Questions tagged [vajrayana]
Vajrayāna is also known as Tantric Buddhism, Tantrayāna, Mantrayāna, Secret Mantra, Esoteric Buddhism and the Diamond Way or Thunderbolt Way. According to Vajrayāna scriptures "Vajrayāna" refers to one of three vehicles or routes to enlightenment, the other two being the Hinayāna and Mahayana.
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What comes first: effort or motivation?
Master Shi Heng Yi referred to Laozi (Chinese Taoist Teacher) as saying that
It's better to remain clam and do nothing while achieving nothing than doing a lot and investing a lot of effort and ...
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Vajrayana Buddhism: Teachings the Buddha reserved for "only some individuals"?
Wikipedia says this about Vajrayana Buddhism:
"According to several Buddhist tantras as well as traditional Tibetan Buddhist sources, the tantras and the Vajrayana was taught by the Buddha ...
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Books for understanding Tibetan Buddhism
I have been practicing Buddhist meditation for a few years, mostly from reading translations of the Buddha's original discourses, as well as some Prajnaparamita sutras from Mahayana Buddhism. I've ...
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I have a question about mantra, and Vajrayana Buddhism?
My question is this is the mantra Om Ah Hum Benza Guru Padma Siddhi Hum a Vajrayana mantra? Can I chant it? I am asking because, I’m wondering why I’ve had the company of hallucinations? Will the ...
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Could anyone explain: (1) What are the advantages of practicing Guru Yoga? (2) Why (or What are the reasons) practicing Guru Yoga has such advantages?
The question is just the title. Moreover, AFAIK, currently there are 2 editions of the 14th Dalai Lama Guru Yoga.
(1) "The Source of All Attainments: The Yoga of the Inseparability of the Guru ...
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What are the original colors of the 7 main chakras?
I've seen variations on some of the last few chakras as white instead of violet or purple, so I'm wondering what are the official/original - from Sanskrit (?) - colors?
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Transcription of Yamāntaka mantra chanting fragment
I am a total outsider not well-versed in the Buddhist tradition, and apologize in advance if some of the terms/names I'll write are placed out of context or misused.
To cut the story short, I am ...
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Vajrasatva Practice as training in ultimate Bodhicitta?
I am doing Vajrasatva purification practice, and wonder whether this is a training in Ultimate Bodhicitta?
As stated in the Scriptures related to Mind Training: one should first train in Ultimate ...
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Does Vajrayana accept the idea that Buddha placed Lord Yama (a supposed Bodhisattva) in charge of the hell realms to ensure karmic retribution?
In reading this answer to another question I came across this link which is seemingly a Tibetan Buddhist site proclaiming the following:
In Buddhism the two beings that are often confused with the ...
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Does Vajrayana Buddhism incorporate the use of cannabis?
I'm reading a Wikipedia article on Vajrayana Buddhism and it says: "In Tantric Buddhism, which originated in the Tibeto-Himalayan region, cannabis serves as an important part of a traditional ritual......
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Vajrayana, Mahayana, Theravada, "Magic", Using breath control as an anchor to meditation? Where are the boundaries of Bhuddism that merit down votes?
Let us rock the boat for a moment, in intellectual detached discourse, free of the emotions, if this is possible?
My question:
Is this a group tailored and friendly only to Theravada /Pali Canon?
Are ...
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Monkey Year Teaching (Drikung-Kagyu)
My questions concern Monkey Year Teaching held by Kagyu lineage (Great Phowa of Chagtsugma).
Is this type of Phowa similar for all Monkey Year Teachings held through the Kagyu lineage?
What is the ...
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What will the Satipatthana Sutta teach me?
I am completely new to all this (buddhism, meditation etc...) but I really want to begin somewhere
I found this guy called Stephen Procter who has this free guided meditation program (52 guided ...
