History of Vajrayana or Tantric Buddhism: Power and Transgression

[@DougsDharma]

NB: this should be understood to be a history of the *early* development of Vajrayāna or Tantric Buddhism in particular. It does not deal with more contemporary practice. H/t to Rufus Hume in the comments below.

[@rjbullock]

I think so-called "contemporary (Varjayana) practice" is just sanitized Vajrayana, repackaged to appeal to the delicate sensibilities of Western audiences brought up in the context of Abrahamic religions. Virtually every great Vajrayana master engaged in actual karmamudra practice with a consort, not a metaphorical visualization. I think a lot of the power of Vajrayana will never be realized with the 'contemporary' approach. Just my opinion. The fear of potential abuse you mentioned is certainly a concern because we are not all so aware or skillful as such practice requires. Some people are put off entirely by the idea of intermingling sex with religion. To me, that is absurd. Quite clearly sex is one of the most powerful drives in us and to NOT use that power towards a soteriological goal seems crazier to me. Even if one never engages with such practices, I think we should at least be open to it in theory and the potential transformative power of it.

[@nachojimenez2420]

@@rjbullock Nope. Western tantra is a long term conquest strategy. Not sanitized. Weaponized.

[@Eliot_May]

‘Development’ being the key word, to be understood in a similar vein as the culturally arrogant ‘western education’ notions Of developing world etc. connected to moral transcendence, etc. In actual tantric practice historically and now, no matter how sucky, crazed, or extraordinarily sane, ie enlightened the yogis and yoginis were or are, ‘developing’ the deity, mandala, etc. is only a means, to see the true nature of the deity, which is taught to be spontaneously present, already within and without you. That is enlightenment. It’s not a myth, people have actually experienced ‘it.’ This is a sanitized presentation Doug. With definite objectives. Let your conceptual mind rip, just be aware, part of this is being critical within and without, without trying to be ‘right’ in a court of law. You are not on trial! Btw I’m not saying I know your intention, I’m just saying where you sourced your information the bias is evident.

[@Eliot_May]

I could go on and on, but this just popped up from Doug, “you can’t read the texts on your own and understand them” Doug if that is the case why does Milarepa, say in one of his spiritual songs, “when I realize appearances are my texts I forget all those big books with their letters in black” I can tell you why... gurus teach you that all experiences are texts.... ultimately...we read the relative ones to understand the ultimate meaning. Then we can let go and trust ourselves and our own innate goodness. This means, far from needing a scholar or your own personal ego as being the only means to restle with and ‘know’ Vajrayana, the Vajrayana practice teaches that minds nature is industructibally cognizant, intellegent in its original state. Those are historic tantric teachings. Let me know if you want the scholarly notes. I’m not into law so it might take me a bit ;)

[@simondeeming4915]

@@Eliot_May You need a teacher - Milarepa had Marpa . . . and you need the relevant permissions to read the esoteric vajrayana texts or do the practice. Plus you need grounding in the Hinayana and Mahayana of which Vajrayana is a part. kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5icaH1uqZ2ZiK8

[@rgilmour70]

I explored Tibetan Buddhism early in my Buddhist journey. (I later found the Theravada tradition to be a better fit for me.) The history of Vajrayana is certainly bizarre, but I would caution people not to judge modern Tibetan Buddhism too much on its history. If you visit a Tibetan Buddhist center or monastery today you will likely encounter monks and lay teachers who have a thorough understanding of Mahayana Buddhist principles and a great desire to help others. You will *not* encounter cannibalistic tantric sex-maniacs. For that, you'll need to visit Walmart.

[@DougsDharma]

😄 That is absolutely correct Ron, thanks for making the point. And not all Tibetan Buddhism is Tantric anyhow; there is a lot of straight Mahāyāna as well.

[@monkkenyon2539]

Lmao. Tantra has a huuuuge depth to it. They have a technique called looking, or searching where you explore your false self for the actual thing that is your existence. And it goes very deep. A lot of people called described it as a thread with no beginning.

[@EvenStarMN]

We are not sex maniac or cannibalz

[@justahumanbeing.709]

ha ha. or any modern nightclub!!

[@nak605]

The corruption of Buddhism from cult of shaivism on influence lead to this form and in turn tantric Buddhism was further corrupted by Hindu bramhins

[@Master_Blackthorne]

Doug, perhaps I should say a little something about tantra. My tradition is Tibetan Buddhist and there are many tantras available. Some are mother tantras others are father tantras. There is the Kalachakra tantra which is given on a regular basis by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Several things MUST be understood before a practitioner decides to take a tantric empowerment: 1. You must have an experienced teacher who knows you and is practicing the tantra so they can guide you. 2. Tantra requires dedication on a daily basis. The higher the tantra, the more powerful and demanding the requirements are. For example, the Yamantaka tantra (of which there are several different varieties) is the highest yoga tantra and requires the recitation of a 40-page liturgy or a shorter 14-page one (if you are pressed for time) TWICE A DAY FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. 3. Also, at least once in your life you must take a retreat which involves 100,000 protestations and/or mantras. Tantra is not for everyone. You cannot receive the initiation and do the practice whenever you feel like it. So the practicioner must be DEAD SURE if they wish to devote their time to the tantra.

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks for this information, very useful and important. 🙏

[@luxinvictus9018]

depends greatly on how far you are willing to transgress.

[@moyamendez6695]

Vajrayana is NOT separate from mahayana. It is a mahayana practice

[@tearsintherain6311]

Is the tongue sucking controversy maybe related to some kind of ritual? Honest question

[@annaclarallb]

I know I'm late to the party, but I just found this channel after considering myself a Buddhist for the longest time and I'm so happy that so much effort and knowledge were put in these "school videos". It's very clear to me now that I definitely fit on the Theravada. Excellent work, excellent channel. I'm so grateful.

[@DougsDharma]

That’s great Anna, thanks for letting me know! 🙏

[@ProgressiveLiberty]

Anna Peixoto I'm the same way, kinda kept it to myself for 15 years.

[@hassanhoumani3907]

You would not fit into the theravada because that school was not inclusive of laypersons

[@annaclarallb]

maybe 3,000 years ago not really. Now there’s many educational courses and dedicated temples to early Buddhist philosophy. Even in my city in Brazil.

[@mapro3948]

@@annaclarallb I think it's worth mentioning though, that "Theravada" and "Early Buddhism" are not the same thing. The things that make Theravada really Theravada are the leading role of the Abhidamma and, above all, Buddhaghosa's Visuddhimagga, which in many ways differ from what is found in the suttas (e.g. Buddhaghosa narrowing down the brahmaviharas as mere meditation objects)

[@rufushume8910]

To provide context on deity practice: If you are experiencing emptiness and you are having an intense enough emotional experience while fully mindful, the ego process temporarily short circuits and one experiences non-duality. Visualizing one's self as a deity is intended to 1) help you maintain your mindfulness in the face of strong emotion and 2) intensify the emotion you are experiencing to the point where the separate self vanishes and 3) bring out the best in you (in face of potential temptation to do otherwise). When passion is united with non-duality, it no longer intoxicates or deludes us. The passions then manifest in an altruistic fashion without conditioning us. Unfortunately, this practice only works if the visualization is emotionally meaningful to us in the right way (also, different kinds of visualizations are used for dealing with different kinds of emotions). Deity related rituals and empowerments have the effect of making the visualizations have the necessary emotional meaning. Practice in tantra can be accelerated by deliberately triggering strong emotions in yourself so you can practice working with them. Hence the existence of practices that work with triggering anger and sexual desire. It is important to note that one can technically work with any form of emotional energy. As a side note, using intense emotion to short-circuit the ego process does not require visualization at all. Visualization is very useful, but it's not strictly needed. The following article describes a more difficult and advanced approach: aroencyclopaedia.org/shared/text/e/emotions_ar_eng.php

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks for the information, Rufus. 🙏

[@splatted6201]

How does the practice of experientially 'becoming' a potent emotion when it arises differ from a common point of Theravadin advice to take potent emotions as the object of attention as they arise in sitting, just as they would say one should attend to anything that arises, until awareness gives way to automaticity?

[@sutantoe9480]

@@splatted6201 k(

[@rodrigomachado5291]

Great explanation.

[@charlesdacosta2446]

@@splatted6201 The only difference is in the Ritual!! the goal is the same.

[@rufushume8910]

To provide some context on the transgressive practices, Vajrayana Buddhism argues that the heart Sutra implies that nothing has an inherent meaning on the grounds that nothing has an independent existence. Because the manner in which everything exists arises out of context, its meaning also arises out of context, instead of belonging to the object. Transgressive practices have the function (some of these practices have other functions as well) of helping the practitioner overcome the belief that things do have a fixed meaning or intrinsic essence. Because tantra justifies violence in a heroic context, it is important for the practitioner to realize that the deeds of others lack intrinsic meaning, so that the justification of violence does not turn into bigotry. Breaking yourself of the belief in intrinsic meaning is an extremely important practice here. Personally, my Vajrayana practice made me a lot more open-minded without sacrificing critical thinking (things DO have meaning in context. Meaning is not arbitrary or subjective).

