Vajrayana

Vajrayāna Buddhism, also known as Tantric Buddhism, Mantrayana, Tantrayana, Esoteric Buddhism, '"Diamond Vehicle" or "True Words Sect", is often viewed as the third major 'vehicle' (Yana) of Buddhism, alongside the Hinayana and Mahayana. The Vajrayana is actually an extension of Mahayana Buddhism, the extensions consisting not in philosophical differences, but in the adoption of additional techniques (upaya, or 'skilful means').

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Vajrayana exists today in the form of two major sub-schools:

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• Tibetan Buddhism, found in Tibet, Bhutan, northern India, Nepal, southwestern China, Mongolia and, various constituent republics of Russia that are adjacent to the area, such as: Amur Oblast, Buryatia, Chita Oblast, Tuva Republic, and Khabarovsk Krai. There is also Kalmykia, another constituent republic of Russia that is in fact the only Buddhist region in Europe, located in the north Caucasus.
• Shingon Buddhism, found in Japan
Vajrayana: What is Vajrayana? A faster path to enlightenment ►



 

Yana: Yana can refer to:...

Buddhism: Buddhism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, who lived between approximately 566 and 486 BCE in India. Buddhism gradually spread from India throughout Asia to Central Asia, Sri Lanka, Tibet, Southeast Asia, as well as to East Asian countries su...

Hinayana: Hinayana (Sanskrit: "inferior vehicle"; Chinese: ?? Xi?osh?ng; Japanese: Sh?j?; Vietnamese: Ti?u th?a) is a term coined by the Mahayana, which appeared publicly around the 1st century CE. There are differing views on the use and meaning of the term, both among scholars and within Buddhism....