Dakini Translations - Adele Tomlin
About Mahayana Buddhism
Mahayana Buddhism is the Buddhism of Northern India, the Himalayas, China and East Asia.
The Buddhist Center - Thubten Norbu Ling
3 stages of Evolution of Tantric Buddhism
Tantric Buddhism usually refers to a special esoteric school of Buddhist philosophy, practice, and art ‘based on treatises known as tantras’.
It emerged in northeast India during the fifth or sixth centuries CE and then formed its distinctive features around the seventh century CE. Afterward, it expanded geographically outward to the Himalayas, East Asia,
and Southeast Asia.
What Is Tantra?
Countless practices of several Asian religions have been lumped together by western scholars under the heading "tantra." The .
The 4 Phases of The Development of Buddhism in India
Buddhism was introduced to Indians by Shakyamuni Buddha who lived in India in the sixth century BCE,
a time of boom of religious and philosophical thought from Greece to China. Born as the crown prince of the great Shakya Kingdom, the youth Siddhartha Gautama was prepared to be a king in accordance
with the wishes of his royal father.
However, at the age of 28 years old, he learned of the deep suffering experienced in life by most .
Atiśa Dīpaṃkara Śrījñāna – The Reviver of Buddhism in Tibet
Atisha Dipamkara Shrijnana is a renowned Indian master who went to Tibet in 1042 to help in the revival of Buddhism and established the Kadam tradition. His text Light for the Path was the first lam-rim text.
Pala Empire
The Pala Dynasty was the ruling Dynasty in Bihar and Bengal India, from the 8th to the 12th century. Called the Palas because all their names ended in Pala, "protector".
Atisha is a Buddhist teacher from the Pala Empire who, along .
Avalokitesvara Mahayana Pantheon
Who is Avalokitesvara?
Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, is one of the most important and popular Buddhist deities.
Avalokitesvara first appears in Indian Buddhism. He is originally mentioned as one of a number of bodhisattvas.
Avalokitesvara is famous in the Mahayana Pantheon as a Bodhisattva emanating from the Dhyani Buddha, Amitabha, and his Akti, Pandara.
Who is Pandara?
Pandara, Buddhist goddess, is the Shakti of Amitabha, and a feminine bodhisattva. She originated from the Tantric syllable PAM. Her color .
Peaceful and Wrathful Vajrapani in Arts
ne of Mahayana Buddhism's first bodhisattvas. He is the Buddha's defender and adviser, and he rose to represent the Buddha's might. .
Bhāviveka – The founder of the Svātantrika tradition of the Mādhyamaka school
Bhāviveka, also known as Bhavya or Bhāvaviveka, was a 6th century Madhyamaka Buddhist. In Tibetan Buddhism, Bhāviveka is considered the founder of the Svātantrika tradition of the Mādhyamaka school, which is considered to be an antagonist of the Prāsaṅgika Madhyamaka.
The Madhyamaka school
The Madhyamaka school, also known as the "Middle Way" school, is a major tradition within Indian Mahayana Buddhism.
The Madhyamaka philosophy, as propounded by the Indian master Nāgārjuna in the 2nd century, asserts .
Muktinath and the Muktikshetra in Mustang
The holy water from Gandaki river gushing out of the 108 water spouts are said to cleanse the devotees of their sins and set them on a path to salvation. The waters are sacred to Buddhists as well and it’s called 'Chumig Gyatsa' in Tibetan language meaning "a hundred springs".
The Muktinath pilgrimage
The Himalayas are believed to be terrestrial dwelling place of saints and the home of the gods. The Muktinath temple situated at an .
Worldly Protector Tsangpa Karpo
Tsangpa Karpo is a wrathful worldly protector of Tibet. Tsangpa Karpo was a dynasty that dominated large parts of Tibet from 1565 to 1642. It was the last Tibetan royal dynasty to rule in its own name.
The regime of Tsangpa Karpo was founded by Karma Tseten, a low-born retainer of the prince of the Rinpungpa Dynasty and governor of Shigatse in Tsang (West-Central Tibet) since 1548.
Tsangpa is known as gTsang pa in Tibet.
Iconography of .
Samantabhadra Mantra Banner
Samantabhadra (Sanskrit: ; lit. "Universal Worthy", "All Good") is a Buddhist bodhisattva who is linked to practice and meditation.
In Mahayana Buddhism, he forms the Shakyamuni Triad with Gautama Buddha and the bodhisattva Majur.
He is the patron of the Lotus Sutra and is said to have taken the 10 great vows that form the foundation of a bodhisattva, according to the Avatamsaka Sutra.
Who is Samantabadra?
In Mahayana Buddhism, Samantabhadra is a bodhisattva (buddha-to-be) who .
Vajrapani Mantra – Om Vajrapani Hum
Vajrapani is the Bodhisattva who represents the energy of the enlightened mind, and his mantra also symbolizes that quality. The mantra is Om Vajrapani Hum.
Who is Vajrapani?
Vajrapani art
Vajrapani is one of the earliest appearing bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism. Vajrapni represents the power aspect of complete enlightenment.
Vajrapani is extensively represented in Buddhist iconography as one of the earliest three protective deities or bodhisattvas surrounding the Buddha.
In Tibet, Vajrapani is known as Chag a dor .