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks for the perspective, Rufus. 🙏

[@charlesdacosta2446]

One thing -- If your "transgressive practices violate (removes you from) the 8-fold path and increase dukha without providing realization (much less: enlightenment) why would you do them? They are called "transgressive" because they remove you from the "Right Path" and increase dukha without providing realization (much less: enlightenment). I think one should be very careful with Philosophy! Why? Because if you are smart, you can justify anything via a philosophy. Early on, the Buddha tried to avoid philosophy, and be very clear about what should be refrained from, what should be avoided. So again, Why? Because the Dangers of Transgressions do "not" improve your chances to achieve what Buddha considered "Achievement". Sure, within the confines of Philosophy, there is the appearance of freedom. But it can be proven that that freedom is also a delusion.

[@charlesdacosta2446]

@matchboxmango properly practiced - means by definition "not" transgressive. Now if you only think of yourself and not the effects you have on others ..... But yes, we "can" all learn from our "mistakes"/transgressions, but often karma ....

[@charlesdacosta2446]

The point of the heart sutra is ultimate truth or high level meditative state. It says nothing about transgressive action. You obviously are an intelligent person you can find a way to justify anything. If you willing commit transgressive acts and these acts effect others .... Is karma a natural/universal law to you? If so, ask your self witch is the most reliable truth - 1) how "you" perceive the heart sutra; or 2) the law of Karma - your action have consequences.

[@charlesdacosta2446]

Tantra justifies nothing, it only further opens your eyes to the deepening seeds of Karma. Just so that you are better prepared to "reap what you so"

[@lingy74]

I think when we talk about deity practice, it’s important to emphasize that the deity is nothing other than your own mind. Without that understanding, vajrayana becomes dualistic worship which goes against the very foundations of Buddha Dharma. The deity does not exist independently outside of yourself. Deity practice is a method that hijacks our inherent dualistic tendencies to dismantle it.

[@DougsDharma]

Yes I think that is one way to look at it JL, thanks.

[@lingy74]

Doug's Dharma it doesn’t come from me. It’s elaborated and explained as such in a lot of commentaries by more enlightened masters past and present. 🙏🏼 Edit - to clarify, I mean commentaries on the sutras and shastras.

[@moyamendez6695]

Exactly. He seems to misunderstand the whole thing imo.

[@vajraman2067]

Hi Doug, I love your stuff. I've practicing Vajrayana for about 40 years, having come to it from Soto Zen. I've also included many Taoist concepts over the years and though I have not watched all of your videos, it's important to point out that good Vajra Masters will start a student out in a very scientific way. That's point I want to make. In India, Tibet, and China, science and spirituality were not split, they were not opposed, as they are here in the west. These cultures developed Spiritual Sciences or Scientific Spirituality. In Vajrayana, the Theravada and Mahayana are included as part of the package. So for instance one usually starts out with Shamatha/Vipassana (Shine/Lhatong) meditation practice, (a Theravada practice) proceeds to Sunyata (Mahayana) where meditation evolves into something much closer to the Zazen-Shikantaza level and from there, progresses to energy work (Tantra) or, alternatively, goes directly into Dzogchen/Mahamudra depending upon the student. Keep up the great work and Thank You.

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks Vajra Man!

[@alFeras_tell]

Interesting have you completed the 3 years 3 month work?

[@hoptoad]

This was a very informative comment, thank you 🙏

[@sameersawdekar3293]

How to get started on the path of Tantra?

[@rjbullock]

The reason Vajrayana is regarded as so effective is it embraces all aspects of our minds and emotions. It uses art effectively, it uses emotional energies that we are usually encourage to repress or deny, etc.

[@TheRoyalFlush]

Indeed. It essentially actively embraces and engages our karma as opposed to trying to distance yourself from it.

[@atis9061]

correct. I love tantra because it 'embraces' all. to repress anything always felt ultimately non-spiritual to me. we are human beings not gods.

[@UniversalistSon9]

It’s fascinating how one could find so many connections between the east and the west, for example, Jesus' teachings could resonate with tantric principles, particularly in his statements about the unity of the Father and the Son, and the Kingdom of God being within us. When Jesus says, "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30), he's expressing a nondualistic understanding of the relationship between the individual self (the Son) and the ultimate reality (the Father). This echoes the tantric concept of the union between the individual (jiva or atman) and the divine or transcendental essence (Brahman). Similarly, when Jesus says, "The Kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:21), he's pointing to the idea that the divine is not separate from us, but rather an inherent part of our being. This is reminiscent of tantric teachings that emphasize the divinity within each individual and the interconnectedness of all existence. The idea that "we are all sons and daughters of God" (Matthew 5:44-45, Galatians 3:26-28) also reflects the tantric understanding of the inherent divinity within each person. In tantra, this is often referred to as the "divine spark" or the "inner guru." While Jesus' teachings were rooted in his Jewish tradition and the cultural context of his time, the parallels with tantric principles are striking. This observation can highlight the universality of spiritual truths and the connections between different religious traditions.

[@rufushume8910]

You left out the fact that compassion, selflessness, self discipline and direct experience of emptiness are prerequisites for practicing inner tantra. Inner tantra, in a modern Tibetan context, rather than being about becoming altruistic, it is all about doing altruism. One learns how to harness (transformed) desire as a tool for acquiring power and mastering skills (without the desire generating dukkha!) so one can be of better service to others. Without keeping the prerequisites in mind, however, this could sound more dangerous than it actually is and much of what you have presented would be misleading. When I first encountered Vajrayana it sounded completely crazy to me and I thought it failed to understand Buddhism properly. After realizing that it had methods for removing intoxication from desire I realized that it did grasp what the Buddha was saying about dukkha and was only using a different strategy for dealing with it. After practicing a form of Vajrayana for a little over a year I have reached the conclusion that Vajrayana practice has the same overall experiential flavor as a renunciate spiritual path, except that transforming greed (desire to acquire) into a more intense form of generosity (desire to acquire for others) makes the altruistic desire stronger and (for me) more natural.

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks Rufus, yes I did make the point that much of this material is taken metaphorically and that emptiness is a prerequisite. There is so much to say about it! 🙂

[@rufushume8910]

Where did you say that emptiness is a prerequisite in the video? Sorry if I missed it. Yeah, it is difficult to cover a lot of the important information on this subject in only 30 minutes. Even harder if you are not a practitioner yourself.

[@DougsDharma]

Hi Rufus, for example at 21:30 I mentioned emptiness in regard of monastics engaging in certain of these practices. But yes, this was intended to be a video about the early history and development of Vajrayāna, not a video about practice, much less about contemporary practice. Those are other very large and important subjects that would take a *very* long time to discuss on their own. But thanks for bringing them up, they certainly deserve focus! 🙏

[@rufushume8910]

Hello Doug, I understand that this video was not intended to be about practice. I am concerned, however, that people who watch this video will get a bad impression of contemporary Vajrayana despite your intentions. If you do not share my concern, perhaps you should read some of the comments on this video. If you added the words "The Early" to the front of the video title, and stressed in the description that this video is not about contemporary practice, then I think most people would not be confused. None the less, I am very pleased to see you covering Vajrayana which is usually left out of the discussion and I understand that covering this topic is very difficult.

[@DougsDharma]

Hi Rufus, thanks for the suggestion. I’ve pinned a comment to the top of the comments section that should clarify for anyone the subject of this video. FWIW, in my histories of Theravāda and Mahāyāna I also dealt almost exclusively with ancient history (before 1000 CE for sure, with one small exception at the end of the video on Theravāda) and didn’t discuss practice in any more detail than in this video. 🙂

[@gabrielburgues2634]

I have been watching your videos for several days and I find them fascinating! I am a student of the ancient religions of the Mediterranean and the Near East (especially, early Christianity) and thanks to you I am learning a lot about religions, philosophies and spiritual practices that I knew very superficially. Thank you so much, Doug!

[@DougsDharma]

You're very welcome Gabriel! Yes, I don't think many of these topics are well understood ... 🙂

[@UeharaKeitaro上原恵太郎]

Good day. My ancestors (the Visaya) practiced Vajrayana Buddhism prior to being colonized by Spain, and your video really helped me understand this topic. Thank you.

[@DougsDharma]

You're very welcome! 🙏

[@sachabey]

Interesting, where are your ancestors from?

[@UeharaKeitaro上原恵太郎]

@@sachabey Central and Southern Philippines.

