page_title: Tibetan Buddhism
section_title: Vajrayāna
hierarchical_section_title: Tibetan Buddhism / Teachings / Vajrayāna
caption_attribution_description: English: Tibet, 18th century Mineral Pigments on Cloth 16 3/4 X 28 Inches Owned and freely licensed by Walter Arader. The figures at top are centered by Vajradhara flanked by Saroruhavajra (left) and Virupa (right). At the top left is Khon Konchog Gyalpo, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo and Jetsun Dragpa Gyaltsen. At the top right side are Gayadhara, Drogmi Lotsawa and Kedrub Geleg Pal Zangpo. At the bottom center is Panjarnata Mahakala, the principle protector for the Hevajra system of Tantric practice. http://www.walteraraderart.com/himalayan-art/paintings/hevajra-thanka
context_page_description: Tibetan Buddhism is the form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet, where it is the dominant philosophy. It is also found in the regions surrounding the Himalayas, much of Central Asia, the Southern Siberian regions such as Tuva, as well as Mongolia.
  Tibetan Buddhism is a form of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism stemming from the latest stages of Indian Buddhism. It thus preserves "the Tantric status quo of eighth-century India," inclusive of native Tibetan developments and practices. In the pre-modern era, Tibetan Buddhism spread outside of Tibet primarily due to the influence of the Mongol Yuan dynasty, founded by Kublai Khan, which ruled China, Mongolia and parts of Siberia. In the modern era, it has spread outside of Asia due to the efforts of the Tibetan diaspora.
  Apart from classical Mahayana Buddhist practices like the six perfections, Tibetan Buddhism also includes Tantric practices, such as deity yoga and the Six Dharmas of Naropa. Its main goal is Buddhahood or rainbow body. The main language of scriptural study in this tradition is classical Tibetan.
  Tibetan Buddhism has four major schools, namely Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug.
context_section_description: Tibetan Buddhism is a form of Vajrayāna (Vajra vehicle), "Secret Mantra" (Skt. guhyamantra) or Buddhist Tantra, affirming the views espoused in the texts known as the Buddhist Tantras (dating from around the 7th century CE onwards).
  Tantra (Tib. rgyud) generally refers to forms of religious practice which emphasize the use of unique visualizations, ideas, symbols and rituals for inner transformation. The Vajrayana is seen by its adherents as the fastest and most powerful vehicle for enlightenment because it contains many skillful means (upaya) and because it takes the effect (Buddhahood itself, or Buddha nature) as the path (and hence is sometimes known as the "effect vehicle", phalayana).
  An important element of Tantric practice are tantric deities and their mandalas. These deities come in peaceful (shiwa) and fierce (trowo) forms.
  Tantric texts also generally affirm the use of sense pleasures and other defilements in Tantric ritual as a path to enlightenment, as opposed to non-Tantric Buddhism which affirms that one must renounce all sense pleasures. These practices are based on the theory of transformation which states that negative or sensual mental factors and physical actions can be cultivated and transformed in a ritual setting. As the Hevajra tantra states:
  Those things by which evil men are bound, others turn into means and gain thereby release from the bonds of existence. By passion the world is bound, by passion too it is released, but by heretical Buddhists this practice of reversals is not known.
  Another element of the Tantras is their use of transgressive practices, such as drinking taboo substances such as alcohol or sexual yoga. While in many cases these transgressions were interpreted only symbolically, in other cases they are practiced literally.
caption: A depiction of the tantric figures Hevajra and Nairātmyā, Tibet, 18th Century.
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