated in March by
Vajrayana Buddhists. On this day the people
worship, light candles, sing, eat, and light
firecrackers.
Vesak: A celebration of the life,
enlightenment, and death of the Buddha.
Asalha Puja Day: Celebrates the Buddha’s
teachings, the people pay homage to areas
where the Buddha was.
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●
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Clothing
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Vajrayana monks usually wear orange robes
to symbolize their detachment from material
things.
Spiritual Leaders
The Guru plays a large part in
Vajrayana. He/she is the spiritual
teacher of his disciples. He assists
them in their tantric practices (yoga).
The guru is considered more
compassionate than the Buddha
because the people can have a direct
relationship with the guru. He/she is
the person who gives guidance to help
others find enlightenment.
Spiritual Leaders
Authentic gurus teach the path of devotion and faith
merely because their disciples need it. The Vajrayana is the
fastest possible spiritual journey because if a person entreats
a guru who has found a middle-ground, they can achieve what
they call “the mixing of the guru’s mind and your mind” in an
instance.
The tantras say “The guru is the buddha. The guru is the
dharma. The guru is the glorious heruka. The guru is
everything.” Without their leaders, the gurus, the practicers
of Vajrayana would have no path to enlightenment.
Modern Issues
In China, Tibetan Buddhism or
Vajrayana Buddhism is, not
accepted. When the Mongol Yuan
Dynasty was overthrown in the 8th
Century. The Ming Dynasty was
established, the Tibetan lama was
expelled from the court, and
Vajrayana Buddhism was
denounced as not being an
orthodox path
Modern Issues Continued...
Exiled from his home, His
Holiness march to India along
with many of his followers in
1959. He now resides in India
helping refugees and preaching
the human rights of Tibetans.
Bibliography
●
Fisher, Mary Pat. Living Religions. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1999. Print.
●
"Religion Library: Vajrayana Buddhism." Vajrayana Buddhism Origins, Vajrayana Buddhism History, Vajrayana Buddhism Beliefs. Patheos
Library. Web. 29 Oct. 2014. <http://www.patheos.com/Library/Vajrayana-Buddhism.html>
●
"Description of the Vajrayāna tradition." Vajrayana Buddhism. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2014. <http://www.religioustolerance.org/budvaj.
htm>
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"BUDDHISM." , Buddhist, in Asia, Hinayana, Mahayana, Vajrayana. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2014.<http://www.buddhastatues.org/buddhism.
htm>
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"Buddhism as Technology." LIFE AS A HUMAN. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2014.<http://lifeasahuman.com/2010/mind-spirit/spirituality-andreligion/buddhism/buddhism-as-technology/>
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"PRACTICE." Practice. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2014.<http://college.holycross.
edu/projects/himalayan_cultures/2011_plans/sshmitt/Practice.html>
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"The Importance of the Guru in Vajrayana Tradition." Kunzang Palchen Ling Blog. 23 Jan. 2010. Web. 29 Oct. 2014. <http://kunzang.
org/kplblog/2010/01/23/the-importance-of-the-guru-in-vajrayana-tradition/>.
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"Vajrayana Buddhism." Patheos Library. Patheos., 1 Jan. 2014. Web. 29 Oct. 2014. <http://www.patheos.com/Library/Vajrayana-Buddhism.
html>.
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Bhikshu, Kusala. "Buddhist Holidays and Festivals." Urban Dharma. Bluehost, 1 Jan. 2013. Web. 29 Oct. 2014. <http://www.urbandharma.
org/udharma3/holidays.html>.