History of Vajrayana or Tantric Buddhism: Power and Transgression
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- Опубліковано 16 лип 2024
- We'll go over the history of tantric Buddhism, its origins as well as its differences from other forms of Buddhist belief and practice. Then we'll give an overall characterization of what constitutes this somewhat transgressive form of Buddhism. It’s a huge topic so this video should only be seen as an intro!
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✅ Suggested readings:
Ronald Davidson, Indian Esoteric Buddhism: amzn.to/2LmjED4
Richard Gombrich, “Who Was Aṅgulimāla?” In How Buddhism Began: amzn.to/2LidKDj
Geoffrey Samuel, The Origins of Yoga and Tantra: amzn.to/2IRpLRN
Alexis Sanderson, “Vajrayāna: Origin and Function.” In Buddhism into the Year 2000: International Conference Proceedings (Bangkok, Los Angeles; Dhammakaya Foundation, 1994).
Gareth Sparham “Tantric Ethics” in the Oxford Handbook of Buddhist Ethics: amzn.to/2kcWSRZ
Steven Weinberger “The Yoga Tantras and the Social Context of Their Transmission to Tibet.” www.chinabuddhismencyclopedia....
Steven Weinberger The Significance of Yoga Tantra (U. Virginia PhD, 2003).
Williams, Tribe, and Wynne, Buddhist Thought: amzn.to/2rYeqWa
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Picture of the Goddess Devī from Wikimedia, author Arjunkrishna90
Other images courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
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Please visit the Secular Buddhist Association webpage!
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NB: this should be understood to be a history of the *early* development of Vajrayāna or Tantric Buddhism in particular. It does not deal with more contemporary practice. H/t to Rufus Hume in the comments below.
I think so-called "contemporary (Varjayana) practice" is just sanitized Vajrayana, repackaged to appeal to the delicate sensibilities of Western audiences brought up in the context of Abrahamic religions. Virtually every great Vajrayana master engaged in actual karmamudra practice with a consort, not a metaphorical visualization. I think a lot of the power of Vajrayana will never be realized with the 'contemporary' approach. Just my opinion. The fear of potential abuse you mentioned is certainly a concern because we are not all so aware or skillful as such practice requires. Some people are put off entirely by the idea of intermingling sex with religion. To me, that is absurd. Quite clearly sex is one of the most powerful drives in us and to NOT use that power towards a soteriological goal seems crazier to me. Even if one never engages with such practices, I think we should at least be open to it in theory and the potential transformative power of it.
@@rjbullock Nope. Western tantra is a long term conquest strategy. Not sanitized. Weaponized.
‘Development’ being the key word, to be understood in a similar vein as the culturally arrogant ‘western education’ notions Of developing world etc. connected to moral transcendence, etc. In actual tantric practice historically and now, no matter how sucky, crazed, or extraordinarily sane, ie enlightened the yogis and yoginis were or are, ‘developing’ the deity, mandala, etc. is only a means, to see the true nature of the deity, which is taught to be spontaneously present, already within and without you. That is enlightenment. It’s not a myth, people have actually experienced ‘it.’ This is a sanitized presentation Doug. With definite objectives. Let your conceptual mind rip, just be aware, part of this is being critical within and without, without trying to be ‘right’ in a court of law. You are not on trial! Btw I’m not saying I know your intention, I’m just saying where you sourced your information the bias is evident.
I could go on and on, but this just popped up from Doug, “you can’t read the texts on your own and understand them” Doug if that is the case why does Milarepa, say in one of his spiritual songs, “when I realize appearances are my texts I forget all those big books with their letters in black” I can tell you why... gurus teach you that all experiences are texts.... ultimately...we read the relative ones to understand the ultimate meaning. Then we can let go and trust ourselves and our own innate goodness. This means, far from needing a scholar or your own personal ego as being the only means to restle with and ‘know’ Vajrayana, the Vajrayana practice teaches that minds nature is industructibally cognizant, intellegent in its original state. Those are historic tantric teachings. Let me know if you want the scholarly notes. I’m not into law so it might take me a bit ;)
@@LMNOmic1234 You need a teacher - Milarepa had Marpa . . . and you need the relevant permissions to read the esoteric vajrayana texts or do the practice. Plus you need grounding in the Hinayana and Mahayana of which Vajrayana is a part. ua-cam.com/video/Ag97J8t8fRM/v-deo.html
I explored Tibetan Buddhism early in my Buddhist journey. (I later found the Theravada tradition to be a better fit for me.) The history of Vajrayana is certainly bizarre, but I would caution people not to judge modern Tibetan Buddhism too much on its history. If you visit a Tibetan Buddhist center or monastery today you will likely encounter monks and lay teachers who have a thorough understanding of Mahayana Buddhist principles and a great desire to help others. You will *not* encounter cannibalistic tantric sex-maniacs. For that, you'll need to visit Walmart.
😄 That is absolutely correct Ron, thanks for making the point. And not all Tibetan Buddhism is Tantric anyhow; there is a lot of straight Mahāyāna as well.
Lmao. Tantra has a huuuuge depth to it. They have a technique called looking, or searching where you explore your false self for the actual thing that is your existence. And it goes very deep. A lot of people called described it as a thread with no beginning.
We are not sex maniac or cannibalz
ha ha. or any modern nightclub!!
The corruption of Buddhism from cult of shaivism on influence lead to this form and in turn tantric Buddhism was further corrupted by Hindu bramhins
I know I'm late to the party, but I just found this channel after considering myself a Buddhist for the longest time and I'm so happy that so much effort and knowledge were put in these "school videos". It's very clear to me now that I definitely fit on the Theravada. Excellent work, excellent channel. I'm so grateful.