[@sachabey]

@@UeharaKeitaro上原恵太郎 Never heard of Vajrayana existing in the Philippines before.. Thanks for letting us know. If you know more history of how it got there do let us know

[@UeharaKeitaro上原恵太郎]

@@sachabey Not sure exactly. The Bisaya, or Visaya in Sanskrit just means "Country of 100 villages", The artifacts taken from this particular culture are full of Vajras, Vajrayana statues and idols, weapons with vajras on it, and other items related to Vajrayana Buddhism... One museum that dated the artifacts placed the age of these items around the time of Mataram, Srivijaya, and the Song Dynasty. so from the 7th-13th century. From a copper stele written in the Kawi alphabet, that was discovered in the island of Luzon, Philippines (dated to belong in the same timeline as the artifacts from Visayan areas), the main polities of the land we now call Philippines was directed by the "Lord of Diwata", located in what is now Northern Mindanao island in the Philippines, who then answered to the "Lord of Medang", Medang being another name for the Kingdom of Mataram, the Javanese Hindu-Buddhist kingdom that built the Mahayana Buddhist temples of Borobudur and Sewu, and the Hindu temple of Prambanan in Indonesia.

[@paramjitsingh7122]

Found your channel randomly loving the knowledge about Buddhism that you are sharing 😊 thank you!

[@DougsDharma]

🙏😊

[@Ute63]

For mein as a German itis quite challenging to follow your interesting discussions, but itis worth it to take many breaks for looking up words in my dictionary,Thanks for both, namaste

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks for watching! I would be very unsuccessful watching or commenting on a video in German so you're doing great! 🙏

[@propeacemindfortress]

A monk engaging in sex with a female commits a parajika offence and is automatically and on the spot disrobed and no longer a monk and not alowed to reordain in the same lifetime, other forms of sexual activity even masturbation (any forms of intentional emission of semen) are Sanghadisesa offences and entail meetings of the Sangha which is required to disrobe the monk after a maximum of 3 offenses. That is the Law set forth by the historical Buddha for the entire Sangha.

[@aliturnbull8366]

Really good video. Thank you Doug. I have done 3 Vajrayana initiations, as a follower of the Dharma, but they make a more sense now I've understood the background!

[@DougsDharma]

My pleasure Ali, that's great to hear! 🙏

[@Master_Blackthorne]

Although the term "Hinayana" (the lesser vehicle) is used in the ancient Tibetan commentaries, His Holiness the Dalai Lama insists that it be called "Theravada" (vehicle of the elders) to avoid inferring that it is inferior to Mahayana Buddhism.

[@DougsDharma]

Yes, it's very good for him to emphasize this.

[@69bungo]

Absolutely right

[@PatriciaAnneReid]

Thank you for the overview. I appreciate it. Moving on to The History of Zen.

[@DougsDharma]

Have fun!

[@francescocerasuolo4064]

great, and easy to understand video-guide to Vajrayana Buddhism - i would love more vids on that school of thought. thank you.

[@DougsDharma]

🙏😊

[@arturos_ideas]

Thanks, that was vey helpful for my studies. What a good teacher.

[@DougsDharma]

You're very welcome Arturo, I'm so glad it was helpful to you. Be well.

[@TheForeignersNetwork]

It's interesting to see many people in the comments say that they have a lack of understanding of this branch of Buddhism. In Vajrayana, it is said that it takes several million lifetimes to arrive at this dharma, so the fact that many people find it strange is to be expected. What I CAN tell you is that, at least, in my experience, I feel it is 100% real. And I didn't feel that way until I got possessed myself, albeit not by a Buddhist deity or a daka/dakini. My possession experience actually happened in a Vodou ceremony, and it led me to tantra and non-duality as an overarching philosophy. It was quite powerful and it has had a lasting effect on me to this very day. There are phenomena out there that simply cannot be explained by western or secular belief systems (but that can be explained by Mahayana/Vajrayana philosophy).

[@lazyscrolling]

So helpful. Thank you Doug's Dharma .

[@DougsDharma]

My pleasure! 🙏

[@stevevest7206]

My view of this is that it is an example of how people are always able to find a way to rationalize their actions.

[@DougsDharma]

Well, that’s one way to look at it Steve.

[@Psychedlia98]

The issue I have with that comment is whilst part of that is true, it still sounds as if you don’t go further to understanding the philosophy and teachings of it.

[@soundhealingbygene]

I'll be checking into your various book recommendations, a friend. Introduced me to this branch of Buddhism and said it might be a good option. however I cannot. Find a teacher for any of the other branches you mentioned here in Saginaw, Michigan. However, there is a community and Detroit as well as an Arbor which I may need to move there to move into the spiritual practice of Vajrayana. I think I need to get more spiritual about my. Practice and understanding. For about 11 years I have been viewing Buddhism through the secular lens. Mainly your channel as well as Noah. Rachelle Timber Harkeye, and one other, I can't remember the name of. Thanks again Doug

[@soundhealingbygene]

Thanks!

[@DougsDharma]

🙏😊

[@freetibet1000]

Given the special nature of varjayana practice no students are asked to skip Hinayana or Mahayana level of understandings first. In fact, the potential dangers talked about here lies in the risks of not being fully prepared through Hinayana and Mahayana practices first. For this reason varjayana is said to be the pinnacle on the Buddhist path because it includes all three yanas. Some would argue that varjayana is just an extension of Mahayana since it is based on the same philosophical views of emptiness, prajnaparamita principles. The concept of bodhichitta also appears in both set of teachings as well. What distinguishes varjayana from Mahayana then is the form of practices it utilizes to gain access to these essential principles. It is often said while both Hinayana and Mahayana often describes the progression towards enlightenment as gradual and prolonged the varjayana approach is described as the swift and direct path due to its ability to utilize hidden (suppressed) powers within us. It is transformative due to its focus on the result, rather than progressive stages of purifications and gains of insights and merits. The practitioner is instructed to take the role and be the Buddha in his practice. Transformation happens when the practitioner truly assumes his being to be that of a Buddha and the world around him appears as the pure realm of the Buddhas as well as all sounds are the natural pure sounds of mantra. All beings are then seen as Buddhas equal to himself. This is the real meaning of the mandala principle. For even having a chance to begin on such a journey of transformation the student must meet with a qualified master that is prepared to take on and lead this person towards full enlightenment. This is a commitment and a relationship that will remain until full enlightenment is reached and is therefore of much higher value than any other form of relationship we can think of. It is a relationship that is full of dangers and risks but nevertheless the only way forward for anyone yearning for Buddhahood. The master must be qualified in introducing the student into his true nature of mind and the mandalas of the deities he is set out to practice and perfect. Without that the student doesn’t have a varjayana practice! A genuine master will know when the student is ready for such an introduction through the previous groundwork made on the more general levels of practices that precedes an introduction into varjayana practice. A devotional practice towards the guru is introduced and the student is instructed to become fully aware of the inseparable nature between his guru and the Buddha. Moreover, the student is also introduced into the notion that his own true nature is inseparable with the guru and the Buddha, as well. This is where the true path towards a non-duality reality begins. Obviously, this is where a belief in an independent self really is starting to become a tremendous burden and the student really starts to experience its many limitations and downright absurdities.

[@DougsDharma]

Thank you very much Free Tibet. I would only advise that the term "Hinayana" is derogatory and so best understood as polemics. Scholar Bhikkhu Anālayo has a paper arguing that there never was a true "Hinayana" school of Buddhism: www.buddhismuskunde.uni-hamburg.de/pdf/5-personen/analayo/hinayana.pdf

[@moyamendez6695]

Yes, thank you ♡

[@priyankawaghare7244]

It is so painful healing. Sometimes feel next moment I can die. Every second feel helplessness. I just truly believe in buddha.

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks for the comment Priyanka, be well! 🙏

[@kbgirel6965]

Listen to teachings of Ajahn chha; great Thai forest monk

[@BoomBoom-yf8qz]

Hi! I am Theravada Buddhism from Myanmar. Now aday, I started to learn Mahayana Buddhism and Vajrayana. Now I got the metra from 3 Buddha. Gautam Buddha or Sakyamuni Buddha and his two bodhisattva, Vairocana Buddha and his two bodhisattva and Amitabha Buddha and his bodhisattva. When I know another Buddha in other group. That make me suprise. And I remembered what Sakyamuni said when he arrived in Gangar river. ❤️ Beginning Buddhism is big pleasure ❤️ Sardu 🙏🏼 for sharing Buddhism history. Sardu Sardu Sardu 🙏🏼🌺😌

[@DougsDharma]

My pleasure! 🙏🙂

[@alexpheno]

21:15 Squirrel!

[@vk3act]

yes i saw him as well.

[@jonathansamir8351]

I would love to hear about the references that count to Taoist and Hindu energy systems as possible influences for subtle Vajrayāna microcosmology. As far as I am concerned, the theories now being handled of the emergence of chakra systems are: 1-David Gordon White: which explains that the chakras as an organized system appear in Buddhist texts such as Hevajra Tantra and Caryagiti. 2-George Feuerstein: which explains that they existed before Buddhism itself, in the Upaniśads. 3-Gavin Flood: which explains that they appear simultaneously in the tantric factions of Hinduism and Buddhism, without determining an influence of one on the other. Maitrī

[@DougsDharma]

Hm, thanks for the info Jonathan.

