There is a common misconception
among many non-Buddhists (and even among certain
Buddhists) that the Tantras are late and corrupt additions to the Buddha's Teachings.
This is false. The Tantras are genuine teachings of the Lord Buddha, and they
occupy a paramount position withtin the overall flamework of Buddhist doctrine.
Some of the misconceptions about the Tantras stem from their esoteric nature. Since the time of the Buddha the Tantras were always taught secretly and selectively. For their correct understanding they have always required the oral instructios of a qualified master; without such explanations they can easily be misunderstood in wrong and harmful ways. In order to uphold this tradition I am prevented from discussing most aspects of Tantra here. But it is perhaps permissible here to say a few general things about Buddhist Tantra and about how it is related to other systems of Buddhist and non-Buddhist thought and practice. I shall base myself on the teachings of our tradition such as the Rgyud sde spyi'i rnam gzhag ("General System of the Tantras") of Lobpon Sonam Tsemo.
WHAT IS TANTRA?
In Tibetan tradition
the word Tantra (rgyud) nomrally refers to a special class of the Buddha's teachings
like the Kriya, Carya, Yoga and Anuttarayoga Tantras, and more
specifically to the scriptures that embody it, such as the Hevajratantra, the
Kalacakratantra, and the Guhyasamajatantra. But contrary to its English usage,
the word does not usually refer to the whole system of Tantric practice and
theory. For the doctrinal system of Tantra, the terms Mantrayana ("Mantra
Vehicle") and Vajrayana ("Vajra" or "Adamantine Vehicle")
are used instead.
In its technical sense the word Tantra means "continuum". In particular, Tantra refers to one's own mind as non-dual Wisdom (jnana); it exists as a continuum because there is an unbroken continuation of mind from beginningless time until the attainment of Buddhahood. This continuum, moreover, has three aspects or stages; the causal continuum, the continuum involved in applied method, and the resultant continuum. Sentient creatures in ordinary cyclic existence (samsara) are the "causal continuum". Those who are engaged in methods of gaining liberation are the "continuum involved in the method". And those who have achieved the ultimate spiritual fruit, the Body of Wisdom, are the "resultant continuum". The causal continuum is so called because there exists in it the potential for producing a fruit is not actually manifested. It is like a seed kept in a container. "Method" is so called because there exists means or methods by which the result latent in the cause can be brought out. "Method" is like the water and fertilizer needed for growing a plant. "Fruit" or "result" refers to the actualization of the result that was latent in the cause. This is like the ripened flower that results when one has planted the seed and properly cultivated the plant.
THE PLACE OF TANTRA IN THE BUDDHIST TEACHINGS
In His infinite compassion,
wisdom and power the Lord Buddha gave innumerable different teachings aimed
at helping countless beings of different mentalities. These teachings can be
classified into two main classes: 1) the Sravakayana (which includes the present
Theravada), and 2) the Mahayana. The Sravakayana (sometimes also called the
Hinayana) is mainly aimed at individual salvation, which the Mahayana stresses
the universal ideal of the Bodhisattva ("the Being intent upon Enlightenment")
who selflessly strives for the liberation of all beings, vowing to remain in
cyclic existence until all others are liberated. The Mahayana or Great Vehicle
can also be divided into two: 1) the Paramitayana ("Perfection Vehicle")
which we also call the "Causal Vehicle" because in it the Bodhisattva's
moral perfections are cultivated as the causes of future Buddhahood, and 2)
the Mantrayana ("Mantra Vehicle"), which is also known as the "Resultant
Vehicle" because through its special practices one realizes the Wisdom
of Enlightenment as actually present.
THE SPIRITUAL FRUIT TO BE ATTAINED THROUGH TANTRA
The spiritual fruit
that is aimed at in both branches of Mahayana practice is the Perfect Awakening
or Enlightenment of Buddhahood. A Perfectly awakened Buddha is one who
has correctly understood the status of all knowable things in ultimate reality,
who possess consummate bliss that is free from the impurities, and who has eliminated
all stains of the obscurations. The latter characteristic - the freedom from
the obscurations - is a cause for other features of Buddhahood. It consists
of the elimination of three types of obscurations or impediments: those defilements
such as hatred and desire, those that obscure one's knowledge of reality as
it is and in its multiplicity, and those that pertain to the meditative attainments.