That’s great Anna, thanks for letting me know! 🙏
Anna Peixoto I'm the same way, kinda kept it to myself for 15 years.
You would not fit into the theravada because that school was not inclusive of laypersons
maybe 3,000 years ago not really. Now there’s many educational courses and dedicated temples to early Buddhist philosophy. Even in my city in Brazil.
@@annaclarallb
I think it's worth mentioning though, that "Theravada" and "Early Buddhism" are not the same thing. The things that make Theravada really Theravada are the leading role of the Abhidamma and, above all, Buddhaghosa's Visuddhimagga, which in many ways differ from what is found in the suttas (e.g. Buddhaghosa narrowing down the brahmaviharas as mere meditation objects)
Doug, perhaps I should say a little something about tantra. My tradition is Tibetan Buddhist and there are many tantras available. Some are mother tantras others are father tantras. There is the Kalachakra tantra which is given on a regular basis by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Several things MUST be understood before a practitioner decides to take a tantric empowerment:
1. You must have an experienced teacher who knows you and is practicing the tantra so they can guide you.
2. Tantra requires dedication on a daily basis. The higher the tantra, the more powerful and demanding the requirements are.
For example, the Yamantaka tantra (of which there are several different varieties) is the highest yoga tantra and requires the recitation of a 40-page liturgy or a shorter 14-page one (if you are pressed for time) TWICE A DAY FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
3. Also, at least once in your life you must take a retreat which involves 100,000 protestations and/or mantras.
Tantra is not for everyone. You cannot receive the initiation and do the practice whenever you feel like it. So the practicioner must be DEAD SURE if they wish to devote their time to the tantra.
Thanks for this information, very useful and important. 🙏
depends greatly on how far you are willing to transgress.
Vajrayana is NOT separate from mahayana. It is a mahayana practice
Is the tongue sucking controversy maybe related to some kind of ritual? Honest question
To provide context on deity practice:
If you are experiencing emptiness and you are having an intense enough emotional experience while fully mindful, the ego process temporarily short circuits and one experiences non-duality. Visualizing one's self as a deity is intended to 1) help you maintain your mindfulness in the face of strong emotion and 2) intensify the emotion you are experiencing to the point where the separate self vanishes and 3) bring out the best in you (in face of potential temptation to do otherwise).
When passion is united with non-duality, it no longer intoxicates or deludes us. The passions then manifest in an altruistic fashion without conditioning us. Unfortunately, this practice only works if the visualization is emotionally meaningful to us in the right way (also, different kinds of visualizations are used for dealing with different kinds of emotions). Deity related rituals and empowerments have the effect of making the visualizations have the necessary emotional meaning.
Practice in tantra can be accelerated by deliberately triggering strong emotions in yourself so you can practice working with them. Hence the existence of practices that work with triggering anger and sexual desire. It is important to note that one can technically work with any form of emotional energy.
As a side note, using intense emotion to short-circuit the ego process does not require visualization at all. Visualization is very useful, but it's not strictly needed. The following article describes a more difficult and advanced approach: aroencyclopaedia.org/shared/text/e/emotions_ar_eng.php
Thanks for the information, Rufus. 🙏
How does the practice of experientially 'becoming' a potent emotion when it arises differ from a common point of Theravadin advice to take potent emotions as the object of attention as they arise in sitting, just as they would say one should attend to anything that arises, until awareness gives way to automaticity?
@@splatted6201 k(
Great explanation.
@@splatted6201 The only difference is in the Ritual!! the goal is the same.
I have been watching your videos for several days and I find them fascinating! I am a student of the ancient religions of the Mediterranean and the Near East (especially, early Christianity) and thanks to you I am learning a lot about religions, philosophies and spiritual practices that I knew very superficially. Thank you so much, Doug!
You're very welcome Gabriel! Yes, I don't think many of these topics are well understood ... 🙂
Hi Doug, I love your stuff. I've practicing Vajrayana for about 40 years, having come to it from Soto Zen. I've also included many Taoist concepts over the years and though I have not watched all of your videos, it's important to point out that good Vajra Masters will start a student out in a very scientific way. That's point I want to make. In India, Tibet, and China, science and spirituality were not split, they were not opposed, as they are here in the west. These cultures developed Spiritual Sciences or Scientific Spirituality. In Vajrayana, the Theravada and Mahayana are included as part of the package. So for instance one usually starts out with Shamatha/Vipassana (Shine/Lhatong) meditation practice, (a Theravada practice) proceeds to Sunyata (Mahayana) where meditation evolves into something much closer to the Zazen-Shikantaza level and from there, progresses to energy work (Tantra) or, alternatively, goes directly into Dzogchen/Mahamudra depending upon the student. Keep up the great work and Thank You.
Thanks Vajra Man!
Interesting have you completed the 3 years 3 month work?
This was a very informative comment, thank you 🙏
How to get started on the path of Tantra?
To provide some context on the transgressive practices, Vajrayana Buddhism argues that the heart Sutra implies that nothing has an inherent meaning on the grounds that nothing has an independent existence. Because the manner in which everything exists arises out of context, its meaning also arises out of context, instead of belonging to the object. Transgressive practices have the function (some of these practices have other functions as well) of helping the practitioner overcome the belief that things do have a fixed meaning or intrinsic essence.
Because tantra justifies violence in a heroic context, it is important for the practitioner to realize that the deeds of others lack intrinsic meaning, so that the justification of violence does not turn into bigotry. Breaking yourself of the belief in intrinsic meaning is an extremely important practice here. Personally, my Vajrayana practice made me a lot more open-minded without sacrificing critical thinking (things DO have meaning in context. Meaning is not arbitrary or subjective).
Thanks for the perspective, Rufus. 🙏
One thing -- If your "transgressive practices violate (removes you from) the 8-fold path and increase dukha without providing realization (much less: enlightenment) why would you do them?