[@jonathansamir8351]

@@DougsDharma You're Welcome! PS: I would love to see you in a video explaining your point of view on a very controversial topic: the relationship between psychedelic drugs and Buddhism. We know that the historical use of entheogens such as C. sativa (R. C. Parker), D. metel (B. Siklos and R. C . Parker) and perhaps fungi such as A. muscaria (S. Hajicek-Dobberstein and M. Crowley) or Ps. cubensis (M. Crowley), is more related to the Indo-Tibetan Vajrayāna path. But I see secular Buddhists talking about the psychological and scientific value of such substances. So, what is your approach? Maitrī

[@robelbelay4065]

Thank you for a great video with historical context and perspective. I found it very helpful to orient how and when the various aspects were developed and how they related historically. Awesome job!

[@DougsDharma]

You’re very welcome Robel, wonderful to have you here. 🙏

[@ProgressiveLiberty]

Robel Belay do you have family in Boston? I know some Belay from Addis Adaba.

[@simibignall5688]

This kind of blew my mind. Not sure what to think now. Paradigm shift! Thank you so much.

[@DougsDharma]

You're very welcome, Simi. Yes the early history is fascinating!

[@explosivetwist]

such a well organized and easy to follow explanation of Vajrayana Buddhism for the audience. i have a question and observation. 1. what were the geographical locations for these practices? 2. in the shambhala meditation center, the former Sakyong stepped down after, allegedly, sexual misconduct was charged against him by women in the sangha. without knowing the specifics, it's hard to say if this was outright abuse or "transgressive" practices that western practitioners were unable to stomach. but having watched this video, i think gave some historical context to the type of conflicts that still occur as a result.

[@DougsDharma]

It's hard to say where these practices were geographically located, since my understanding is that they were practiced at least by some in most places that Buddhism was practiced. There are even some esoteric/tantric practitioners among the Theravāda. (Though I'm not sure how their approach would have differed). For the most part nowadays tantric practices are in Tibet and East Asia.

[@NeoAnderson101]

@10:33 - cameo by 'Shambhala Squirrel' !!! 😂

[@DougsDharma]

😄 🐿️

[@paulh2468]

Thank you very much, Doug, for the concise explanation of Tantra and Tantric Buddhism. It answered a lot of questions I was unclear on. I've been a Buddhist since the late 1980's, and know a fair bit about Theravada and Mahayana. I've never done an in-depth study of Tantra, but what I have read was confusing to me. This video is the best explanation I've come across, so far. Tantra seems to be syncretic, in combining Shaivism, Buddhism, and other thought-systems.

[@DougsDharma]

You’re very welcome Paul, thanks for the comment! 🙏

[@lingy74]

You’re better off asking a real vajrayana teacher than getting your (mis)information here.

[@kidkous]

I hope Doug will consider a Shingon Video if able, not my School but I think it retained early Indio-Chinese Esoteric elements of early Mantrayana before jumping to Japan. This makes it unique and mysterious even among Vajrayana and mystery Schools... I would like therefore to know a bit more if possible for you to offer it. Looking forward to your Zen video as a Zen Student. Gassho, Jikai

[@DougsDharma]

Shingon is very interesting but it's quite far afield from the main focus of this channel, which is largely on early Buddhism in a contemporary perspective. If I could find a good, concise history of it I might consider doing a video though.

[@Jeremy-bd2yx]

Dude. You have no idea how long I've been searching for explanations like these. Objective and historical, yet not reductive of the spiritual perspective. Great stuff...are there books that sort of index the different types of buddhism and their relationships to one another, and speak on their distinguishing elements?

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks Jeremy! As to your question, hard to say. The book Buddhist Thought in the info box below the video is a book that treats the major schools, but I’m not sure if it does quite what you want. You might take a look at it. Basically I was looking for the same thing you are and not finding it which is why I made the videos ... 😀

[@Jeremy-bd2yx]

@@DougsDharma Something I always thought would be cool would be a sort of Encyclopedia of Practices, categorized by which thing you're trying to cultivate, but each practice to be labeled with which spiritual tradition it originates from. I, unfortunately, am nowhere near knowledgable enough to create such a thing.

[@DougsDharma]

Yes that would be a great thing to do, would take a lot of time and unfortunately much of the earliest material is unclear or disputed at to its origin.

[@simondeeming4915]

Hi Jeremy, you just need a good teacher who has a clear understanding of the genuine dharma. Try Lama Jampa Thaye kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5icaH1uqZ2ZiK8 He has many videos that are exceptionally clear like this one! Cheers!

[@simondeeming4915]

@@mkspureimagination2198 cutting through spiritual materialism is a classic....'way of tibetan buddhism' by Thorsons is also a wonderfully clear exposition of the way the vehicles fit together and has a great history as well...

[@maddiewadsworth4027]

I wasn't really sure where to put this question but I thought this video might be a good place. I wanted to understand more about the history and present using importance of chanting in Buddhism. I know many branches of Buddhism make use of either mantras or the chanting of sutras or suttas as an extensive or sometimes almost exclusive part of their practice. I think it would be interesting to understand the evolution of this practice formerly Buddhism to now.

[@DougsDharma]

That's a great question Matthew. I know some of it but would have to do more research. If I turn up anything interesting I'll put it into a video. 🙂

[@shangaton9899]

1. Buddhism came to China in the first century CE but could be as early as 100BC during Han dynasty through the silk road. The use of mantras and dharanis dates at least to the 2nd century. The early Chinese vajrayana formed when tantric materials with mantras and dharanis, together with Mahayana texts begin to appear in China during the 3rd and 4th century. Xuanzang /Hsuan Tsang , the infamous 7th century Tang dynasty traveller monk who travelled Central Asia and India to retrieve more buddhist texts also translated tantric texts from the infamous Nalanda when he studied there and became a preceptor. Nalanda tradition of vajrayana started to take root in Tang China during the early 8th century with the arrival of indian tantric masters. 2. The "Hinayana" term appeared around the first or second century until 1950 when certain monastic factions of the southern tradition become more political. 3. The first known use of Theravada term was in 1882. This term used for southern tradition is historically inaccurate. 4. The oldest surviving vinaya is dharmagupta practiced by chinese mahayana tradition with the complete assembly of fully ordained male and female monastics.

[@NochFragen-]

Very interesting introduction. Thank you! Is there also a distinction between Buddhist tantrism and Vajrayana? I asked because I heard or read somewhere that Chan/Zen-Buddhism is also considered as a tantric path. So does Zen-Buddhism also belong to Vajrayana?

[@DougsDharma]

I don't believe Zen is considered a tantric path, though there may be some tantric borrowings here and there depending on the teacher.

[@NochFragen-]

@@DougsDharma Thank you for answering. I understand your point, Actually philosophical Zen is too Madhyamaka with tendencies from Yogacarin-teachings, just like most Tibetan schools.

[@chasemaxwell]

@@NochFragen- Perhaps you are thinking of Shingon Buddhism? It's a Japanese form of tantric Buddhism that developed through the Chinese Zhenyan tradition and was brought back to Japan by a monk named Kukai. From what I understand, Shingon influenced the rituals of Soto Zen to a certain extent.

[@NochFragen-]

@@chasemaxwell For sure! Thank you for reminding Shingon Buddhism. Maybe there was also influences from pure land Buddhism with Amithabha. It seems to me an interesting field of investigation, maybe someone here knows some publications on the subject of exchange of ideas and relationships between Vajrayana and Zen. ✨🌏💫🤗🙏🌸

[@michaelhanford8139]

Very interesting topic, Doug! Thanks for covering it.

[@DougsDharma]

You're very welcome!

[@Chandransingham]

Seen on 20th March 2020. Very informative and useful after seeing the Buddhism Exhibition at the British Library in Feb 2020. This exhibition also cited Vajrayana Buddhism in the spread of Buddhism after Theravada and Mahayana. St Augustine's CONFESSIONS refers to Manichaeism of 3 rd century (from Persia). This appears to be echoed in Vajrayana or Tantric Buddhism albeit much later as 7 the century. Some Indian scholars say that people went from India to West Asia. I wonder cross-fertilisation of ancient religious cultures had taken place in the background when Christianity and Islam were moving forward 1c to 7c. Christianity already taken roots in India in the 1 c - St Thomas and later Nestorian traditions in 7c. Islam and Sifi traditions soon followed into India after 7 c.

[@DougsDharma]

There was certainly a lot of cross-fertilization from the time of Alexander onwards, but in general sophisticated philosophical doctrines don’t travel well or easily. There is a lot of misunderstanding. See for example my video on whether the Buddha was a Christian saint: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXfXiKhqnamAg6c

[@Chandransingham]

@@DougsDharma Thanks. I saw it and it's fascinating. As you say misunderstanding can be factor. Penny drops now about Surah 4/157 - how the Quran sees the crucification of Jesus. Also how the divine nature of Jesus - Son of God is not understood in Islam. 3rd C Nicene Creed not understood by 7th C Muslims. Back to Buddha: Once we accept rebirth many times, it is quite possible for Hindus and Buddhists and other people of other faiths to be reborn among Christian communities. I guess is that Christian life is their last life. ie God will not allow another rebirth.

