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.
@rjbullock5 жыл бұрын
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.
@nachojimenez24205 жыл бұрын
@@rjbullock Nope. Western tantra is a long term conquest strategy. Not sanitized. Weaponized.
@LMNOmic12345 жыл бұрын
‘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.
@LMNOmic12345 жыл бұрын
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 ;)
@simondeeming49155 жыл бұрын
@@LMNOmic1234 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
@rgilmour706 жыл бұрын
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.
@DougsDharma6 жыл бұрын
😄 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.
@monkkenyon25395 жыл бұрын
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.
@EvenStarMN5 жыл бұрын
We are not sex maniac or cannibalz
@justahumanbeing.7094 жыл бұрын
ha ha. or any modern nightclub!!
@nak6054 жыл бұрын
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
@Shekinahs_Sohl_Tarot3 ай бұрын
I am so drawn to this. Thank you🖤🤍❤️✨️
@DougsDharma3 ай бұрын
🙏
@shangaton98992 жыл бұрын
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.
@explosivetwist Жыл бұрын
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 Жыл бұрын
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.
@kapil44170373 жыл бұрын
Vajrayana buddhism started in nepal by vajra guru padmashambhav in pharping cave kathmandu where he got enlightened after meditation,
@telotawa2 жыл бұрын
if i was trying out a practice that focused on transgression and then i was told that the worst thing i could do is disparage my teacher, that'd be the first thing i'd do - wouldn't it be the quickest way to enlightenment?
@DougsDharma2 жыл бұрын
I don't think it works that way. It's not transgression for its own sake, but transgression in certain key aspects of practice.
@annaclarallb4 жыл бұрын
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.
@DougsDharma4 жыл бұрын
That’s great Anna, thanks for letting me know! 🙏
@ProgressiveLiberty4 жыл бұрын
Anna Peixoto I'm the same way, kinda kept it to myself for 15 years.
@hassanhoumani39072 жыл бұрын
You would not fit into the theravada because that school was not inclusive of laypersons
@annaclarallb2 жыл бұрын
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.
@mapro394811 ай бұрын
@@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)
@Master_Blackthorne3 жыл бұрын
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.
@DougsDharma3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for this information, very useful and important. 🙏
@luxinvictus9018 Жыл бұрын
depends greatly on how far you are willing to transgress.
@moyamendez6695 Жыл бұрын
Vajrayana is NOT separate from mahayana. It is a mahayana practice
@tearsintherain6311 Жыл бұрын
Is the tongue sucking controversy maybe related to some kind of ritual? Honest question
@rufushume89106 жыл бұрын
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
@DougsDharma6 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the information, Rufus. 🙏
@splatted62015 жыл бұрын
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?
@sutantoe94805 жыл бұрын
@@splatted6201 k(
@rodrigomachado52913 жыл бұрын
Great explanation.
@charlesdacosta24463 жыл бұрын
@@splatted6201 The only difference is in the Ritual!! the goal is the same.
@alexpheno5 жыл бұрын
21:15 Squirrel!
@vk3act3 ай бұрын
yes i saw him as well.
@satatik214 жыл бұрын
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.
@DougsDharma4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for your input Geovanni.
@moyamendez6695 Жыл бұрын
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
@rufushume89106 жыл бұрын
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).
@DougsDharma6 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the perspective, Rufus. 🙏
@charlesdacosta24463 жыл бұрын
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.
@charlesdacosta24462 жыл бұрын
@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 ....
@charlesdacosta24462 жыл бұрын
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.
@charlesdacosta24462 жыл бұрын
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"
@vajraman20673 жыл бұрын
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.
@DougsDharma3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Vajra Man!
@alFeras_tell Жыл бұрын
Interesting have you completed the 3 years 3 month work?
@hoptoad Жыл бұрын
This was a very informative comment, thank you 🙏
@sameersawdekar3293 Жыл бұрын
How to get started on the path of Tantra?