They are called "transgressive" because they remove you from the "Right Path" and increase dukha without providing realization (much less: enlightenment).
I think one should be very careful with Philosophy! Why? Because if you are smart, you can justify anything via a philosophy. Early on, the Buddha tried to avoid philosophy, and be very clear about what should be refrained from, what should be avoided. So again, Why? Because the Dangers of Transgressions do "not" improve your chances to achieve what Buddha considered "Achievement". Sure, within the confines of Philosophy, there is the appearance of freedom. But it can be proven that that freedom is also a delusion.
@matchboxmango properly practiced - means by definition "not" transgressive. Now if you only think of yourself and not the effects you have on others .....
But yes, we "can" all learn from our "mistakes"/transgressions, but often karma ....
The point of the heart sutra is ultimate truth or high level meditative state. It says nothing about transgressive action.
You obviously are an intelligent person you can find a way to justify anything.
If you willing commit transgressive acts and these acts effect others .... Is karma a natural/universal law to you?
If so, ask your self witch is the most reliable truth - 1) how "you" perceive the heart sutra; or 2) the law of Karma - your action have consequences.
Tantra justifies nothing, it only further opens your eyes to the deepening seeds of Karma. Just so that you are better prepared to "reap what you so"
Thank you for this video. I have so much to learn and concepts as discussed here shed some light on the history that I needed to know for my path.
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You're very welcome Andrew, I'm glad you found it useful. 🙏
Thank you for a great video with historical context and perspective. I found it very helpful to orient how and when the various aspects were developed and how they related historically. Awesome job!
You’re very welcome Robel, wonderful to have you here. 🙏
Robel Belay do you have family in Boston? I know some Belay from Addis Adaba.
Really good video. Thank you Doug. I have done 3 Vajrayana initiations, as a follower of the Dharma, but they make a more sense now I've understood the background!
My pleasure Ali, that's great to hear! 🙏
Thanks, that was vey helpful for my studies. What a good teacher.
You're very welcome Arturo, I'm so glad it was helpful to you. Be well.
Expanding my understanding of Buddhism. I found every dvd of yours very useful and informative. Thank you so much 🙏🏻
You're very welcome Fleur! 🙏
I think when we talk about deity practice, it’s important to emphasize that the deity is nothing other than your own mind. Without that understanding, vajrayana becomes dualistic worship which goes against the very foundations of Buddha Dharma. The deity does not exist independently outside of yourself. Deity practice is a method that hijacks our inherent dualistic tendencies to dismantle it.
Yes I think that is one way to look at it JL, thanks.
Doug's Dharma it doesn’t come from me. It’s elaborated and explained as such in a lot of commentaries by more enlightened masters past and present. 🙏🏼
Edit - to clarify, I mean commentaries on the sutras and shastras.
Exactly. He seems to misunderstand the whole thing imo.
The reason Vajrayana is regarded as so effective is it embraces all aspects of our minds and emotions. It uses art effectively, it uses emotional energies that we are usually encourage to repress or deny, etc.
Indeed. It essentially actively embraces and engages our karma as opposed to trying to distance yourself from it.
correct. I love tantra because it 'embraces' all. to repress anything always felt ultimately non-spiritual to me. we are human beings not gods.
Found your channel randomly loving the knowledge about Buddhism that you are sharing 😊 thank you!
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It's very interesting how incredibly different Vajrayana is from other Buddhist schools :O
Very interesting topic, Doug! Thanks for covering it.
You're very welcome!
21:15 Squirrel!
yes i saw him as well.
I am so drawn to this. Thank you🖤🤍❤️✨️
🙏
Thanks so much for this lecture video...
You have cleared up a lot of my doubts and uncertainties...
Glad to hear that Pauline, you're very welcome!
Thank you for uploading this video!
You're very welcome Leon! Thanks for the comment.
During a certain time, I've been searching for such answers, because my training comes from theravada and later by mahayana teachings. You was clear, precise and gave the sources. This kind of information is very important to the practitioner. Thank you.
You're most welcome!
This kind of blew my mind. Not sure what to think now. Paradigm shift! Thank you so much.
You're very welcome, Simi. Yes the early history is fascinating!
Thank you Doug🙏 Subscribed❤️
Welcome Nishant! 🙏
Thanks Doug, great job - once again
You're very welcome, glad you found it useful!
Thank you very much, Doug, for the concise explanation of Tantra and Tantric Buddhism. It answered a lot of questions I was unclear on. I've been a Buddhist since the late 1980's, and know a fair bit about Theravada and Mahayana. I've never done an in-depth study of Tantra, but what I have read was confusing to me. This video is the best explanation I've come across, so far. Tantra seems to be syncretic, in combining Shaivism, Buddhism, and other thought-systems.
You’re very welcome Paul, thanks for the comment! 🙏
You’re better off asking a real vajrayana teacher than getting your (mis)information here.
So helpful. Thank you Doug's Dharma .
My pleasure! 🙏
You've got yourself a new subscriber! I'd love to learn more from you about Tantra and Vajrayana Dharma.
Welcome aboard! Most of my focus is on the early history and dharma of Buddhism, though if there are particular subjects that interest you let me know and I'll see if I can get around to them!
@@DougsDharma I have a lot to learn about all aspects of this subject, but one area that I had some prior connection with was Tibetan Buddhism, so this video was a great way to enrich my understanding of that particular facet.
I'm curious about the iconography and art related to Vajrayana. I was especially moved by a photo I saw recently of a grand statue of Padmasambhava in Namchi, India. There's a lot of symbolism in that art that I'd like to understand better.