[@yamlau]

thank you for this excellent introduction

[@DougsDharma]

Glad it was helpful! 🙏

[@urgenlama7302]

There is a huge miss information about Vajrayana Buddhism and it's origin ,because Shaivism was older then Buddhism they though Tantrayana was originated from Shaivism which is absolutely wrong. The oldest Tantra text group of Shaivism is called "Pichu Tantra" ,there is 2 text within them 1. Brahmayamal 2. Rudrayamal Tantra , there is an interesting story in those text , it says that Basista went to Maha chin(Tibet) to learn Tantra with Buddha Roopa Shiva/Vishnu ( Shiva/Vishnu with Buddha Body ) .If we analyze historically , till 12th century Tibetan used to came to Mahavihara like Nalanda, Vikramasila, Sompuri etc in India to learn Tantra , why would a Basista has to go to Tibet to learn Tantra when it was available in India? it is only possible after the destruction of Mahavihara in India and after all of Vajrayana was completely lost in India then only he has to go to Tibet to learn Tantra and to make it look Hindu he wrote that he learned from Buddha but was Shiva inside .Secondly, Binayatosh Bhattacharya a famous Indian Iconographer , has stated that according to iconography we can surely say that Buddhist Tantra is older and Hindu Tantra is a copy of it. A text was found written by Ashwoghos of 2nd century about Vajrayana Samaye ( precepts).Vajrayana is difficult to understand by an general mass , one who has gradually understand and study Shravakyana and then Mahayana (Sutrayana ) then only one has to study Vajrayana under unbroken enlightened lineage authentic master not with Scholar because interpretation is very essential in Buddhism. One cannot jump straight to Vajrayana and start practicing it , there won't be clarity but confusion . For long Vajrayana practice was done in isolation and was only given to those who was ready for it and it was hidden from public till 6th century .In Anguttar Nikaya , Udaye Sutta " Meditate on Luminous mind (Pravaswar Chitta), if practiced repeatedly wisdom arises . Vajrayana is associated with this practice of Luminous mind ( Pure nature of mind) , once given initiation of Vajrayana Tantra Guru helps his disciple realize this luminous mind and this is the used in the practice as a seed and this is the difference between Hindu and Buddhist Tantra , there is no pointing out of Luminous mind in Hindu Tantra at all whereas, this luminous mind is the base of all Vajrayana Tantra Practice. And practitioner of Vajrayana is called "Mantrina " or Tantradhara " not "Tantrik " , it is referred to Practitioner of Hindu Tantra. And there is no ritual violence like that in Hindu Tantra , and use of consort is an advance practice it is only permitted to those who have achieved "1 taste t" stage where there is no good or Bad ( It is a stage if a stool or a tasty food is kept a yogi don't discriminate and can eat both without any hesitation , it doesn't matter at that stage. If normal people like us are involved in such advanced practice we will get attached and will be lost in the pleasurable sensation .

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks for your response. I'd suggest taking a look at some of the scholarship listed in the show notes, this material comes from some very good recent scholarship. 🙏

[@urgenlama7302]

@@DougsDharma @Doug's Dharma As I said before interpretation is very much essential in Buddhism. An Ordinary person like us will interpret according to the limited information that we have gathered and those information too can be true or false as well. Hence,our limited interpretation is always limited ,but the interpretation that has been pass down to generation after generation through unbroken enlightened lineage has produced enlightened masters in every generation. And the main aim of all Buddhist practice is to uproot klesha (emotional defilements) and Abidhya and Mahayana (both Sutrayana and Vajrayana) teachings has been successful for doing so .Enlightened master during there life time might live like an ordinary people and would never claim that they are enlightened but during the time of death nature shows the signs.An enlightened master don't die like an ordinary corpse, they remain in meditation known as "Thukdam" (Pravaswor chitta dhyan)in Tibetan and it can last from a day and in some cases upto 49 days and during that period the breath and heart beat is stops but the body remains as it is without getting rotten and stiff.And during the time of cremation rainbow appears and after cremation in the remaining ashes pearls like things, crystal like things are found and in some cases mantra and deaties are found in bones which is called "Ringsel" in Tibetan and (Sarita dhatu in Sanskrit) and if these pearls like things are kept with faith it multiplies.it might sound extraordinary or supernatural to some but it has been happening since the time of Lord Buddha. Lord Buddha's body remains as it is for 15days and fire didn't catch up untill Arhant Vante Maha Kashyap reached .After cremation pearls and crystal like things too appears in ashes after cremation. Because it multiplied Samrat Ashoka was able to built 84000 stupas from the Sarita dhatu that he was able to take out from 7 out of 8 stupas. Ashoka was unable to open the stupas of Ramgram , which is in Nepal because everytime he tried to open Naga's (Snakes) came out .He tried for months but everytime his army tried to open snakes came out .

[@Aman-hm6cw]

@@urgenlama7302 Budd.. like u r so keen to prove that everything came from buddhism And how hin.....m was so b a d Copy paste c u l t buddh..😂

[@deancweaver]

I been watching your channel on and off for two years, and Noah Rasheta, and I definitely fit into the secular buddhism category. I almost joined a Vajrayana layman's group I been visiting for a few days now as there are no secular buddhism practices near me. I'm gonna join your online group :) Thank you for this information - rather now than later :)

[@DougsDharma]

Nice to hear, Dean. Sometimes you can find secular-friendly teachers among Insight/Vipassana sanghas.

[@satatik21]

Vajrayana has many vehicles within it. To discuss inaccurately the transgressive practitices that masters sometimes apply in the extremely advanced and rarified levels of practice as if they are a common fixture in Vajrayana is dangerous and harmful. There were many kinds of masters with many kinds of activities. From mad yogis to pristinely pure monastics who never touched a drop of alcohol. Non-celebate ngakpas and celibate monastics. Dzogchen with trekchod(focus on emptiness aspect)/thogal(focus on luminosity aspect) and mahamudra with the 4 yogas and 6 dharmas of Naropa are key practices in the Kagyu and Nyingma lineages and are merged with yidam practice as you ascend through the levels of tantra. The sexual practices are vastly misunderstood and are only to be engaged in by practitioners who are extremely advanced with their realization of emptiness and experience with the yidam... secret mantra is very powerful, and blissful, but it can also be very dangerous. I have to say that almost no one in the comments here knows anything about Vajrayana. There are so many misconceptions and confusions. I'd say there are very few in the US who actually know anything about Vajrayana. Just a bunch of fools with opinions. If you want real expertise in Vajrayana, go check out Rangjung Yeshe Gomde, or Pema Osel Ling in CA. Those are REAL and incredibly powerful/realized/sophisticated Vajrayana sanghas with incredible lineages.... Tantra offers bodhisattvas power and rapid evolution by manifesting and interacting with a buddha through skillful means.You unifying with and gain the yidams realization. Masters have been able to manifest illusions of iron scorpions in the sky through mantra, prevent powerful spirits like nagas from harming entire countires through practices like Vajrakilaya, manifest lightning, and even gain control of the elements so they could walk through rock or change their form into anything by mastering the nadi, prana, and bindu which are practices found in highest yoga tantra. In one life. I can tell you from personal experience I have encountered more than a few westerners that have gained significant siddhi.

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks for your input Geovanni.

[@moyamendez6695]

Best comment of all. The video spreads much more confusion than clarity. And those who are not practicing this vehicle have no need/reason to know how it works, and those who do will find the explanation rather disturbing

[@cyb3rc1ty]

Where can I read about transgression especially in a non-dual context?

[@DougsDharma]

Well one place to start would be with some of the citations listed in the information box.

[@jonathansamir8351]

Good information. But I found in some sources that Vajrayana started the academic development first that Hindu Tantra, actually the Buddhist Tantras appeared first than Hindu ones. Some scholars say that Hindu was first, other say that Buddhist was first, and the other thesis is a more syncretic one, they were involved and brought together, and they influenced each other. Metta.

[@DougsDharma]

I'd be interested to know which scholars think that Buddhist Tantra came first and influenced Śaiva Tantra. No doubt there was cross-pollination though once both were around.

[@jonathansamir8351]

@@DougsDharma Lama Anagarika Govinda(Buddhist Teacher) and Benoytosh Bhattacharya(Indologist).

[@jonathansamir8351]

@@DougsDharma The oldest known datable Buddhist Tantra is possibly the Guhyasamāja Tantra dating from the 5th century by Alex Wayman (but up to the 8th by Japanese scholars). Another early Tantra is the Mahavairocana Tantra, which was mentioned and collected by the Chinese pilgrim Wu-xing c. 680 CE. The Tantric Śaivas generally believe that the human originator or creator of the Tantras was Matsyendranath with the Kaulajñānanirnāya Tantra. Scholars place Matsyendranath in the 9th century AD. What can be shown is that the Tantric Buddhists first developed the written tradition of Tantra, but not that they were the creators of it. Since before the 5th century of our era there was already a Vaishnava Tantrism, which dates back to the 3rd century before our era. And before the Buddha himself there was a certain Proto-śaktism.

[@jonathansamir8351]

But there is no doubt that Buddhist tantric texts first appeared and created the so-called twilight language (Sandhyābhāśa).