@propeacemindfortress2 жыл бұрын
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.
@gaga-fp9hn4 жыл бұрын
May Guru Rinpoche shower you with forgiveness for your ignorance . Am Tibetan and practicing Tibetan Buddhism and Every Tibetan knows guru padmasambhava is like a Buddha in our Tibetan Buddhism . He is a greatest tantric practitioner and even Buddha prophecies the coming of his birth in sutras. I mean since you talked about the history of vajrayana Buddhism or Tibetan Buddhism. How can you left out our one of founder? Why are you focusing too much on Lord shiva? Second of all, I think u should go through all different sect of Tibetan Buddhism history and all. Different great master of all leanage. What about nalanda university. If you really know about vajrayana, Nalanda univeirty is great figure. Deities and Lord shiva??? What are you talking about? Come onsir I like your video but u still have lots to learn. Okay let's start with King songtsen gampo, master shantideva, nagarjuna, greatest Tibetan tantric and yogi milarepa , jetsongkhapaand a lots and lots.i can't remember in English because I practice through Tibetan language. Let me tell u in brief sir, Tibetan Buddhism is like a spacecraft build from different toys assembled together by so many enlightened beings start from Lord buddha🙏🏻 , please go to Tibetan monastic university and learn thoroughly . Like you said practicing tantric is is dangerous likewise little knowledge is dangerous too.most of all altruism is most important of all sir . I think u should go debate with Mr Thurman, I can say he is really good at Tibetan Buddhism .
@DougsDharma4 жыл бұрын
Thanks ga ga, yes there is a lot to say, certainly much more than one can put into a half-hour video. 🙂
@kbgirel69653 ай бұрын
You’ll find most high level lamas are married to beautiful ladies
@aidhvrosuey296922 күн бұрын
Because most of them are corrupt and have evil behaviors hiding behind those humble looking faces
@MaahaahRooh92 жыл бұрын
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. ☸️🙏🏿☸️
@DougsDharma2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for your comments, Maahaah -Rooh. For sure, there are many approaches to Vajrayāna, particularly nowadays. 🙏
@Psychedlia982 жыл бұрын
Nice to see a brotha in this practice
@rufushume89106 жыл бұрын
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.
@DougsDharma6 жыл бұрын
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! 🙂
@rufushume89106 жыл бұрын
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.
@DougsDharma6 жыл бұрын
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! 🙏
@rufushume89106 жыл бұрын
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.
@DougsDharma6 жыл бұрын
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. 🙂
@lingy744 жыл бұрын
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.
@DougsDharma4 жыл бұрын
Yes I think that is one way to look at it JL, thanks.
@lingy744 жыл бұрын
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 Жыл бұрын
Exactly. He seems to misunderstand the whole thing imo.
@arturos_ideas5 жыл бұрын
Thanks, that was vey helpful for my studies. What a good teacher.
@DougsDharma5 жыл бұрын
You're very welcome Arturo, I'm so glad it was helpful to you. Be well.
@gabrielburgues26343 жыл бұрын
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!
@DougsDharma3 жыл бұрын
You're very welcome Gabriel! Yes, I don't think many of these topics are well understood ... 🙂
@NeoAnderson10111 ай бұрын
@10:33 - cameo by 'Shambhala Squirrel' !!! 😂
@DougsDharma11 ай бұрын
😄 🐿️
@Jeremy-bd2yx5 жыл бұрын
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?
@DougsDharma5 жыл бұрын
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-bd2yx5 жыл бұрын
@@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.
@DougsDharma5 жыл бұрын
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.
@simondeeming49155 жыл бұрын
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!
@simondeeming49154 жыл бұрын
@@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...
@rjbullock5 жыл бұрын
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.
@TheRoyalFlush5 жыл бұрын
Indeed. It essentially actively embraces and engages our karma as opposed to trying to distance yourself from it.
