Buddhism^LJ Sex^L and Magic Class Religion 290

Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism

• Tantra: Systems of practice and meditation derived from esoteric texts.

  • Emphasizes cognitive transformation through visualization, symbols, and ritual.

  • Contributes to oral traditions, practices, ideas, and images in modern Tibetan Buddhism.

Key Concepts in Tibetan Buddhism

• Vajrayana (Diamond Vehicle):

  • Esoteric and mystical, passed from teacher to student.

  • Originated in North India around 400 CE.

  • Disappeared from India by 1200 CE but spread into Tibet by the 7th century.

  • Syncretism with Shamanic Bon Religion, yet retains core Tantric essence.

  • Seeks to attain nirvana in a single lifetime by utilizing all human energies, including bodily energies.

  • Integrates and balances male and female energies through rituals.

Ritual Practices

• Mudras: Symbolic gestures made by hands and fingers.

• Mantras: Sacred sounds that help to balance energies and open the mind’s eye.

• The goal is union with the bodhisattva, recognized in partners as a mystical relationship.

• Enlightenment emerges through experiential realization that opposites are inherently the same (sunyata).

• Taboo elements are embraced in rituals as they are powerful for transcending duality (pure/impure, good/evil).

Historical Context

• Maurya Empire (Buddhist Empire): Falls around 590 AD, leading to land purchases by various groups.

• Transition into feudalism marked by the introduction of Tantric practices for coronation rituals.

Symbolism and Language of Buddhist Tantras

• Mandala (Circle): Used for creating alliances and explaining the religion’s teachings, including medicinal practices.

• Sympathetic Magic: Superstitions aimed at larger-scale effects.

• Tantric Texts: Enigmatic language encoding ordinary words with esoteric meanings (e.g., Lotus = Vagina, Vajra = Penis).

Decline of Indian Buddhism (10th-12th Century CE)

• Factors include the decline of royal rulers, Hindu revivalism, economic shifts, and sectarian divisions.

Tantric Teachings

• Consist of teachings for liberation passed down from deities through initiation rituals.

• Includes a variety of symbolic concepts concerning gender (Feminine = Wisdom, Masculine = Method).

Historical Development

• Ancient Period: 2600 BCE to Vedic Period - evolution of worship and deity representation.

• The Dasyu: Referencing non-Aryan groups/subcultures characterized by worship practices.

• Aghori: Notorious Tantric group known for unconventional practices.

• Linga: Represents the cosmic duality of male and female, crucial in worship contexts.

Major Philosophical Concepts

• Karma and Rebirth: The cycle of birth (Samsara), the goal of liberation (Moksha for Hinduism, Nirvana for Buddhism).

• Differentiation in the caste system, including Purusha classification (Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra).

Higher Tantric Practices

• Four Classes of Tantra:

  1. Action (External rituals for worldly gains and magic).

  2. Performance (Spiritual growth aspirations).

  3. Yoga (Mental envisioning and physical practices).

  4. Highest Yoga Tantra (Advanced sexual practices and deity visualizations).

Initiation Types in Tantra

• Types of Initiation:

  1. Vase (A, P, Y)

  2. Secret (HYT)

  3. Knowledge/Wisdom (HYT)

  4. Word (HYT)

Social Structure and Caste System

• Caste System: Roles and duties defined by one's caste at birth, dictating societal interaction.

  • Body Diagram:

    • Representing streams of chakra flow and potential blockages (Nadis: Sushumna, Pingala, Ida).

Cultural Practices and Modern Observances

• Kumbh Mela: Sacred site attracting 400 million people for spiritual cleansing in the Ganges River.

Research Perspectives

• Emic vs. Edic: Essential dichotomies in understanding and interpreting cultural behaviors; challenges in applying both approaches in research contexts.