[@DougsDharma]

@@jonathansamir8351 There are a number of essays referenced in Samuel's Origins of Tantra that discuss the cross-pollination between Buddhism and Hinduism in Tantra. (A quick look shows e.g. 16 citations on p. 262). But the roots of Tantra lie in ritual practices directed at Hindu deities such as Śiva.

[@ralphdeboer4929]

Dear Doug, in your commentary regarding Arahants in the Theravada tradition you mention that reaching this stage is typically seen as a ‘lonely’ effort, focused on achieving Nibbana one self. One could counter this with a view which I encounter regularly in the Thai forest tradition, where a practitioner, typically a monk or Bikkhu, does not take on teaching followers until they have reached Arahant-ship. Specifically because it is seen that a teacher needs to talk from experience in that sense rather than book knowledge. With Metta, Ralph

[@DougsDharma]

Sure, though it's interesting to note how in the suttas non-enlightened monastics and laypeople teach, some by the Buddha's own request.

[@amandameowz4342]

The actual dharma is great the problem I kept hitting was a sengha that isn't a cult. I lived in a mystery school temple for 4 years and even with complete immersion with that lifestyle people are still people and in fact the dharma and title " maestra or teacher" can just make a person's ego much larger. The best thing a person pursuing this path can do is take the classes and practice the dharma at home far away from a sengha unless you are lucky enough to actually find one that isn't just using these esoteric practices for the wrong reasons.

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks for that Healing Hearts, yes some sanghas can be difficult. It's best to avoid groups like that, particularly ones with teachers that are too ego-involved as you note.

[@khanalankit]

Coming from Nepal, Vajrayana and Mahayana practices that focus heavily on spiritual ways, energy, magic, etc and moneymaking businesses turned me away from the teachings of the Buddha for so long. Finding a good teacher and helpful sangha is difficult. I feel best is to start with something simple from a teacher, practice on your own and search for another place that may be helpful in your present state of practice. Translations of various books in tripitaka from Bikkhu Bodhi seem most reasonable and get clarification by listening to videos of some Srilankan and Burmese masters. Listening to the explanation of suttas from different masters at different timelines in your practice brings deeper understanding and it is all useless without meditation practice.

[@rainagustafson]

Been curious about vajrayana since reading (actually listening to the audiobook of) The Godfather of Kathmandu by John Burdett. This is a fantastically clear, efficient overview. Thank you for this content.

[@DougsDharma]

You're very welcome, Raina. Glad it was useful to you.

[@parkpatt]

You've got yourself a new subscriber! I'd love to learn more from you about Tantra and Vajrayana Dharma.

[@DougsDharma]

Welcome aboard! Most of my focus is on the early history and dharma of Buddhism, though if there are particular subjects that interest you let me know and I'll see if I can get around to them!

[@parkpatt]

​@@DougsDharma I have a lot to learn about all aspects of this subject, but one area that I had some prior connection with was Tibetan Buddhism, so this video was a great way to enrich my understanding of that particular facet. I'm curious about the iconography and art related to Vajrayana. I was especially moved by a photo I saw recently of a grand statue of Padmasambhava in Namchi, India. There's a lot of symbolism in that art that I'd like to understand better.

[@OnerousEthic]

Just brilliant imho. Thank you Doug! Do you consider yourself to be a Bodhisattva? Siddha? Arahant?

[@DougsDharma]

I'm just a student of the dharma. 😊

[@OnerousEthic]

@@DougsDharma Well, brace yourself. I hereby declare you to be all of those! How do you plead? ☯️🕉✡️☸️✝️☪️♒️

[@dexterj5615]

So many texts and so many monks that wanted to be heard thanks for the videos providing a frame work for the history

[@DougsDharma]

My pleasure!

[@MaahaahRooh9]

Your presentation is very academic and well done.But it is obvious to me you haven’t practice Vajrayana nor are you giving the full understanding of Vajrayana.. like all things there are abuses in all systems.It is also true before Atisa reformed Tantra, also Guru worship is not necessarily true. Energetic practices have existed in all Asian practices,also there is a older form of Buddhism-Bon that had tantric practices.So all Tibetan Buddhism was not influenced by India and Savism. Teacher’s visited from China,Afghanistan,Nepal,Greece,and Egypt. Also with a European mindset and Western mind set it’s difficult to interpret philosophies and the meaning of cultures and languages that existed thousands of years ago. We have a hard enough time understanding and effectively communicating with one another in present time. Tantric deities, and the Buddha are aspects of our mind. Buddha means to be awaken it’s not a theistic religion or path. It’s a mind science, meaning if a person wants to actually follow another religion they can or a person doesn’t have to believe or follow another path or system. Meaning you can take Buddhist principles and incorporate them into your way and culture. Hence we have Shingon Tantric Buddhism in Japan with aJapanese cultural flare as an example. The main person that historically is given credit for introducing Tantra in Tibet was Padmasambhava who had Five female disciples who became great Gurus or teachers.,Atisa who came along a few hundred years later reformed some of the excesses that some yogis were doing. Tilopa the founder of the Kagyu order gained much of his wisdom from the primordial Buddha and Dakinis ( female wisdom beings- some being human so not). But this idea of worshiping Gurus is not Buddhism, even from a Vajrayana point of view. People in general follow leaders like robots in all religions, politics etc. Buddhism from my understanding and some of the saying of Sakyamuni Buddha -is we must find salvation in ourselves and trust in ourselves first and foremost. A teacher or Guru serves as a coach to help a person reach their highest potential. Personality worship like most things happen because most people do not research whatever they believe and follow fully, they read or listen to who ever speaks to what there mind already believes and stops at that point. So they assign their minds so to say to a teacher- it’s called laziness. I have practice Vajrayana for 40 plus years and never worshiped deities or Lamas, Gurus etc. I have studied with many teachers most as a private student. But I think for myself I am not a robot lol . Finally I feel you give a great academic explanation and presentation of Vajrayana from the sources you have studied. The history of Vajrayana is to vast to pigeonhole it only to Indian Savism. ☸️🙏🏿☸️

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks for your comments, Maahaah -Rooh. For sure, there are many approaches to Vajrayāna, particularly nowadays. 🙏

[@Psychedlia98]

Nice to see a brotha in this practice

[@spiritualanarchist8162]

Buddhism is so interesting .Not just as the Dharma practice but also seen trough an anthropological /historical lens. Indian Buddhism meeting and matching with Hinduism ,Tibetan Bon, Taoism & Confucianism, Western secularism etc,etc.

[@DougsDharma]

Yes, like all things, Buddhism is in a continual process of change and evolution.

[@nobodynobody783]

Doug. Need your help. What are the '5 sounds' in Shingon mantra chanting. If you wish this to remain private, please let me know how I can contact you through text or email.

[@DougsDharma]

My focus is mostly on the early material and this is much later, so I will have to leave the answer to another!

[@saralamuni]

Have you ever considered that all these “later” teachings were in fact present at the time of the Buddha but kept secret and orally transmitted until the world was ready to accept them at later time at which point they were revealed and committed to writing?

[@DougsDharma]

Yes, of course. That's the traditional view. Just like in Theravāda, the Theravāda abhidhamma is believed to have been transmitted by the Buddha to the gods and then to humanity, even though it is not mentioned in the early texts. And just as many Christians believe that Jesus taught the holy trinity even though it doesn't appear as such in the early Gospels. This is the difference between the Buddha (or Jesus) of faith/inspiration and that of the Buddha (or Jesus) of history. I did a recent video on that topic: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKXXaqRni5Ked9E

[@voidspot7266]

During a certain time, I've been searching for such answers, because my training comes from theravada and later by mahayana teachings. You was clear, precise and gave the sources. This kind of information is very important to the practitioner. Thank you.

[@DougsDharma]

You're most welcome!

[@ZenTeaNow]

Thank you. This is a useful overview of Vajrayana Buddhism. It will certainly help me when I want to read up more about the development of Buddhism and also Tibetan Buddhism. I understand Johannnes Bronkhorst sees the incorporation of Tantric practices into Buddhism as an adaptive response to the growing influence of the new Brahmanism, which not only laid claim to the secret sacred vedic texts and rituals, but also incorporated the cult of Shiva into its practices at a later stage. Brahmanism eventually transformed itself from a socio-political ideology to a religion....to the complex expression known as Hinduism today.

[@DougsDharma]

Yes, well it's complicated! 🙂

[@TEFLMel]

You had mentioned you would provide the definition of tantra. This was an excellent discussion but had wondered about this topic. Thank yo u so much.

[@DougsDharma]

My pleasure!

[@TEFLMel]

How would you define Tantra?

[@bernadettemalavarca1046]

@Doug's Dharma': Some questions: What forms of Mahayana do "not" require Vajrayana practice? I am on one hand deeply drawn to Buddhism, having done self-study for a several years now, exploring the idea of making it "formal," perhaps taking vows, and researching the nuances of the different sects. While I am drawn to the Bodhisattva aspiration, I am getting concerned about all the rituals I am learning about in Tibetan Buddhism (especially this). And for these reasons, it seems I keep looking back at Theraveda and possibly Zen, but would you say even those (in the "religion" of Buddhism), are also ritualistic like this? Do you need to take vows in Theraveda and Zen to "become a Buddhist"? I'm not seeing that in my research, at least for Theraveda. Thanks.