@atis9061 Жыл бұрын
correct. I love tantra because it 'embraces' all. to repress anything always felt ultimately non-spiritual to me. we are human beings not gods.
@Ishitmypantsfull4 жыл бұрын
You should be aware about the Newars then. Vajrayana/Tantra Buddhism is also called as Newar Buddhism. Newar Buddhists have been protecting the Vajrayana and Tantric Buddhism inside Kathmandu Valley for millenium, and co-exist with Newar Hindus (Shaivites and Shaktas). Newar society is the last remaining example of a pre-Islamic Indic society/civilization that combines aspects of Tantra and the use of Sanskrit language as their key practise, and in Newar society the Vajrayana priests (Vajracharyas) enjoy equal status with the Brahmanical priests (Brahmins).
@DougsDharma4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the info zattatack, very interesting!
@frontier9 Жыл бұрын
Being secret is not really what comes from Shakyamuni who wasn't interested in any ritual ... or ceremony.
@Daniel0Turner0Music3 жыл бұрын
You're going to have to give a good definition of what you mean by "magic" to throw it around this much. That's an extensively problematic term in the history of the study of religion, very heavy with enlightenment (Western not Buddhist) sensibilities.
@DougsDharma3 жыл бұрын
Well the term isn't mine; it's used in several of the references in the show notes under "suggested readings".
@alFeras_tell Жыл бұрын
😂 it sounds like this tradition is coming from the matrix
@sonamtshering194 Жыл бұрын
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 Жыл бұрын
🙏😊
@OnerousEthic2 жыл бұрын
18:08 “Impurities…”. Interesting! Impurities enhance the conductivity of semiconductors and Bodhisattvas…
@OnerousEthic2 жыл бұрын
Just brilliant imho. Thank you Doug! Do you consider yourself to be a Bodhisattva? Siddha? Arahant?
@DougsDharma2 жыл бұрын
I'm just a student of the dharma. 😊
@OnerousEthic2 жыл бұрын
@@DougsDharma Well, brace yourself. I hereby declare you to be all of those! How do you plead? ☯️🕉✡️☸️✝️☪️♒️
@tsheringchoden81656 жыл бұрын
Always trying to describe the taste of something which you have not tasted. ... And some how described Hindu caste system . . And comparing to the six realms of existence.... Just close your eyes and see inside yourself .... the Tantra will be experienced.... the tell something meaningful...
@DougsDharma6 жыл бұрын
Thanks for your thoughts Tshering Choden. 🙏
@nachojimenez24205 жыл бұрын
20 years of tasting that bullshit. He could have summed it up much faster. Tantra is a system of control and abuse. Period. Yummy.
@Ute63 Жыл бұрын
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 Жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching! I would be very unsuccessful watching or commenting on a video in German so you're doing great! 🙏
@amandameowz43425 жыл бұрын
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.
@DougsDharma5 жыл бұрын
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.
@khanalankitКүн бұрын
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.
@Master_Blackthorne3 жыл бұрын
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.
@DougsDharma3 жыл бұрын
Yes, it's very good for him to emphasize this.
@69bungo6 ай бұрын
Absolutely right
@kidkous4 жыл бұрын
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
@DougsDharma4 жыл бұрын
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.
@robelbelay40655 жыл бұрын
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!
@DougsDharma5 жыл бұрын
You’re very welcome Robel, wonderful to have you here. 🙏
@ProgressiveLiberty4 жыл бұрын
Robel Belay do you have family in Boston? I know some Belay from Addis Adaba.
@charleswey48955 жыл бұрын
Vajrayana is not Buddhism, it's Voodoism.
@kundalini015 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this video. I have so much to learn and concepts as discussed here shed some light on the history that I needed to know for my path. ❤️❤️❤️
@DougsDharma5 жыл бұрын
You're very welcome Andrew, I'm glad you found it useful. 🙏
@pahadithakur36364 жыл бұрын
In sexual practice no semen ejaculation. Thats call vajroli mudra.