Elucidation on a complicated topic, THANK YOU! I understand that there's research into the founders of the Tantric lineage: Originally by and for women! I think this is exciting and deserves more attention ❤
Thank you so much! I was able to follow along very well 🙏
Wonderful! Thanks for the feedback. 🙏🙂
Very compressed and good analysised information. It Helped academic study of buddhist study. Thank you very much for uploading such research based vedio.
You're very welcome Skakti. Glad to help! 🙏
I been watching your channel on and off for two years, and Noah Rasheta, and I definitely fit into the secular buddhism category. I almost joined a Vajrayana layman's group I been visiting for a few days now as there are no secular buddhism practices near me.
I'm gonna join your online group :) Thank you for this information - rather now than later :)
Nice to hear, Dean. Sometimes you can find secular-friendly teachers among Insight/Vipassana sanghas.
Good day. My ancestors (the Visaya) practiced Vajrayana Buddhism prior to being colonized by Spain, and your video really helped me understand this topic. Thank you.
You're very welcome! 🙏
Interesting, where are your ancestors from?
@@sachabey Central and Southern Philippines.
@@JuriBinturong Never heard of Vajrayana existing in the Philippines before.. Thanks for letting us know. If you know more history of how it got there do let us know
@@sachabey Not sure exactly. The Bisaya, or Visaya in Sanskrit just means "Country of 100 villages", The artifacts taken from this particular culture are full of Vajras, Vajrayana statues and idols, weapons with vajras on it, and other items related to Vajrayana Buddhism...
One museum that dated the artifacts placed the age of these items around the time of Mataram, Srivijaya, and the Song Dynasty. so from the 7th-13th century.
From a copper stele written in the Kawi alphabet, that was discovered in the island of Luzon, Philippines (dated to belong in the same timeline as the artifacts from Visayan areas), the main polities of the land we now call Philippines was directed by the "Lord of Diwata", located in what is now Northern Mindanao island in the Philippines, who then answered to the "Lord of Medang",
Medang being another name for the Kingdom of Mataram, the Javanese Hindu-Buddhist kingdom that built the Mahayana Buddhist temples of Borobudur and Sewu, and the Hindu temple of Prambanan in Indonesia.
Thank-you for this very clear exposition.
You're very welcome Tony, thanks for the comment!
great, and easy to understand video-guide to Vajrayana Buddhism - i would love more vids on that school of thought. thank you.
🙏😊
Thanks for this. Really interesting.
You're very welcome Michael!
It cleared some concepts of Vajrayana in my mind. Thanks a lot. Regards
You're very welcome Sudip! 🙏
@@DougsDharma Regards
You explain this so well. Thank you.
You're very welcome!
Another great epidosde Doug. You can also consider Theravada Esoterism too as your next project.
Yes, that’s something I’ve read a bit about. I may do a video on it eventually. 🙂
Been curious about vajrayana since reading (actually listening to the audiobook of) The Godfather of Kathmandu by John Burdett. This is a fantastically clear, efficient overview. Thank you for this content.
You're very welcome, Raina. Glad it was useful to you.
thank you for this excellent introduction
Glad it was helpful! 🙏
Thank you for such a clear answer. It cleared a lot of clouds in my head regarding Vajrayana. Love to hear more on Buddhism Tantra.
You're very welcome Kiran! 🙏
Hi! I am Theravada Buddhism from Myanmar. Now aday, I started to learn Mahayana Buddhism and Vajrayana. Now I got the metra from 3 Buddha. Gautam Buddha or Sakyamuni Buddha and his two bodhisattva, Vairocana Buddha and his two bodhisattva and Amitabha Buddha and his bodhisattva. When I know another Buddha in other group. That make me suprise. And I remembered what Sakyamuni said when he arrived in Gangar river. ❤️ Beginning Buddhism is big pleasure ❤️
Sardu 🙏🏼 for sharing Buddhism history.
Sardu Sardu Sardu 🙏🏼🌺😌
My pleasure! 🙏🙂
Doug, I love your introductions and histories into the multi dimensional and fascinating worlds of Buddhism. I appreciate the references to texts and the concise and measured presentation of concepts. I noticed you used the word Revaluation here - I’m curious if you have read Nietzsche’s work Beyond good and Evil which also deals with a non duality of morals. Lastly, what is the best method of contact?
Hi Travis, and thanks! Yes I think I read that one ... a long time ago back at university. But don't quiz me on it! 😄
You can find contact info in my channel's "about" page.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge
You're very welcome leocmen!
Very well explained i understood everry word , thanks and cheers !
You’re very welcome Ajasus!
So many texts and so many monks that wanted to be heard thanks for the videos providing a frame work for the history
My pleasure!
I hope you make another video on Vajrayana. Its fascinating
😄 Maybe eventually!
For mein as a German itis quite challenging to follow your interesting discussions, but itis worth it to take many breaks for looking up words in my dictionary,Thanks for both, namaste
Thanks for watching! I would be very unsuccessful watching or commenting on a video in German so you're doing great! 🙏
Good video and well done covering an unbelievably vast subject in short amount of time! I study in the Karma Kagyu Lineage that is also in line with the Rime movement. I would like to add that within the 3 turnings of the wheel of dharma, Hinayana(1), Mahayana(2), and Vajrayana(3), they all build upon each other and exist within each other. So within Mahayana is Hinayana, and within Vajrayana is both Mahayana and Hinayana. All are beautiful paths🙏🏽
Yes, indeed they can all be beautiful paths. That said, the term "Hinayāna" is generally understood to be derogatory and misleading, so it is perhaps best avoided.
Oh I’m very sorry. I never looked at it that way or used it that way. My apologies. I really enjoy your channel and thank you for your words!
No worries at all J N. Thanks for the comments!