[@bernadettemalavarca1046]

I keep hearing the word "power," and it seems the drive to possess that starts to deviate from fundamental Buddhist values.

[@DougsDharma]

It’s a complicated question Bernadette. I did an earlier video on ‘becoming buddhist’ that you can see here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnzCpIeZq5WXnZI . Vajrayāna Buddhism is the most ritualistic of all, though there are some rituals in traditional forms of Theravāda as well, and in Zen. Of all forms of Buddhism I’d say Vipassana/Insight Buddhism is the least ritualistic; it’s a contemporary form of Theravāda. And of course there is secular Buddhism which is more of a personal stance at this point than an established school, though it’s somewhere in between. The forms of Mahāyāna that are most Vajrayāna-like are mostly those from Tibet, though you can find “esoteric” (= Vajrayāna) Buddhism in China, Japan, even in some forms of Theravāda. There is a lot of mixing. I’d suggest go to a local center that interests you and ask them how they practice and what they expect.

[@sonamtshering194]

I am from a Vajrayana background myself, but I only properly understood it after going through the teachings of Theravada and Mahayana schools like Zen. Also, similar to what you stated in order to be a Siddha or Mahasiddha you need a profound realization of nonduality and emptiness. Such Mahasiddhas can be seen as madmen like Tilopa and Lama Drukpa Kuenley in not only in the modern context but even during their respective eras. I feel that while denigrating your guru is offensive, it is also very harmful and hypocritical to imitate the behaviour of a Mahasiddha without having the actual qualification to be called one which makes such so called gurus no different from charlatans. Well one extreme example I read in one of Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche's post is that a Mahasiddha can drink dog urine as if it is drinking water without any sort of hesitation or discomfort. Lastly, I think Mahayana and Vajrayana can be called the teachings of the Buddha in the sense that it is based on the principles that the Buddha himself taught which could explain the common points among Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana despite the differences in their theory and practice

[@DougsDharma]

🙏😊

[@paulinewqi]

Thanks so much for this lecture video... You have cleared up a lot of my doubts and uncertainties...

[@DougsDharma]

Glad to hear that Pauline, you're very welcome!

[@rodrigomachado5291]

I love Vajrayana, it's the Buddhist school I identify the most by far. Not the Tibetan branch, which in my opinion has become too 'liquified' and similar to all Mahayana, but the Bhutanese. Especially, I connect with Dzongsar Khyentse (who is heavily criticized by many of more 'orthodox' Buddhist and also by many secular people).

[@DougsDharma]

Interesting, thanks Rodrigo!

[@moyamendez6695]

Dzongsar Kyentse practices & teaches Tibetan buddhism - it is Tibetan buddhism in Bhutan

[@TheSokun]

Thank you, I have been practicing endogenous meditation tradition of Cambodia which is Maitreya Buddha.

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks for sharing!

[@puzzles2984]

Vajrayana is practiced in Kathmandu Nepal. Most tibetan art work is created in Kathmandu . Vajrayana of Kathmandu needs much published and studied.

[@DougsDharma]

Yes indeed Puzzles, one of my professors of Sanskrit is from there and studies the art of Nepal among other places.Thanks!

[@MrAndroidAsia]

As far as I understand and being a Newar from the Kathmandu valley, they are not Tibetan art work. Its Shakya art work created in Kathmandu valley and introduced in Tibet at later stage. The western world have been taught by Americans differently.

[@aidhvrosuey2969]

​@@MrAndroidAsia almost all Vajrayana/Tantric masters and teachers of tibetans were Vajracharya and Shakya people of Kathmandu valley. Vajrayana gurus taught the philosophies and tantras while Shakya people were skilled artisans, painters, sculptors who made the arts, mandalas, statues with all the required details. Most of what people think of Tibetan Buddhism comes from Kathmandu valley but due to western/American propaganda after Chinese invasion of Tibet, Tibetan Buddhism was able to claim all those things as their authentic culture which has put the most precious and original form of Tantric Buddhism of Kathmandu valley in shadow. You can see most paintings on walls of tibetan monasteries were made by Newar artisans from Kathmandu valley. Most of the artifacts found in Tibet and put in museums around the world labeled as Tibetan Buddhist statues are all made by Newar Buddhists. So what's happening is similar to a cultural encroachment and genocide. Tourist and travel guidebooks and websites labeling the famous stupas of Kathmandu as Tibetan and Tibetans even claiming that those stupas were made by Tibetan king and Tibetan women with her children when visiting Kathmandu. So much fake history and propaganda.

[@lmansur1000]

For some reason, I knew and had a feel of what Vajrayana was about but the interesting thing is no one was talking about it and they were dancing around the issue. I do not like the secrecy or the ritual and also calling anyone master or whatever... I saw a video where Chogyam Trungpa used the word Master more than once and that trigger not Buddha but control.... There was something about the ritual he had set up with the Shambhala Warrior training that I stayed away from and that is why I did not stay with them. So again thank you for your thorough and real information that you are relaying to us. And the truth shall set us free so that we keep correcting our wrong view.

[@MultiWeb23]

It's very interesting how incredibly different Vajrayana is from other Buddhist schools :O

[@4ngelo_]

Yes so different, my friend loves it and I've been into Theravada so I'm looking into this at his request, and my honest opinion is the Buddha would be turning in his grave lol. It seems so distant from the original teachings. But my friend said they *are* his original teachings, taught only to specific people who were at a higher level of understanding? But to me they seem more likely to have been combined with other regional religions many years later. Like didn't Buddha teach on not worshiping idols..? His depiction was not drawn until many years after his passing, and Vajrayana is like idol worship city, and ritualistic magic? IDK maybe it's an experiential thing, because it's not lining up with me and my journey. Those are my thoughts to you a stranger but still a friend :D be well

[@Rcats14]

Great talk. Once I learnt more about this type of Buddhism, I moved on. So many changes and corruptions. Its unfortunate people still teach it as coming from the historical Buddha.

[@jupiterinaries6150]

Hello, Are you speaking from experience as a vajrayana practitioner?

[@DougsDharma]

No, this is historical material from the scholars listed in the info box below the video. Contemporary Vajrayāna practice is at any rate very removed from the early history.

[@smokestacklightning4191]

Did vajrayana start with bodhisattva Vajrapani or guru padmasamvhava

[@MTChee]

For those who is new or heard of Vajrayana Buddhism the topics here only cover the outer aspects of it. The inner part is through practices and must have understood Hinayana and Mahayana teaching. If not it will be confused and seems misleading. As such a proper Vajrayana Guru is very important and must be handle very wisely when choosing one. You need to study the teacher like you buying gold or diamonds. Best is don't start at all until your karmic rippen and was ready for it. Good luck and best wishing for all sentient beings.

[@DougsDharma]

Yes, though I'd suggest not using the term "hinayana" which is derogatory and problematic.

[@SharonLowen1]

Thank you for a brave attempt to touch on a vast subject from your personal perspective. Of course, the primary difference in the goals of the paths is that Theravada leads to understanding of the wisdom of emptiness for personal liberation as an Arahat whereas Mahayana and Vajrayana consider this a partial journey as, without the practice of Bodhichitta (compassion) equally, it does not lead to Buddhahood and the desire for liberation for all sentient beings.

[@DougsDharma]

Yes, that's right Sharon. These are different framings of the path.

[@SharonLowen1]

@@DougsDharma I guess it comes down to whether one accepts that there was a 4th turning of the wheel during which the Buddha gave teaching to adepts and predicted that an n Nagarjuna would latter be able to interpret and share for those ready for this level of teaching. each turning of the wheel, ie. subsequent major teachings were at the level of what the listeners were able to absorb. that certainly explains the seeming contradictions in what he said regarding conventional and ultimate reality

[@nishantramteke2804]

Thank you Doug🙏 Subscribed❤️

[@DougsDharma]

Welcome Nishant! 🙏

[@jaapendebonenstaak]

Is it not about possescion or magic powers but realizing oneness with all, so also all beings. Channeling shiva's energy, buddha's or a everyday human being. Because there is no other, we are one. Can you see truth in this?

[@DougsDharma]

Yes, this is quite a different understanding of nonself than we find in the early teachings, but I can see how that might be a way to understand it.

[@gabrielleangelica1977]

We are all 🔗 links in the silver chain and connected to the Divine.

[@JulieDomeierLCSW-R]

Elucidation on a complicated topic, THANK YOU! I understand that there's research into the founders of the Tantric lineage: Originally by and for women! I think this is exciting and deserves more attention ❤

[@frontier9]

Being secret is not really what comes from Shakyamuni who wasn't interested in any ritual ... or ceremony.

[@AscendingGuru]

Before I got a kundalini Awakening, in the mornings before opening my eyes, I would repeatedly see translucent monks, filling their lungs with light, then breathing out their light as a halo, that contained their body. But the body they previously had, now without the light, dried up to a skeleton that crumbled into dust.