@DougsDharma4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for that Ramesh, though I'm not sure that's always the case.
@paramjitsingh712211 ай бұрын
Found your channel randomly loving the knowledge about Buddhism that you are sharing 😊 thank you!
@DougsDharma11 ай бұрын
🙏😊
@RikthDcruze4 жыл бұрын
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.
@DougsDharma4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for your thoughts Kalikakumar.
@RikthDcruze4 жыл бұрын
@@DougsDharma my pleasure sir. but these r not just thoughts...
@m-file40164 жыл бұрын
Can you explain ..y shiva was under mahakalis feet?
@empirical_blade6926 Жыл бұрын
This video is 4 years old but it is a very good scholarly video, I just want to say about certain teachers being allowed to practice certain illicit actions like casual sex, I'm not very well read in VB but it might be about siddhas who have realized the emptiness of all things they sometimes might perform certain things out of perceived madness but it is to show the unawakened beings in rare moments that because they are awakened certain teleological actions do not correlate with it's perceived unawakened deontological result or desire from the awakened being.
@priyankawaghare72444 жыл бұрын
It is so painful healing. Sometimes feel next moment I can die. Every second feel helplessness. I just truly believe in buddha.
@DougsDharma4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the comment Priyanka, be well! 🙏
@kbgirel69654 жыл бұрын
Listen to teachings of Ajahn chha; great Thai forest monk
@JohnGrove310 Жыл бұрын
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 Жыл бұрын
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 Жыл бұрын
@@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.
@puzzles29845 жыл бұрын
Vajrayana is practiced in Kathmandu Nepal. Most tibetan art work is created in Kathmandu . Vajrayana of Kathmandu needs much published and studied.
@DougsDharma5 жыл бұрын
Yes indeed Puzzles, one of my professors of Sanskrit is from there and studies the art of Nepal among other places.Thanks!
@MrAndroidAsia2 жыл бұрын
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.
@aidhvrosuey296922 күн бұрын
@@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.
@soundhealingbygene4 ай бұрын
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
@aliturnbull83663 жыл бұрын
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!
@DougsDharma3 жыл бұрын
My pleasure Ali, that's great to hear! 🙏
@AscendingGuru4 ай бұрын
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.
@studentofspacetime5 жыл бұрын
This is a very useful historical review. However, it would be useful to point out the underlying psychology behind these rituals. You present them as « magic » a bit too much. There is certainly magic in Vajrayana, but not of the superstitious kind. Rather, there are very astute reasons for “embodying” a deity. It’s what they call the “resultant path”, whereby you try to mimic the qualities you would like to see in yourself many years down the road.
@DougsDharma5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the comment Andrés. For sure embodying beneficial qualities can be one route towards instilling those qualities in oneself. This is the standard practice of lovingkindness for example. 🙂
@banwa_non Жыл бұрын
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 Жыл бұрын
You're very welcome! 🙏
@sachabey11 ай бұрын
Interesting, where are your ancestors from?
@banwa_non11 ай бұрын
@@sachabey Central and Southern Philippines.
@sachabey11 ай бұрын
@@banwa_non 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
@banwa_non11 ай бұрын
@@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.
@lobsangsherap2559 Жыл бұрын
I don’t think Buddha or tantric practitioners who are highly realized beings can no way engage in any violence at all. These rituals murders or violence is just a symbolism to get rid of your ignorance. I have heard Tipola eat live fish but that was just a kind of acts created to drive off Naropa away or to test Naropa’s devotion. In tantra you are supposed to have complete devotion to your teachers ; your mind , body and speech . No other way around it. Not good for people who are not ready for such practice therefore , yantra is secret .
@DougsDharma Жыл бұрын
🙏😊
@brc12332129 күн бұрын
Tantric buddhism has little to do with original Buddhism. It came into being with the syncretic mixture of Buddhism and ancient tribal religious practice sof eastern India specially Bengal
@zarajwong3 жыл бұрын
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?