Thank you very much! Hope you are well!🤟
Thanks David, you too! 🙏
I'll be checking into your various book recommendations, a friend. Introduced me to this branch of Buddhism and said it might be a good option.
however
I cannot.
Find a teacher for any of the other branches you mentioned here in Saginaw, Michigan. However, there is a community and Detroit as well as an Arbor which I may need to move there to move into the spiritual practice of Vajrayana.
I think I need to get more spiritual about my. Practice and understanding.
For about 11 years I have been viewing Buddhism through the secular lens. Mainly your channel as well as Noah. Rachelle Timber Harkeye, and one other, I can't remember the name of.
Thanks again Doug
Glad I came across this video..
Glad you did too TAI, thanks for commenting!
Your the best Doug!
Thanks Thomas, very kind of you. 🙏
Doug, how could I get rid of black magic on me, I'm a Tibetan Buddhist and my gesha gave me a amulet and told me to chant "om benza satto hung" I've been chanting the 100 syllable mantra, then I chant the short mantra 108x, these symptoms are mind blocked, I'm sexually disfuctal, it's all bad energy and bad karma, "negativity" how can I change, can you help me?? This evil spirit has been on me since I was 17yrs old, now I'm 33yrs old.. please help??!
I hope Doug will consider a Shingon Video if able, not my School but I think it retained early Indio-Chinese Esoteric elements of early Mantrayana before jumping to Japan. This makes it unique and mysterious even among Vajrayana and mystery Schools... I would like therefore to know a bit more if possible for you to offer it. Looking forward to your Zen video as a Zen Student. Gassho, Jikai
Shingon is very interesting but it's quite far afield from the main focus of this channel, which is largely on early Buddhism in a contemporary perspective. If I could find a good, concise history of it I might consider doing a video though.
Very informative thank you for this video.
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You had mentioned you would provide the definition of tantra. This was an excellent discussion but had wondered about this topic. Thank yo u so much.
My pleasure!
How would you define Tantra?
I wasn't really sure where to put this question but I thought this video might be a good place. I wanted to understand more about the history and present using importance of chanting in Buddhism. I know many branches of Buddhism make use of either mantras or the chanting of sutras or suttas as an extensive or sometimes almost exclusive part of their practice. I think it would be interesting to understand the evolution of this practice formerly Buddhism to now.
That's a great question Matthew. I know some of it but would have to do more research. If I turn up anything interesting I'll put it into a video. 🙂
Thanks very much for a very useful explanation.
New subscriber here!
Welcome aboard Tiger! Wonderful to have you.
Dude. You have no idea how long I've been searching for explanations like these. Objective and historical, yet not reductive of the spiritual perspective. Great stuff...are there books that sort of index the different types of buddhism and their relationships to one another, and speak on their distinguishing elements?
Thanks Jeremy! As to your question, hard to say. The book Buddhist Thought in the info box below the video is a book that treats the major schools, but I’m not sure if it does quite what you want. You might take a look at it. Basically I was looking for the same thing you are and not finding it which is why I made the videos ... 😀
@@DougsDharma Something I always thought would be cool would be a sort of Encyclopedia of Practices, categorized by which thing you're trying to cultivate, but each practice to be labeled with which spiritual tradition it originates from. I, unfortunately, am nowhere near knowledgable enough to create such a thing.
Yes that would be a great thing to do, would take a lot of time and unfortunately much of the earliest material is unclear or disputed at to its origin.
Hi Jeremy, you just need a good teacher who has a clear understanding of the genuine dharma. Try Lama Jampa Thaye ua-cam.com/video/Ag97J8t8fRM/v-deo.html He has many videos that are exceptionally clear like this one! Cheers!
@@mkspureimagination2198 cutting through spiritual materialism is a classic....'way of tibetan buddhism' by Thorsons is also a wonderfully clear exposition of the way the vehicles fit together and has a great history as well...
Vajrayana has many vehicles within it. To discuss inaccurately the transgressive practitices that masters sometimes apply in the extremely advanced and rarified levels of practice as if they are a common fixture in Vajrayana is dangerous and harmful. There were many kinds of masters with many kinds of activities. From mad yogis to pristinely pure monastics who never touched a drop of alcohol. Non-celebate ngakpas and celibate monastics.
Dzogchen with trekchod(focus on emptiness aspect)/thogal(focus on luminosity aspect) and mahamudra with the 4 yogas and 6 dharmas of Naropa are key practices in the Kagyu and Nyingma lineages and are merged with yidam practice as you ascend through the levels of tantra.
The sexual practices are vastly misunderstood and are only to be engaged in by practitioners who are extremely advanced with their realization of emptiness and experience with the yidam... secret mantra is very powerful, and blissful, but it can also be very dangerous.
I have to say that almost no one in the comments here knows anything about Vajrayana. There are so many misconceptions and confusions. I'd say there are very few in the US who actually know anything about Vajrayana. Just a bunch of fools with opinions. If you want real expertise in Vajrayana, go check out Rangjung Yeshe Gomde, or Pema Osel Ling in CA. Those are REAL and incredibly powerful/realized/sophisticated Vajrayana sanghas with incredible lineages....
Tantra offers bodhisattvas power and rapid evolution by manifesting and interacting with a buddha through skillful means.You unifying with and gain the yidams realization.
Masters have been able to manifest illusions of iron scorpions in the sky through mantra, prevent powerful spirits like nagas from harming entire countires through practices like Vajrakilaya, manifest lightning, and even gain control of the elements so they could walk through rock or change their form into anything by mastering the nadi, prana, and bindu which are practices found in highest yoga tantra. In one life.
I can tell you from personal experience I have encountered more than a few westerners that have gained significant siddhi.
Thanks for your input Geovanni.
