Vajrayana is tantric buddhism San Ten Chan Spreaker on Radio Podcast on youtube @SanTenChan
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Date: 19/06/2013

#Vajrayana is #tantricbuddhism San Ten Chan Spreaker on Radio Podcast #FreeTibet #tibet #PodCast #SanTenChan http://www.spreaker.com/user/5877385/vajrayana_is_tantric_buddhism
#Vajrayana  is also known as #TantricBuddhism, #Tantrayana, Mantrayana, Secret Mantra, Esoteric Buddhism and the Diamond Way or Thunderbolt Way. Vajrayana is a complex and multifaceted system of Buddhist thought and practice which evolved over several centuries.According to Vajrayana scriptures Vajrayana refers to one of three vehicles or routes to enlightenment, the other two being the Theravada and Mahayana.
Founded by the Indian Mahasiddhas, Vajrayana subscribes to Buddhist tantric literature.
History of Vajrayana.Although the first tantric Buddhist texts appeared in India in the 3rd century and continued to appear until the 12th century,scholars such as Hirakawa Akira assert that the Vajrayana probably came into existence in the 6th or 7th century, while the term Vajrayana itself first appeared in the 8th century. The Vajrayana was preceded by the Mantrayana, and then followed by the Sahajayana and Kalachakrayana.
India.The period of Indian Vajrayana Buddhism has been classified as the fifthor finalperiod of Indian Buddhism. The literature of Vajrayana is absent from the oldest Buddhist literature of the Pali Canon and the Agamas.Mythological origins.In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, it is claimed that the historical Shakyamuni Buddha taught tantra, but that since these are 'secret' teachings, confined to the guru/disciple relationship, they were generally written down long after the Buddha's other teachings, the Pali Canon and the Mahayana sutras. The Vajrayana tradition holds that its teachings were first expounded by the Buddha sixteen years after his enlightenment. Historians have identified an early stage of Mantrayana beginning in the 4th century, and argue that assigning the teachings to the historical Buddha is "patently absurd."According to some traditions, Tantric Buddhism first developed in Uddiyana, a country which was divided into the two kingdoms Samba?a and Lankapuri. Samba?a has been identified with Sambalpur and Lankapuri with Subarnapura (Sonepur). Indrabhuti, the king of Sambalpur founded Vajrayana, while his sister, who was married to Prince (Yuvaraja) Jalendra of Lankapuri (Sonepur), founded Sahajayana.
Historical origins
Mantrayana and Vajrayana
Although the Vajrayana claims to be as ancient and authentic as any other Buddhist school, it may have grown up gradually in an environment with previously existing texts such as the mahasannipata and the ratnaketudharani. The basic position of Vajrayana is still the same as the early Buddhist position of not-self: there is nothing which is eternal.The changes that took place reflected the changing society of medieval India: the presentation changed, the techniques of the way to enlightenment changed, and the outward appearance of Buddhism came to be dominated by ritualism, and the array of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and gods and goddesses.
There are differing views as to where in the Indian sub-continent that Vajrayana began. There are assumptions about the origin of Vajrayana in Bengal,Uddiyana, located at Odisha, or in the modern day Swat Valley in Pakistan.The earliest texts appeared around the early 4th century. Nalanda University in eastern India became a center for the development of Vajrayana theory, although it is likely that the university followed, rather than led, the early Tantric movement.Only from the 7thor the beginning of the 8th century, tantric techniques and approaches increasingly dominated Buddhist practice in India.From the 7th century onwards many popular religious elements of a heterogeneous nature were incorporated into Mahayana Buddhism, which finally resulted in the appearance of Vajrayana, Kalachakrayana, and Sahajayana Tantric Buddhism. These new Tantric cults of Buddhism introduced Mantra, Mudra and Mandala, along with six tantric Abhicharas (practices) such as Marana (Death), Stambhana, Sammohana, Vidvesan, Uchchatana and Vajikarana. These cults revived primitive beliefs and practices, a simpler and less formal approach to the personal god, a liberal and respectful attitude towards women, and denial of the caste system.India would continue as the source of leading-edge Vajrayana practices up until the 11th century, producing many renowned Mahasiddha.(Vajrayana) Buddhism had mostly died out in India by the 13th century, and tantric versions of Buddhism and Hinduism were also experiencing pressure from invading Islamic armies. By that time, the vast majority of the practices were also manifest in Tibet, where they were preserved until recently.In the second half of the 20th century a sizable number of Tibetan exiles fled the oppressive, anti-religious rule of the Communist Chinese to establish Tibetan Buddhist communities in northern India, particularly around Dharamsala.Sahajayana and Kalachakrayana #casalpalocco