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Finding The Right Buddhist "Vehicle" / Sect For An Individual
I know there are three vehicles in Buddhism: Therevada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. It seems there are so many sects of buddhism. Each of these three vehicles has sub-sects, (Zen, Pureland). Do the ...
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What path does B. Alan Wallace teach?
I am long time student of Chogyam Trungpa. Unfortunately, the current situation at the sangha (now Shambhala International) is in a state of chaos. I am interested in becoming B. Alan Wallace's ...
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Is there a higher alaya in Vajrayana?
Is there a higher alaya in mahamudra that is separate from the lower alaya the vijnana skandha?
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Milarepa and Avalokiteshvara practice
In the Vajrayana tradition, where did Milarepa state that it was possible to use the practice of Chenrézik (Avalokiteshvara) instead of the one of Hevajra?
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Yama depiction on various Tankas
I saw many images of the circle of existence represented with Yama, the lord of death, with a tiger skin and a third eye. Why is he represented in this way?
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What are the differences between sex cults and the tantric tradition?
What is the difference between sex cults, and the tantric tradition? I understand that the latter has a lot of tradition and ritual behind it
And while there is a strict monastic code, I imagine, in ...
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if deities are merely creations of mind,how can there be purelands?
relying on Guru Rinpoche is nothing but a skillful means for realizing and empowering ourselves with the phenomena of our own pure, joyful, and powerful perceptions and experiences, which arise from ...
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Do Beings go into total unconsciousness before attaining Buddhahood?
I am asking the Vajrayana/Mahayana view as I already know the theravada view.I heard that Buddhas only have jnana and not vijnana wich means they are inert like rocks but 'act' based on past merit and ...
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Do Buddhas have any awareness at all? [duplicate]
I am asking moreso the mahayana/Vajrayana view as I know the theravada one.
do buddhas have any functional kind of awareness at all,or are they inert like rocks?a mahayanika told me that Buddhas have ...
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What does female Buddha mean?
I got introduced to this "Female Buddha" when I was looking name for my friend's daughter.
So what does female Buddha mean?
Wikipedia :
Tara (Buddhism)
Tara (Sanskrit: तारा, tārā; Tib. ...
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Mind-Stream Continuum's Origination?
What is the origination of the mind-stream continuum? What are the basic elements that make up the mind-stream continuum?
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What teachings do all schools of Buddhism share?
Among the many schools and traditions, what core teachings are shared by all Buddhists?
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Doesn't mahāyāna have a classification for jhānas?
Is it me or is it incredibly difficult to find resources on the 4 (or 8, with the arupas) jhānas and how to reach them in the mahāyāna/vajrayāna literature? Apart from vague references to samādhi in ...
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Is it a bad heavy karma to criticize or give up your guru?
"However it is said in the Guhyasamaja Root Tantra:"
"If sentient beings commit an action
As grave as the five heinous crimes
He [still] can attain the superior Vajra Vehicle,
But who from within ...
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Why are there so many different paths?
I will admit I am just starting to look into buddhism and such. I am confused because so far I understand that the Satipatthana sutta provides everything anyone needs to become 'enlightened'.
If ...
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Satori and stream entry
Is Satori like a stage of stream entry? Is Satori only an intellectual knowing or something deeper than that?
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Sutra Study as Meditation?
When studying the sutras should that be considered a form of meditation, if so what are the guidelines for sutra meditation?
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To debate or not to debate? and When to debate? and How to debate?
When we have several people with different understanding of Buddhism, how should we decide who is right? Debate is very tempting in Buddhism, but on the other hand, we must respect other people's ...
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Are Vajrayana and Tibetan Buddhism the same thing?
This is a hugely amateurish question, for which I apologize, but: are Vajrayana and Tibetan Buddhism the same thing? If not, how are they related?
In particular, does the term "Tibetan Buddhism" ...
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Vajra Posture vs Lotus Posture -- the same or male vs female?
