Vajrayana

E59438

Buddhist tradition esoteric Buddhism form of Buddhism tantric Buddhism

Vajrayana is a form of Buddhism known for its esoteric teachings, tantric practices, and use of ritual and symbolism as rapid paths to enlightenment.

Aliases (9)

Statements (76)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	Buddhist tradition → esoteric Buddhism → form of Buddhism → tantric Buddhism →
basedOn	Mahayana Buddhism →
coreConcept	deity yoga → emphasis on rapid path to enlightenment → esoteric teachings transmitted through initiation → guru devotion → transformation of passions into wisdom → use of mandalas → use of mantras → use of mudras → use of ritual as a path to awakening → use of symbolism as a path to awakening → use of tantric methods as path to enlightenment → view of enlightenment as already present nature of mind →
developedFrom	Indian Mahayana Buddhism →
distinguishedBy	complex ritual systems → secret or restricted teachings → use of sacred sound → use of sacred visualization →
emphasizes	bodhicitta → emptiness view → pure perception of all phenomena → union of wisdom and method →
etymologyLanguage	Sanskrit →
etymologyMeaning	Vajra means thunderbolt or diamond → Yana means vehicle →
flourishedIn	Himalayan region → Mongolia → Tibet →
hasAlternativeName	Diamond Vehicle → Esoteric Buddhism → Mantrayana → Secret Mantra Vehicle → Tantric Buddhism → Thunderbolt Vehicle →
hasEthicalBasis	Bodhisattva vows → tantric vows →
hasGoal	Buddhahood in one lifetime → swift attainment of enlightenment →
hasKeyFigure	lama → tantric guru → vajra master →
hasLineageStructure	teacher to disciple transmission →
hasScripturalBasis	Buddhist tantras → Mahayana sutras →
historicalPeriodOfFormation	mid first millennium CE →
includesPractice	guru yoga → initiation ceremonies → mandala offering → mantra recitation → tantric ritual → visualization of deities → yoga of subtle body channels and winds →
originatedIn	India →
presentIn	Bhutan → China → Japan → Korea → Nepal → Western countries →
relatedTradition	Esoteric Buddhism in East Asia → Shingon Buddhism → Tibetan Buddhism →
requires	empowerment from qualified teacher → oral transmission of texts → secret instructions →
requiresPrerequisite	Mahayana motivation → understanding of emptiness →
sharesDoctrinesWith	Mahayana Buddhism →
usesSymbol	bell → mandala → ritual implements → vajra →

Referenced by (40)

Subject (surface form when different)	Predicate
Bhutan ("Vajrayana Buddhism") → Dalai Lama ("Tibetan Buddhism") → Dragon King ("Vajrayana Buddhism") → Kertanegara ("Tantric Buddhism") → Kublai Khan ("Tibetan Buddhism") → Mengjiang ("Tibetan Buddhism") → Ngalop ("Vajrayana Buddhism") → Qing dynasty ("Tibetan Buddhism") → Sharchop ("Vajrayana Buddhism") → Srivijaya Empire ("Vajrayana Buddhism") →	religion
Five Precepts ("Vajrayana Buddhism") → Shakyamuni Buddha ("Vajrayāna Buddhism") → Vesak ("Vajrayana Buddhism") →	associatedWith
Vajrayana ("Tantric Buddhism") → Vajrayana ("Esoteric Buddhism") → Vajrayana ("Mantrayana") →	hasAlternativeName
Buddhism → Buddhism ("Tibetan Buddhism") →	majorBranch
Mongolia ("Tibetan Buddhism") → Tibet Autonomous Region ("Tibetan Buddhism") →	majorReligion
Four Noble Truths ("Vajrayana Buddhism") → Sri Yantra ("Tantra") →	tradition
Middle Way ("Vajrayana Buddhism") →	centralToSchool
Theravada →	contrastedWith
Western China ("Tibetan Buddhism") →	hasReligion
Eastern religions ("Vajrayana Buddhism") →	includes
Shingon Buddhism ("Tantric Buddhism") →	influencedBy
Tibet Autonomous Region ("Tibetan Buddhism") →	knownFor
Srivijaya Empire ("Vajrayana Buddhism") →	majorReligionCenterFor
Bhutan ("Vajrayana Buddhism") →	nationalReligion
Shingon Buddhism ("Vajrayana Buddhism") →	parentTradition
Sangha ("Vajrayana Buddhism") →	presentInTradition
Thimphu ("Vajrayana Buddhism") →	primaryReligion
Druk Gyalpo ("Vajrayana Buddhism") →	religionAssociated
Baul ("Tantric Buddhism") →	religiousInfluence
Kutaraja ("Buddhist Tantrism") →	religiousTradition
Bodhi tree ("Vajrayana Buddhism") →	sacredIn
Tibetan Kangyur ("Vajrayana Buddhism") →	scope
Tripitaka ("Vajrayana Buddhists") →	usedBy
Maitreya ("Vajrayana Buddhism") →	veneratedIn