@DougsDharma3 жыл бұрын
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.
@stevevest72064 жыл бұрын
My view of this is that it is an example of how people are always able to find a way to rationalize their actions.
@DougsDharma4 жыл бұрын
Well, that’s one way to look at it Steve.
@Psychedlia982 жыл бұрын
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.
@dilanfarnndo11904 жыл бұрын
I will be a buddhist at this moment 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
@DougsDharma4 жыл бұрын
If it leads you towards the ending of craving, then it’s a good thing!
@afanasibushmanov74636 жыл бұрын
It sounds very interesting, but it's simply not for me. I agree with the early Buddhist texts more than the other types of Buddhism that you've been talking about. Of course I don't agree with everything that the Buddha said, but I agree with the majority of it.
@DougsDharma6 жыл бұрын
Absolutely understand where you’re coming from Afanasi. Each of us has to find the vehicle that is right for us in our belief and practice, without being too wedded to “-isms”.
@rainagustafson2 жыл бұрын
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.
@DougsDharma2 жыл бұрын
You're very welcome, Raina. Glad it was useful to you.
@aaronsaunders69747 ай бұрын
informative thanks
@DougsDharma7 ай бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@francescocerasuolo406411 ай бұрын
great, and easy to understand video-guide to Vajrayana Buddhism - i would love more vids on that school of thought. thank you.
@DougsDharma11 ай бұрын
🙏😊
@DTTaTa3 жыл бұрын
If you want to learn about vajrayana go to a vajrayana teacher😊
@DougsDharma3 жыл бұрын
Yes absolutely if you want to learn about current practice.
@urgenlama73022 жыл бұрын
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 .
@DougsDharma2 жыл бұрын
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. 🙏
@urgenlama73022 жыл бұрын
@@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 Жыл бұрын
@@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..😂
@nishantramteke28043 жыл бұрын
Thank you Doug🙏 Subscribed❤️
@DougsDharma3 жыл бұрын
Welcome Nishant! 🙏
@shawn66695 жыл бұрын
While I understand the desire to do it from a secular perspective I think it would be right to, when you speak of "emulating these supernatural deities" to at least try and suss out what the positive benefit of such a thing would be rather than just speaking of it dismissively. Meditation on "tutelary deities" has always struck me as a complex psychological tool in context. While I'm an atheist and certainly approach my Buddhist practices from a secular standpoint, I also think it's important to have an open mind when something is being used to produce certain results rather than just being treated as a superstitious being to make thoughtless obeisance to. Skepticism is important but not when it's used to close off avenues of inquiry...especially when they're used to achieve an effect in the real world....if only of the mind. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater is what I'm saying. FWIW. My 2c. Cheers! S.
@DougsDharma5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the comment shawn. I tried to make clear in the video that each of these approaches may be right depending on one's predilections, and everyone has different backgrounds and interests. The point of the video wasn't so much to talk about the practice as a practice for today, but rather to look at its early historical development. There is just too much to discuss for one KZbin video ... 🙂
@LMNOmic12345 жыл бұрын
Doug's Secular Dharma what is coming out in your comments Doug is the basic idea that Buddhist practices are historically based. If that is the case strictly speaking, how did the Buddha’s impact extend past his physical death, how are we still practicing his practices, and how is that beings have awoken to his ‘state’ , his ‘natural state’ and that of all beings. Basically could you describe what you think nirvana is Doug? Or is this something you are historically omitting from your Buddhist story? I’m not familiar with your ‘work’
@shawn66694 жыл бұрын
@@DougsDharma Fair enough. Cheers! S.
@maddiewadsworth40276 жыл бұрын
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.
@DougsDharma6 жыл бұрын
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. 🙂
@BoomBoom-yf8qz3 жыл бұрын
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 🙏🏼🌺😌
@DougsDharma3 жыл бұрын
My pleasure! 🙏🙂
@brucenenke-vk5nk16 күн бұрын
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.