I always thought that "Vajra Posture" and "Lotus Posture" were simply two names for the same thing. But recently somebody told me that Vajra Posture is for males and Lotus Posture for females, though ...
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Is sky burial ritual inhumane and if not what is the reason for doing it?
When it seems inhumane, why is it practiced?
I know Buddha didn't find.
Wikipedia document says:
Sky burial (Tibetan: བྱ་གཏོར་, Wylie: bya gtor, lit. "bird-scattered" is a funeral practice ...
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How does Shambhala differ from traditional Vajrayana Buddhism as it is practiced in Asia?
How is Shambhala Buddhism as founded by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and continued by folks like Pema Chodron different from traditional Tantric Buddhism such as that practiced by the Dalai Lama? Does ...
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Guru Yoga at Home?
I recently started attending Karma Kagyu meditations and did the guided Guru Yoga meditation. Is it suitable to be done (with youtube for example) at home or just at Sangha? I feel like I'd like to be ...
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How did Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche justify drinking alcohol?
How did Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche justify drinking alcohol? How did his students justify his drinking? Is it possible an enlightened being could or would drink alcohol if they had been physically ...
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Om - meaning and "significance" of it in Buddhism - esp. in theravada?
Many buddhist mantras have Om/Aum in starting of it. In buddhism, esp. theravada, what is the meaning and "significance" of "Om"?
(note:although I am open to mahayana,vajrayana interpretations too as ...
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Does a sexual union with one's body incarnation of an opposite sex count as a misconduct?
According to Mahayana doctrine (at least within Nyingma linbeage), different incarnations of body, mind and/or speech of a same sentient being are possible.
By which I deduce that a sentient being of ...
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Concentrating on Breathing
I have been experiencing energy flow on my head,especially at the tempels, even after meditation. I have only started on Breathing concentration. What is it? I have stopped meditation for fear of ...
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What is a refuge tree?
What is the nature of a refuge tree(s)? How does one incorporate a refuge tree(s) into their practice?
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What are "lower yanas"
How is it that 3 separate schools of Buddhism that developed they're own separate characteristics and sometimes even developed different fundamental teachings are taught as lower, middle and greater ...
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Vajrayana VS theravada - after death theories - do they contradict each other?
As far as i understand the having opposing views about what happens between after you die until you are reborn again right ? or do they "sit together" some how ?
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How do Bodhisattva vow takers avoid stream entry?
According to the suttas in SN13, a stream enterer (or stream winner or sotapanna) only has at most, seven remaining lifetimes, before they are permanently freed from suffering.
On the other hand, ...
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How do Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhists make sense of Maitreya's prophecy?
How do Mayahana and Vajrayana Buddhists make sense of Maiterya's prophecy?
I know for a fact that some e.g. son masters claimed to have achieved anuttara samyak sambodhi, and that some Vajrayana ...
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Tathagatagarbha and dhammakaya
Can we consider 'tathagatagarbha' and 'dhammakaya' as synonyms? If not, what is the difference between those words.
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What are the texts of Vajrāyana Buddhism? And where can I get?
What are the scriptures of Vajrāyana Buddhism? Or texts related?
Where can I get scriptures or texts on Vajrāyana Buddhism?
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What is the Buddhist perspective on passively altering your subconcious?
Firstly I'd like to provide some context:
When I first began getting into the Buddhist teachings, specifically that of the Theravada tradition, I'd often do things such as passively play the ...
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Different transmissions for reciting various versions of a same mantra acc. to any of Vajrayana branches
Tashi delek! My question concerns the mantra reciting in Vajrayana tradition, where some Buddhist deities (not to be confused with the mundane ones) may have several versions of a same mantra.
That ...
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Are there any cultural or religious guidelines for Buddhist tattoos?
I've notice people on Instagram are getting tattoos of Mahakala and other Buddhist deities. Are there any cultural or religious guidelines to consider when getting a tattoo of a Dharmapala or any ...
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