Best comment of all. The video spreads much more confusion than clarity. And those who are not practicing this vehicle have no need/reason to know how it works, and those who do will find the explanation rather disturbing
You left out the fact that compassion, selflessness, self discipline and direct experience of emptiness are prerequisites for practicing inner tantra. Inner tantra, in a modern Tibetan context, rather than being about becoming altruistic, it is all about doing altruism. One learns how to harness (transformed) desire as a tool for acquiring power and mastering skills (without the desire generating dukkha!) so one can be of better service to others. Without keeping the prerequisites in mind, however, this could sound more dangerous than it actually is and much of what you have presented would be misleading.
When I first encountered Vajrayana it sounded completely crazy to me and I thought it failed to understand Buddhism properly. After realizing that it had methods for removing intoxication from desire I realized that it did grasp what the Buddha was saying about dukkha and was only using a different strategy for dealing with it. After practicing a form of Vajrayana for a little over a year I have reached the conclusion that Vajrayana practice has the same overall experiential flavor as a renunciate spiritual path, except that transforming greed (desire to acquire) into a more intense form of generosity (desire to acquire for others) makes the altruistic desire stronger and (for me) more natural.
Thanks Rufus, yes I did make the point that much of this material is taken metaphorically and that emptiness is a prerequisite. There is so much to say about it! 🙂
Where did you say that emptiness is a prerequisite in the video? Sorry if I missed it.
Yeah, it is difficult to cover a lot of the important information on this subject in only 30 minutes. Even harder if you are not a practitioner yourself.
Hi Rufus, for example at 21:30 I mentioned emptiness in regard of monastics engaging in certain of these practices. But yes, this was intended to be a video about the early history and development of Vajrayāna, not a video about practice, much less about contemporary practice. Those are other very large and important subjects that would take a *very* long time to discuss on their own. But thanks for bringing them up, they certainly deserve focus! 🙏
Hello Doug, I understand that this video was not intended to be about practice. I am concerned, however, that people who watch this video will get a bad impression of contemporary Vajrayana despite your intentions. If you do not share my concern, perhaps you should read some of the comments on this video. If you added the words "The Early" to the front of the video title, and stressed in the description that this video is not about contemporary practice, then I think most people would not be confused.
None the less, I am very pleased to see you covering Vajrayana which is usually left out of the discussion and I understand that covering this topic is very difficult.
Hi Rufus, thanks for the suggestion. I’ve pinned a comment to the top of the comments section that should clarify for anyone the subject of this video. FWIW, in my histories of Theravāda and Mahāyāna I also dealt almost exclusively with ancient history (before 1000 CE for sure, with one small exception at the end of the video on Theravāda) and didn’t discuss practice in any more detail than in this video. 🙂
@10:33 - cameo by 'Shambhala Squirrel' !!! 😂
😄 🐿️
It is so painful healing. Sometimes feel next moment I can die. Every second feel helplessness. I just truly believe in buddha.
Thanks for the comment Priyanka, be well! 🙏
Listen to teachings of Ajahn chha; great Thai forest monk
My view of this is that it is an example of how people are always able to find a way to rationalize their actions.
Well, that’s one way to look at it Steve.
The issue I have with that comment is whilst part of that is true, it still sounds as if you don’t go further to understanding the philosophy and teachings of it.
Thank you. This is a useful overview of Vajrayana Buddhism. It will certainly help me when I want to read up more about the development of Buddhism and also Tibetan Buddhism. I understand Johannnes Bronkhorst sees the incorporation of Tantric practices into Buddhism as an adaptive response to the growing influence of the new Brahmanism, which not only laid claim to the secret sacred vedic texts and rituals, but also incorporated the cult of Shiva into its practices at a later stage. Brahmanism eventually transformed itself from a socio-political ideology to a religion....to the complex expression known as Hinduism today.
Yes, well it's complicated! 🙂
I am watching you for the 1st time. I am a long time student of Dharma in general, and the Vajrayana in particular. I would like to commend you on giving what is a very good general introduction to an extremely complex subject. #;-) Thanks....I hope this benefits many beings!
Thanks Bradford, very kind of you to say. 🙏
hi sir! your Vdo increase my knowledge a lot.
Glad to hear that! 🙏😊
I love how you explain subjects. You're so informative and well organized in your thoughts.
As I was listening to your explanation about transgressive sexuality being apart of this form of tantra, I thought about the practices of modern day BDSM. Some of these practices require violence, pain, and psychological rituals that can be considered "impure," yet some BDSM practitioners talk about going into trances, like from rope work. Do you think perhaps there could be overlap between the early days, esoteric practices of vajrayana tantra and modern day BDSM? Or are they not nearly close because a diety must be involved? Sorry I am new to understanding these concepts.
I really don't know, Sophie. But it's an interesting question.
Thank you so much for this! It certainly helped me clear some misconceptions I had with the vajrayana school of teaching :)) I think that although esoteric many practitioners and teachers do go straight into it for the immediate benefits and powers theses practices grant. Also loss of credibility if they actually work or realized beings exist in these degenerative times.
You're very welcome Wangdrak! 🙏
Buddhism is so interesting .Not just as the Dharma practice but also seen trough an anthropological /historical lens. Indian Buddhism meeting and matching with Hinduism ,Tibetan Bon, Taoism & Confucianism, Western secularism etc,etc.
Yes, like all things, Buddhism is in a continual process of change and evolution.
So glad I found thy channel
Hey I’m glad you found it as well Kurt! 👍
@@DougsDharma Then we're both glad, not bad!
It’s a start!
This has been helpfull.
My pleasure!
informative thanks
Glad it was helpful!
Very informative
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks!
🙏😊
Great talk. Once I learnt more about this type of Buddhism, I moved on. So many changes and corruptions. Its unfortunate people still teach it as coming from the historical Buddha.