[@cudacularry2720]

You also can find this kind of ritual in Javanese culture in Indonesia.

[@DougsDharma]

Interesting, thanks! I wonder where it originated.

[@leelranawaka7192]

@@DougsDharma maybe from Boro Budur.

[@greaterbharat4175]

@@leelranawaka7192 from Tibet

[@akshatadarsh8204]

Javanese culture is directly a form of Hinduism....Later absorbed by proportion of Buddhism too.... en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Javanese_culture

[@lainfamia8949]

Would Siddharta Gautama dissaproves the Vajrayana vehicle?

[@Alexei_topalov]

Just a quick correction: the way to create a nuclear weapon isn’t kept secret. In fact numerous high school students know the design and have come up with theoretically working designs of their own for both a gun type uranium and implosion type plutonium bomb. Nuclear weapons are incredibly easy to build (at least the basic gun type is. The implosion type requires some complex engineering of a high explosive lens configuration to compress the plutonium uniformly but again that’s not a secret). The reason for this is that designing and building a nuclear bomb is not the hard part. Enriching uranium to the degree where it could work inside a bomb is the hard part and requires incredibly expensive gas centrifuges using maraging steel and other highly expensive materials that would bankrupt any nation other than the big countries that already have nuclear weapons. Unless of course you forgo feeding your people like North Korea.

[@DougsDharma]

Ah yes. I think though in the early days of research these facts *were* kept secret. I believe the Rosenbergs were executed in the US for supposedly transferring nuclear technology to Soviet Russia.

[@Alexei_topalov]

Doug's Secular Dharma you’re absolutely right, they did used to keep it secret! The US allows other countries to use their reactors these days on the condition that they send back all the plutonium by-products to the USA. Sorry by the way, didn’t mean to derail the comments into a nuclear physics discussion!

[@JohnGrove310]

I have a rather odd question for you Doug. Since you and I are secular Buddhist, which is to say we don't really accept the supernatural elements of rebirth and karma extending to endless cycles. My rather blunt question is do you think that Buddha was lying about that, or misled or do you think he was unfairly attributed to teachings of which he actually never taught? I ask this because I think he was correct on suffering and was right on so much, but I also happen to think, with all respect of course, that he was just a man. Of course, that is simply because I see no evidence of the supernatural. Sorry if my question seems irreverent, I don't intend it to be.

[@DougsDharma]

He certainly wasn’t lying. It’s sort of like asking why someone as smart as Aristotle believed in Aristotelian momentum. He was a human. He made mistakes. Or at least so it would appear, since our evidence in such matters is always provisional.

[@JohnGrove310]

​@@DougsDharma Thanks Doug, I just find it odd that Buddha seemed to remember his past lives. That to me sounds like he was either deluded, or as you probably contend, mistaken about his own experience.

[@sophien5416]

I love how you explain subjects. You're so informative and well organized in your thoughts. As I was listening to your explanation about transgressive sexuality being apart of this form of tantra, I thought about the practices of modern day BDSM. Some of these practices require violence, pain, and psychological rituals that can be considered "impure," yet some BDSM practitioners talk about going into trances, like from rope work. Do you think perhaps there could be overlap between the early days, esoteric practices of vajrayana tantra and modern day BDSM? Or are they not nearly close because a diety must be involved? Sorry I am new to understanding these concepts.

[@DougsDharma]

I really don't know, Sophie. But it's an interesting question.

[@glenncrowder4249]

Hey Doug - very new 72 yr old practioner of Acharya Rinpoche's Tara in the Palm of Your Hand and have encountered an amazing experience - teleportation of over a mile while hiking (I casually prayed to Tara just before the hike). Is this within the possible parameters of a relationship with Tara? How should I interpret this event? I have read that Tara is playful but Is that the total extent of this event or is there something more to learn? Very bewildering for a newbie with no previous experience!!

[@leonhuang9254]

Thank you for uploading this video!

[@DougsDharma]

You're very welcome Leon! Thanks for the comment.

[@SudipBhattacharyya]

It cleared some concepts of Vajrayana in my mind. Thanks a lot. Regards

[@DougsDharma]

You're very welcome Sudip! 🙏

[@SudipBhattacharyya]

@@DougsDharma Regards

[@bogdansimon4626]

I think Vajrayana has the most complex psychological architecture of all spiritual systems. From the practitioner's point of view, it doesn’t matter its historical evolution. Vajrayana copies and synthesizes the entire raw universe of perception and feeling. So, we can find within Vajrayana all spectrum of human instincts with an associated technology for sublimating them into “the pure bliss of truth”.

[@DougsDharma]

Certainly for many practitioners Vajrayana is a wonderful approach.

[@suddharoy5479]

The primary deity for hindu tantric practices is kali, and if i am not mistaken tantrayana Buddhism emphasises on the feminine also

[@jacobl7451]

I hope you make another video on Vajrayana. Its fascinating

[@DougsDharma]

😄 Maybe eventually!

[@jn6985]

Good video and well done covering an unbelievably vast subject in short amount of time! I study in the Karma Kagyu Lineage that is also in line with the Rime movement. I would like to add that within the 3 turnings of the wheel of dharma, Hinayana(1), Mahayana(2), and Vajrayana(3), they all build upon each other and exist within each other. So within Mahayana is Hinayana, and within Vajrayana is both Mahayana and Hinayana. All are beautiful paths🙏🏽

[@DougsDharma]

Yes, indeed they can all be beautiful paths. That said, the term "Hinayāna" is generally understood to be derogatory and misleading, so it is perhaps best avoided.

[@jn6985]

Oh I’m very sorry. I never looked at it that way or used it that way. My apologies. I really enjoy your channel and thank you for your words!

[@DougsDharma]

No worries at all J N. Thanks for the comments!

[@Shekinahs_Sohl_Tarot]

I am so drawn to this. Thank you🖤🤍❤️✨️

[@DougsDharma]

🙏

[@brucenenke-vk5nk]

Marpa went to India the the source and translated two Indian Mahayana tantric books and brought them back to Tibet. 'Enlightenment' in one life time was the promise and the Black hat school of Buddhism. Why Re-chang-pa went to India and come back with 5 books of translated tantric knowledge is kitchen table talk but the Sadhu were worried that Tanta would eventually disappear from the earth so Re-chang said give it to the Buddhists and we will keep it alive. So you Tantric Buddhism is looking after Shavite practices. Not only did Re-changpa translate sanskit into pali, he had translated self-based philosophy into Non-self based philosopy and gets immediately called an egotist by his illiterate Guru.

[@deskitangmo5297]

🙏💐 Thank you. Is Vajrayana and Vajravogini practices are one and the same? Please reply. 🌸

[@DougsDharma]

Do you mean ‘vajrayoginī’? If so, I think it’s a variety of Vajrayāna practice.

[@anmith8978]

Sir i am Navayana Buddhist or Neo BUDDHIST and i am touched to your knowledge and learnt the sect of buddhism through it... Sir humble request could you tell me your published book on BUDDHISM And Sir could you upload your video with the Concept of Neo BUDDHIST or Navayan BUDDHIST ( new vehicle) too

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks Eternal Love, I did a video on Dr. Ambedkar’s Buddhism awhile back now: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p52rkKSfmqiaeaM

[@anmith8978]

@@DougsDharma thank you so much dear

[@abanthro]

In Vajrayana Buddihism does the "Vadra Master" (teacher) benefit from having students, if so how?

[@DougsDharma]

Well I would expect they benefit at least in part by practicing and displaying compassion towards others, abanthro.

[@moyamendez6695]

The vajra master's ONLY interest is to show his/her students how to achieve their own enlightenment. There is no desire for any kind of gain, material, reputation etc

[@RikthDcruze]

The Shiva Tantra that got assimilated with Buddhism that he is talking about is one or the 6 branches of Tantra in Hinduism. Called Kaulachar. also, that Killing of Shiva is only a propaganda. You cannot kill Shiva. The Vajrayana lamas knew this very well. Shiva is the universal nothingness (the un-manifested form of the creator) "SHIVA" translate to "That which is not" that is eating up the manifested reality. So one day it may again return to the original state.

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks for your thoughts Kalikakumar.

[@RikthDcruze]

@@DougsDharma my pleasure sir. but these r not just thoughts...

[@m-file4016]

Can you explain ..y shiva was under mahakalis feet?

[@zarajwong]

Doug, I love your introductions and histories into the multi dimensional and fascinating worlds of Buddhism. I appreciate the references to texts and the concise and measured presentation of concepts. I noticed you used the word Revaluation here - I’m curious if you have read Nietzsche’s work Beyond good and Evil which also deals with a non duality of morals. Lastly, what is the best method of contact?

[@DougsDharma]

Hi Travis, and thanks! Yes I think I read that one ... a long time ago back at university. But don't quiz me on it! 😄 You can find contact info in my channel's "about" page.

[@leocmen]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge

[@DougsDharma]

You're very welcome leocmen!