@lmansur10005 ай бұрын
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.
@luckyyuri5 жыл бұрын
So this then must be the northern european version of vajrayana: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4fRmJuaqM-gmpI
@freeworld888887 ай бұрын
tantra is a yogu technique ????? not buddhism perhaps, that is why i perfer pureland and chan buddhism. sila, stilness and wisdom or 4 noble truth. simple and clear.
@RicardomartinsZ6 ай бұрын
As a ex pachen lama the 9..i develop many of this skills.. Who I still aplly in my present live.. All the lamas who study the kalachakra in vajraYana lineage aplly tantras
@myworldmusic34266 жыл бұрын
I think that each one of us can run a simple test asking to themselves "what would have the Buddha thought about these practices'. Well, I think he would have 'judged' them as a huge waste of time. They seem a perversion of Buddha's message and I believe it is indeed a perversion.
@DougsDharma6 жыл бұрын
Thanks for your thoughts, MyWorldMusic. 🙏
@SonofSethoitae5 жыл бұрын
You can think that if you like, but remember that the Buddha frequently re-contextualized existing traditions in order to teach Buddhist principles. Nothing that exists in Vajrayana that isn't rooted in Mahayana principles. Visualization practices, for example, have existed since the very earliest Buddhist traditions.
@yaahqappaadaikkalam7971 Жыл бұрын
The Garden of Eden spiritual narative (part 1) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ In the abundance of the Garden there was two trees symbolizing the negative and the positive part of Creation . First was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil talking about free will and there was the Tree of Life of the eternal predestined divinity. The two trees are what our inner dispositions is all about , it is about on which premise do we function ,the Ego or Divinity! The Divine forbade the Ego to form because it will eventually lead to death and so it was in the story where eating (forming) from the tree of Free-Will had a devastating effect which we feel even today! The Serpent being the symbol of virility and fertility wanted the woman to partake the sweetness of materiality, pleasure and power( to be God) which the woman could not contain and got the man to eat as well to which the man lost his manliness. The outward projection and the illusion that ensued is when the Serpent is outside coiled around the tree. Indeed the salvation rest in getting the Serpent to be within and transforming the Ego by grace, love and righteousness through the Virgin Mother. This kundalini awakening happens when the Divine penetrates into this outward illusionary realm to bypass the Cherubim with the flaming sword opening up the path to the Tree of Life!
@devushkim40144 жыл бұрын
Studying Vajrayana seems a bit transgressive to me. All that sex talk is no good. It deviates my mind.
@DougsDharma4 жыл бұрын
Yes I can understand that. If so, then leave it aside.
@sophien5416 Жыл бұрын
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 Жыл бұрын
I really don't know, Sophie. But it's an interesting question.
@aum3.146 Жыл бұрын
I don't want to be ignorant nor presumptuous but this sounds way way way off base from many aspects of what the Buddha was and taught. Dear sincere bikhus be most cautious. Stick to the Buddha's words and practices as the surest way.
@soundhealingbygene4 ай бұрын
Thanks!
@DougsDharma4 ай бұрын
🙏😊
@Brady-rc9jh25 күн бұрын
Don't make excuses. He's speaking common sense. IRS easy to ignore.
@MikeBoozer5 жыл бұрын
SQUIRREL!
@DougsDharma5 жыл бұрын
Oh there are a bunch of them! 😆 🐿
@hungryghost962 жыл бұрын
There are a lot of loose arguments and conclusions pointed out in this video. For everyone reading, please check actual certified practitioners comment about tantra. This is very unaccurate and can easily mislead someone interested in engaging in this practices.
@นงกนกโทมัส Жыл бұрын
Thank you
@DougsDharma Жыл бұрын
🙏😊
@AbdulRehman-ge2yc Жыл бұрын
I came to the conclusion that Budhism is not different from Hinduism . They have also curved out gods in shape of buddh .