Hey Doug - very new 72 yr old practioner of Acharya Rinpoche's Tara in the Palm of Your Hand and have encountered an amazing experience - teleportation of over a mile while hiking (I casually prayed to Tara just before the hike).
Is this within the possible parameters of a relationship with Tara?
How should I interpret this event?
I have read that Tara is playful but Is that the total extent of this event or is there something more to learn?
Very bewildering for a newbie with no previous experience!!
Really great video, thank you! Question: would it be accurate at all to draw a parallel between the taboo practices of vajrayana and the work of hermeticists, i.e. transmuting lead into gold?
I'm not sure how much of an overlap there was between Tantrism and alchemy, though I believe that historically alchemy arose quite a bit later in the Western tradition than Tantrism in India. It might be something to look into though it would probably take quite a bit of digging in the academic research. 🙂
Ah no sorry my mistake. A quick look over at Wiki shows there might be some overlap indeed between Tantrism and alchemy: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alchemy. As I say, something to look into! 😀
@@DougsDharma thanks for the response and for the link. Again, great video!
It’s funny to read this, I’ve studied Alchemy and have stumbled across this and immediately I thought “ oh ok this is the Buddhist hermetic order of the golden dawn” I think it’s great personally. Mainly because it’s hard to find legit teachers of those practices but this is way more prevalent in modern society.
Thank you
You should be aware about the Newars then. Vajrayana/Tantra Buddhism is also called as Newar Buddhism. Newar Buddhists have been protecting the Vajrayana and Tantric Buddhism inside Kathmandu Valley for millenium, and co-exist with Newar Hindus (Shaivites and Shaktas). Newar society is the last remaining example of a pre-Islamic Indic society/civilization that combines aspects of Tantra and the use of Sanskrit language as their key practise, and in Newar society the Vajrayana priests (Vajracharyas) enjoy equal status with the Brahmanical priests (Brahmins).
Thanks for the info zattatack, very interesting!
Thank you 🙏🏻
You're very welcome Rodz! 🙏
This was a great video sir, can you make another one on buddhist Tantric deities, I really wanna know the reason behind their wrathful figures
Most of my focus is on early Buddhism, but I might eventually do more on Tantric Buddhism as well.
I think the wrathful figures are more so geared at “ the poisons of ones own mind” ? At least that’s what I’m taking from things I’m reading.
@Doug's Dharma': Some questions: What forms of Mahayana do "not" require Vajrayana practice? I am on one hand deeply drawn to Buddhism, having done self-study for a several years now, exploring the idea of making it "formal," perhaps taking vows, and researching the nuances of the different sects. While I am drawn to the Bodhisattva aspiration, I am getting concerned about all the rituals I am learning about in Tibetan Buddhism (especially this). And for these reasons, it seems I keep looking back at Theraveda and possibly Zen, but would you say even those (in the "religion" of Buddhism), are also ritualistic like this? Do you need to take vows in Theraveda and Zen to "become a Buddhist"? I'm not seeing that in my research, at least for Theraveda. Thanks.
I keep hearing the word "power," and it seems the drive to possess that starts to deviate from fundamental Buddhist values.
It’s a complicated question Bernadette. I did an earlier video on ‘becoming buddhist’ that you can see here: ua-cam.com/video/tK_sTcv0dg0/v-deo.html . Vajrayāna Buddhism is the most ritualistic of all, though there are some rituals in traditional forms of Theravāda as well, and in Zen. Of all forms of Buddhism I’d say Vipassana/Insight Buddhism is the least ritualistic; it’s a contemporary form of Theravāda. And of course there is secular Buddhism which is more of a personal stance at this point than an established school, though it’s somewhere in between. The forms of Mahāyāna that are most Vajrayāna-like are mostly those from Tibet, though you can find “esoteric” (= Vajrayāna) Buddhism in China, Japan, even in some forms of Theravāda. There is a lot of mixing. I’d suggest go to a local center that interests you and ask them how they practice and what they expect.
This video is 4 years old but it is a very good scholarly video, I just want to say about certain teachers being allowed to practice certain illicit actions like casual sex, I'm not very well read in VB but it might be about siddhas who have realized the emptiness of all things they sometimes might perform certain things out of perceived madness but it is to show the unawakened beings in rare moments that because they are awakened certain teleological actions do not correlate with it's perceived unawakened deontological result or desire from the awakened being.
Very accurate explanation
Thanks Kelvin! 🙏
Do u practice vajrayana?
Hi Doug. Is Vajrayana Buddhism a synonymous of Tantric Buddhism?
Is Tibetan Buddhism one kind of Vajrayana Buddhism?
Hi Jorge, as I understand it Vajrayāna is basically synonymous with Tantric Buddhism. There may be some subtle distinction between them but if there is it is slight. Tibetan Buddhism encompasses both Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna Buddhism, but it is perhaps the current area of the world where Vajrayāna is practiced most.
Nice explanations. Vids could benefit from the lock focus and lock exposure functions on the camera :0)
Thanks Michael. Yes the camera does "hunt" a bit here and there. I prefer not to lock it down for fear of ending up with the whole shot out of focus rather than here and there, but it is a decision with potential downsides. 🙂
@@DougsDharma Hey Doug - if you are able to close the aperture down, you will get a deeper depth of field and everything (or more things, depending on how far you go) will be in focus, including you! Maybe u already know this
That’s right Michael, though I do like the ‘bokeh’ look too. At any rate I’m mostly working in more controlled conditions nowadays so fewer focus issues. 🙂
Seen on 20th March 2020. Very informative and useful after seeing the Buddhism Exhibition at the British Library in Feb 2020. This exhibition also cited Vajrayana Buddhism in the spread of Buddhism after Theravada and Mahayana. St Augustine's CONFESSIONS refers to Manichaeism of 3 rd century (from Persia). This appears to be echoed in Vajrayana or Tantric Buddhism albeit much later as 7 the century. Some Indian scholars say that people went from India to West Asia. I wonder cross-fertilisation of ancient religious cultures had taken place in the background when Christianity and Islam were moving forward 1c to 7c. Christianity already taken roots in India in the 1 c - St Thomas and later Nestorian traditions in 7c. Islam and Sifi traditions soon followed into India after 7 c.