THE PATH THAT LEADS TO THE FRUIT
We speak of a method of spiritual practice as a "path" because it is a means by which one reaches the spiritual destination that one is aiming at. There are two types of path. One consists of the common paths that lead to inferior results, and the other is the extraordinary path that leads to the highest goal.
INFERIOR PATHS
Some religions or philosophical traditions while claiming to yield good results actually lead their practitioners to undesirable destinations. For instance, the inferiors Tirthikas (non-Buddhist Indian schools) as well as those who propound Nihilism only lead their followers to rebirths in the miserable realms of existence. The higher Tirthikas can lead one to the acquisition of a rebirth in the higher realms, but not to liberation. And even the paths of Sravakayana and Pratyekabuddhayana are inferior, for they lead only to simply liberation, and not to complete Buddhahood.
THE SPECIAL PATH
The special path is the Mahayana. It is superior to both non-Buddhist paths and the lower Buddhist paths for it alone is the means by which perfect Buddhahood can be attained. It is superior to all other paths for four particular reasons. It is a better means for removing suffering, it is without attachment to cyclic existence, as a method of liberation it is the vehicle of Buddhahood, and it does not desire only liberation for it is the path of existence and quiescence equally, in which emptiness and compassion are taught as being non-dual.
THE DIVISIONS OF THE MAHAYANA
The Mahayana itself has two major divisions. As mentioned above, these are the Perfection Vehicle and the Secret-Mantra Vehicle. The first of these is also termed the general Mahayana because it is held in common with both Mahayana divisions, whereas the second is termed the particular because its special profound and vast doctrines are not found withtin the general tradition. The two vehicles derive their names from the practices predominating withtin them. In the Perfection Vehicle the practices of the Bodhisattva's perfections (paramita)predominate, and in the Secret-Mantra Vehicle the practices of mantra and related meditations, such as the two stages of Creation and Completion in visualizing the Mandala and the Deity, the mantra recitation and various secret and profound yogas, predominate.
One essential difference
between the two Mahayana approaches can be explained by way
of their approach to the sensory objects which are the basis for both cyclic
existence and Nirvana. In the Perfection Vehicle one tries to banish the five
classes of sensory objects outright. One first restrains oneself physically
and verbally from overt misdeeds regarding the objects of sense desire, and
then through texts and reasoning one learns about their nature. Afterwards through
meditative realization one removes all of one's attachment to them. This is
done on the surface level through meditatively cultivating the antidote to the
defilements, such as by cultivating love as antidote to anger, and a view of
the repulsiveness of the sense objects as the antidote to desire. And on the
ultimate level one removes one's attachment through understanding and meditatively
realizing that all of these objects in fact are without any independent self-nature.
In the Mantra Vehicle too one begins by restraining oneself outwardly (the essential basis for one's conduct is the morality of the Pratimoksa and Bodhisattva), but in one's attittude toward the sense objects one does not try to eliminate them directly. Some will of course object that such objects of sensory desire can only act as fetters that prevent one's liberation, and that they must be eliminated. Though this is true for the ordinary individual who lacks skilful methods, for the practitioner who possesses skilful means those very sense objects will help in the attainment of liberation. It is like fire which when out of control can cause great damage, but when used properly and skilfully is very beneficial. While for lower schools the sense objects arise as the enemies of one's religious practice, here they arise as one's teachers. Moreover, sense objects do not act as fetters by their natures, rather, one is fettered by the erroneous conceptual thoughts that are based on them.
THE SUPERIORITY OF VAJRAYANA OVER PARAMITAYANA
The Secret-Mantra Vehicle
is superior to the Perfection Vehicle from several points of view, but its superiority
primarily rests in the greater efficacy and skilfulness of its methods. Through
Mantrayana practices, a person of superior faculties can attain Awakening in
a single lifetime. One of midding faculties can attain Awakening in the after-death
period (bardo). And one of inferior faculties who observes the commitments will
attain enlightenment in from seven to sixteen lifetimes. These are much shorter
periods than the three "immeasurable" aeons required through the Paramitayana
practices. But even though the Mantra Vehicle is thus superior in skilful methods,
its view of ultimate reality is identical with the Madhyamika view of the general
Mahayana. For both schools the ultimate reality is devoid of all discursive
developments or elaborations (nisprapanca). One view cannot be higher than the
other since "higher" and "lower"
are themselves but discursive developments or conceptualizations.