@SudipBhattacharyya5 жыл бұрын
It cleared some concepts of Vajrayana in my mind. Thanks a lot. Regards
@DougsDharma5 жыл бұрын
You're very welcome Sudip! 🙏
@SudipBhattacharyya5 жыл бұрын
@@DougsDharma Regards
@MultiWeb233 ай бұрын
It's very interesting how incredibly different Vajrayana is from other Buddhist schools :O
@4ngelo_2 күн бұрын
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
@smausil3 жыл бұрын
off the mark.... but its good that they are off the mark, the greedy selfish people, trying to make money out of plagiarism
@learningnochoice2 жыл бұрын
11:30 killing Shiva on behalf of the sangha and revive it as a demonic devotee of Buddha? say what...?
@bpeg88 Жыл бұрын
The new kadampa Tradition scares me for taking some of the things you mentioned too literally
@roastmaster20002 жыл бұрын
It's not possible to explain Vajrayana without explaining the myth of Vajrasattva and the philosophy of Nagarjuna . There is no possession. This perception is just khesla or Bonno.
@williambruyette1567 Жыл бұрын
Mmmm sounds a lot like being filled with the holy ghost. Possession by a spirt. Lol
@Kherebhai6 ай бұрын
Sorry, tantra is not associated with Shiva. Rather it is not a magical
@deancweaver3 жыл бұрын
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 :)
@DougsDharma3 жыл бұрын
Nice to hear, Dean. Sometimes you can find secular-friendly teachers among Insight/Vipassana sanghas.
@paulh24684 жыл бұрын
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.
@DougsDharma4 жыл бұрын
You’re very welcome Paul, thanks for the comment! 🙏
@lingy744 жыл бұрын
You’re better off asking a real vajrayana teacher than getting your (mis)information here.
@rodrigomachado52913 жыл бұрын
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).
@DougsDharma3 жыл бұрын
Interesting, thanks Rodrigo!
@moyamendez6695 Жыл бұрын
Dzongsar Kyentse practices & teaches Tibetan buddhism - it is Tibetan buddhism in Bhutan
@lainfamia8949 Жыл бұрын
Would Siddharta Gautama dissaproves the Vajrayana vehicle?
@dnbjedi2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for not chanting and wearing robes. I just can’t with that. In having no spiritual materialism in this video , you have it
@DougsDharma2 жыл бұрын
Yeah that's how I roll, I'm not going to pretend otherwise. 😄
@Chandransingham4 жыл бұрын
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.
@DougsDharma4 жыл бұрын
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
@Chandransingham4 жыл бұрын
@@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.
@blossoming_of_lotus_flower5 ай бұрын
This is too much for me. Im staying with Zen.
@jenswinder3295 жыл бұрын
I'm repulsed, if I sit and meditate, and pray, without denomination, I will be rewarded. Devotion to anything besides one's self is not necessary. We are in a different time than then. Truth is truth, but becomes more broad as times progress. spirituality is not rigid it is all within the self and can be so many different structures that truth can feel insurmountable. There is no truth to that. truth will be different to everyone in every time in each presence.
@jonathansamir83514 жыл бұрын
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.
@DougsDharma4 жыл бұрын
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.
@jonathansamir83514 жыл бұрын
@@DougsDharma Lama Anagarika Govinda(Buddhist Teacher) and Benoytosh Bhattacharya(Indologist).
@jonathansamir83514 жыл бұрын
@@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.
@jonathansamir83514 жыл бұрын
But there is no doubt that Buddhist tantric texts first appeared and created the so-called twilight language (Sandhyābhāśa).
@DougsDharma4 жыл бұрын
@@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.
@nathanwatches5 жыл бұрын
Do a Shingon topic. Much appreciated, sadhu sadhu.
@DougsDharma5 жыл бұрын
Thanks Nathaniel. I don’t know enough about Shingon at this point to do a video, but if I learn enough in the future I might. 🙏