There was certainly a lot of cross-fertilization from the time of Alexander onwards, but in general sophisticated philosophical doctrines don’t travel well or easily. There is a lot of misunderstanding. See for example my video on whether the Buddha was a Christian saint: ua-cam.com/video/wFtWu4hDMME/v-deo.html
@@DougsDharma Thanks. I saw it and it's fascinating. As you say misunderstanding can be factor. Penny drops now about Surah 4/157 - how the Quran sees the crucification of Jesus. Also how the divine nature of Jesus - Son of God is not understood in Islam. 3rd C Nicene Creed not understood by 7th C Muslims. Back to Buddha: Once we accept rebirth many times, it is quite possible for Hindus and Buddhists and other people of other faiths to be reborn among Christian communities. I guess is that Christian life is their last life. ie God will not allow another rebirth.
such a well organized and easy to follow explanation of Vajrayana Buddhism for the audience. i have a question and observation. 1. what were the geographical locations for these practices? 2. in the shambhala meditation center, the former Sakyong stepped down after, allegedly, sexual misconduct was charged against him by women in the sangha. without knowing the specifics, it's hard to say if this was outright abuse or "transgressive" practices that western practitioners were unable to stomach. but having watched this video, i think gave some historical context to the type of conflicts that still occur as a result.
It's hard to say where these practices were geographically located, since my understanding is that they were practiced at least by some in most places that Buddhism was practiced. There are even some esoteric/tantric practitioners among the Theravāda. (Though I'm not sure how their approach would have differed). For the most part nowadays tantric practices are in Tibet and East Asia.
Before I got a kundalini Awakening, in the mornings before opening my eyes, I would repeatedly see translucent monks, filling their lungs with light, then breathing out their light as a halo, that contained their body. But the body they previously had, now without the light, dried up to a skeleton that crumbled into dust.
🙏💐 Thank you.
Is Vajrayana and Vajravogini practices are one and the same?
Please reply. 🌸
Do you mean ‘vajrayoginī’? If so, I think it’s a variety of Vajrayāna practice.
The primary deity for hindu tantric practices is kali, and if i am not mistaken tantrayana Buddhism emphasises on the feminine also
A monk engaging in sex with a female commits a parajika offence and is automatically and on the spot disrobed and no longer a monk and not alowed to reordain in the same lifetime, other forms of sexual activity even masturbation (any forms of intentional emission of semen) are Sanghadisesa offences and entail meetings of the Sangha which is required to disrobe the monk after a maximum of 3 offenses.
That is the Law set forth by the historical Buddha for the entire Sangha.
Doug. Need your help. What are the '5 sounds' in Shingon mantra chanting. If you wish this to remain private, please let me know how I can contact you through text or email.
My focus is mostly on the early material and this is much later, so I will have to leave the answer to another!
It's interesting to see many people in the comments say that they have a lack of understanding of this branch of Buddhism. In Vajrayana, it is said that it takes several million lifetimes to arrive at this dharma, so the fact that many people find it strange is to be expected. What I CAN tell you is that, at least, in my experience, I feel it is 100% real. And I didn't feel that way until I got possessed myself, albeit not by a Buddhist deity or a daka/dakini. My possession experience actually happened in a Vodou ceremony, and it led me to tantra and non-duality as an overarching philosophy. It was quite powerful and it has had a lasting effect on me to this very day. There are phenomena out there that simply cannot be explained by western or secular belief systems (but that can be explained by Mahayana/Vajrayana philosophy).
Thanks 💐
My pleasure wale olapo!
I heard that there was a school of Buddhism that differs from the path of boddhisatva type Buddhist paths in that it is more concerned with the practitioners singular path and ascension, instead of a bodhisattva’s path which is concerned about impacting the lives of other beings. Does anyone know what path I’m referring to?
Hi Gregory, you could be talking about the so called “Hinayāna” (the “lesser vehicle”), which is a term of abuse for other schools that the Mahāyāna contrasted itself with. There is no real “Hinayāna” school, though there is early Buddhism and the Theravāda which are not Mahāyāna and do not privilege the Bodhisattva Path.
I would love to hear about the references that count to Taoist and Hindu energy systems as possible influences for subtle Vajrayāna microcosmology. As far as I am concerned, the theories now being handled of the emergence of chakra systems are: 1-David Gordon White: which explains that the chakras as an organized system appear in Buddhist texts such as Hevajra Tantra and Caryagiti. 2-George Feuerstein: which explains that they existed before Buddhism itself, in the Upaniśads. 3-Gavin Flood: which explains that they appear simultaneously in the tantric factions of Hinduism and Buddhism, without determining an influence of one on the other.
Maitrī
Hm, thanks for the info Jonathan.
@@DougsDharma You're Welcome!
PS: I would love to see you in a video explaining your point of view on a very controversial topic: the relationship between psychedelic drugs and Buddhism. We know that the historical use of entheogens such as C. sativa (R. C. Parker), D. metel (B. Siklos and R. C . Parker) and perhaps fungi such as A. muscaria (S. Hajicek-Dobberstein and M. Crowley) or Ps. cubensis (M. Crowley), is more related to the Indo-Tibetan Vajrayāna path. But I see secular Buddhists talking about the psychological and scientific value of such substances. So, what is your approach?
Maitrī