The Vajraśekhara Sūtra is an important Buddhisttantra used in the Vajrayāna schools of Buddhism, but can refer to a number of different works. In particular a cycle of 18 texts studied by Amoghavajra, which included both Tattvasaṃgraha Tantra, and the Guhyasamaja Tantra, a Tibetan text which appears to be composed of two works grouped together and to further confuse matters in the Japanese Shingon school the Sarvatathāgatatattvasaṃgraha Tantra is known by this name. In Tibetan it is considered to be the main representative of the Yogatantra class of texts.[2]
The tantra begins with Vairocana Buddha preaching the Dharma to a great host of Bodhisattvas, including Vajrasattva, in the Pure Land of Akanishta. As he preaches the Dharma, Prince Sarvarthasiddhi, the esoteric name of the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, is meditating under the Bodhi Tree. Enlightenment is imminent, but the Prince has still not attained it because he is still attached in some small way to his forsaken ascetic practices. Despairing over his inability to find Enlightenment, he is visited by Buddhist figures who were just now learning the Dharma from Vairocana.
These same deities proceed to teach him a more direct path to Enlightenment through tantric ritual. The tantra then details the rituals used to actualize the Dharma. These rituals help forming the basis of tantric ritual in Shingon Buddhism, including such practices as meditating upon the full moon and the use of certain mantras.
This tantra also introduces the Diamond Realm Mandala as a focus for meditative practices, and its use in the abhiseka ritual of initiation. As the prince has now experienced Enlightenment, he ascends to Mount Sumeru and constructs the Diamond Realm Mandala and initiates and converts the bodhisattvas gathered there, one by one, into tantric deities who constitute the Mandala.
In tantric ritual, the teacher assumes the role of the Prince who constructs the Mandala, while the master and student repeat specific mantras in a form of dialogue. The student, who is blindfolded, then throws a flower upon the Mandala that is constructed, and where it lands (i.e. which deity) helps dictate where the student should focus his devotion on the tantric path. From there, the student's blindfold is removed and a vajra is placed in hand.
^Weinberger, Stephen, Neal (2003). (PDF). Dissertation, Department of Religious Studies, University of Virginia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-25.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
LiteratureEdit
Ryuichi Abe: The Weaving of Mantra: Kukai and the Construction of Esoteric Buddhist Discourse. New York, NY: Columbia University Press, 1999 ISBN0-231-11286-6
October 15, 2023
vajrasekhara, sutra, vajraśekhara, sūtra, important, buddhist, tantra, used, vajrayāna, schools, buddhism, refer, number, different, works, particular, cycle, texts, studied, amoghavajra, which, included, both, tattvasaṃgraha, tantra, guhyasamaja, tantra, tibe. The Vajrasekhara Sutra is an important Buddhist tantra used in the Vajrayana schools of Buddhism but can refer to a number of different works In particular a cycle of 18 texts studied by Amoghavajra which included both Tattvasaṃgraha Tantra and the Guhyasamaja Tantra a Tibetan text which appears to be composed of two works grouped together and to further confuse matters in the Japanese Shingon school the Sarvatathagatatattvasaṃgraha Tantra is known by this name In Tibetan it is considered to be the main representative of the Yogatantra class of texts 2 Vajrasekhara Sutra 金剛頂経 kongōchōkyō 1 Contents 1 Outline 2 See also 3 References 4 LiteratureOutline EditThe tantra begins with Vairocana Buddha preaching the Dharma to a great host of Bodhisattvas including Vajrasattva in the Pure Land of Akanishta As he preaches the Dharma Prince Sarvarthasiddhi the esoteric name of the Buddha Siddhartha Gautama is meditating under the Bodhi Tree Enlightenment is imminent but the Prince has still not attained it because he is still attached in some small way to his forsaken ascetic practices Despairing over his inability to find Enlightenment he is visited by Buddhist figures who were just now learning the Dharma from Vairocana These same deities proceed to teach him a more direct path to Enlightenment through tantric ritual The tantra then details the rituals used to actualize the Dharma These rituals help forming the basis of tantric ritual in Shingon Buddhism including such practices as meditating upon the full moon and the use of certain mantras This tantra also introduces the Diamond Realm Mandala as a focus for meditative practices and its use in the abhiseka ritual of initiation As the prince has now experienced Enlightenment he ascends to Mount Sumeru and constructs the Diamond Realm Mandala and initiates and converts the bodhisattvas gathered there one by one into tantric deities who constitute the Mandala In tantric ritual the teacher assumes the role of the Prince who constructs the Mandala while the master and student repeat specific mantras in a form of dialogue The student who is blindfolded then throws a flower upon the Mandala that is constructed and where it lands i e which deity helps dictate where the student should focus his devotion on the tantric path From there the student s blindfold is removed and a vajra is placed in hand See also EditChinese Esoteric Buddhism Kukai Mahavairocana Sutra ShingonReferences Edit サービス終了のお知らせ Weinberger Stephen Neal 2003 The Significance of Yoga Tantra and the Compendium of Principles within Tantric Buddhism in India and Tibet PDF Dissertation Department of Religious Studies University of Virginia Archived from the original PDF on 2011 07 25 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Literature EditRyuichi Abe The Weaving of Mantra Kukai and the Construction of Esoteric Buddhist Discourse New York NY Columbia University Press 1999 ISBN 0 231 11286 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vajrasekhara Sutra amp oldid 1153831796, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