PREPARATIONS AND PREREQUISITES FOR TANTRIC PRACTICE
The foregoing has been a general introduction to a few of the basis ideas of Buddhist Tantra. The real question is how to apply these theoretical considerations in a useful way, that is how to practice them. The practice of Mantrayana and further in-depth study of its philosophy requires first of all a special initiation from a qualified master.
IMPORTANCE OF THE GURU
One must seek an carefully choose a Guru who has all the qualifications to teach the Tantras; for instance he himself must have received all the necessary initiations and explanations from a qualified Teacher, done long retreats, and learned all the rituals, mudras, drawing of Mandalas, etc. He must also have received signs of spiritual attainments. It is also very important to find a Guru with whom one has a connection by karma. In any case it is imperative to find a Guru, and one should not practise without a teacher, especially withtin the Vajrayana. One cannot get any result by merely studying a text. It is said in the Tantras that the Guru is the root and source of all the siddhis and of all realization.
QUALITIES OF THE DISCIPLE
Before one can be initiated one will first examined by the teacher who will ascertain whether one is a fit receptable for the teachings. The main qualities required are faith, compassion and Bodhicitta (the Enlightenment Thought). A major empowerment is never given to those who have not developed Bodhicitta to a higher degree. In this way both the student and the teacher must examine each other carefully.
IMPORTANCE OF THE TRANSMISSION
When the right Guru is found, one should then request him for initiation and explanations. In Vajrayana it is necessary to receive the Wangkur (Empowerment or Initiation), the transmission or permission to practice the Tantra, without which one cannot practise anything. The transmission is particularly important in Vajrayana and the Lama (Guru) assures the continuity of a line of direct transmission through a succession of teachers. This line of transmission has been unbroken since the Lord Sakyamuni Buddha set into motion the Wheel of Dharma. Not only must there be this line of Transmission, but also there must be a line of practice, that has kept the lineage alive.
VOWS AND PRACITCE
After one has been led into glorious mandala by the master, one begins one's practice, carefully observing the various vows and commitments of the Vajrayana. These vows are primarily mental, and such they can be even difficult than those of the Pratimoksa and Bodhisattva systems. One must also devote oneself to further study, and to practising the specialized visualizations and yogas according to the master's instructions.
BUDDHIST VERSUS HINDU TANTRA
Buddhist Tantra is thus distinguished from the other branches of Mahayana by its special methods. It is, however, identical to the Mahayana Madhyamika in its ultimate view, and it is the same as all Mahayana schools regarding its aim and motivation. Hindu Tantra by contrast has different philosophical basis and motivation, even though it shares some of the same practical methodology. Some persons must have suggested that Buddhist Tantra must not belong to pure Buddhism because it shares many elements of practice within the Hindus. This is specious reasoning because certain methods are bound to be shared by different religious traditions. Suppose we had to abandon each and every element of practice shared with Hindu traditions. In that case we would have to give up generosity, morality, and much more!
There are of course many further differences between Buddhist and Hindu Tantra in their meditative practices, and so forth. But I shall not attempt to explicate them since my own first-hand knowledge is limited to the Buddhist tradition. Here it will be enough to stress that Buddhist Vajrayana presupposes the taking of refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha (and the Guru as the embodiment of those three), the understanding of Emptiness (sunyata), and the cultivation of love, compassion and Bodhicitta (the Enlightenment Thought). And I must again underline the importance of Bodhicitta, which is the firm resolve to attain perfect Buddhahood in order to benefit all sentient creatures, through one's great wish that they be happy and free from sorrow. These distinguishing features are not found in the non-Buddhist Tantras.
CONCLUSION
The study of Tantra
can only be fruitful if one can apply it through practice, and to do this one
must find, serve and carefully follow a qualified master. If one finds one's
true teacher and is graced by his blessings one can make swift progress towards
the goal,
Perfect Awakening for the benefit of all creatures. In composing this account
I am mindful of my own immeasurable debt of gratitude of my own kind masters.
Here I have tried to be true to their teachings and to those of the other great
masters of our lineage without divulging that which is forbidden to be taught
publicly. I will consider my efforts to have been worthwhile if some harmful
misunderstandings have been dispelled.
May all beings come to enjoy the true happiness of Buddhahood!