Tantra: The Foundation of Buddhist Thought 978-1-61429-012-4, 1614290121, 1-61429-011-3, 978-1-61429-011-7
There are a great many books now available describing the complex rituals and esoteric significance of the ancient pract
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English Pages 237 Year 2012
Table of contents :
Content: List of Tables
Publisher's Acknowledgment
Foreword
Preface
1. The Uniqueness of Tantra
Sutra and Tantra
Tantra and the Mahayana
The Prerequisites
The Vajrayana Was Taught by the Buddha
Vajrayana and Its Many Names
The Unique Features of Vajrayana
The Four Complete Purities
Vajrayana Combines Method and Wisdom
Deity Yoga
Practicing Deity Yoga
The Three Aspects of Deity Yoga
Utilizing Afflictive Emotions on the Path
2. Entering the Vajrayana
The Door to the Vajrayana
The Vajra Master and the Vajra Disciple
Guru Yoga
The Initiation
The Purpose of an Initiation. The Preliminary Stages of an InitiationThe Main Initiation
The Mandala
Vows and Commitments
3. The Lower Tantras
The Differences among the Four Classes of Tantra
Internal and External Activities
Subduing the Vital Wind
Yoga with Sign
The Concentration of the Four Branches of Recitation
The Concentrations of Abiding in Fire and Abiding in Sound
Yoga without Sign
4. Practicing Kriya Tantra
A Kriya Tantra Sadhana
Offerings
The Sadhana
Refuge and Purification
The Purification of the Place
Visualizing the Merit Field
The Seven-Limb Prayer and Mandala Offering. The Main Deity PracticePranayama
A Passport to a New Universe
5. Preparation for Highest Yoga Tantra
The Many Deities within Vajrayana
An Overview of the Generation Stage
Preparation for Practicing the Generation Stage
Death, Intermediate State, and Rebirth
The Eight Dissolutions of Ordinary Death
The Ordinary Intermediate State
The Ordinary Rebirth
The Four Levels of Achievement
6. Practicing the Generation Stage
Before the Actual Practice
The Three Components of the Guhyasamaja Sadhana
The Yoga of Taking Death as the Dharmakaya into the Path
The Eight Dissolutions. The Base, Path, and Result in the Death PracticeThe Yoga of Taking the Intermediate State as the Sambhogakaya into the Path
The Base, Path, and Result in the Bardo Practice
The Yoga of Taking Rebirth as Nirmanakaya into the Path
7. The Nature of the Body and Mind
Coarse, Subtle, and Very Subtle Body and Mind
Channels, Chakras, Winds, and Drops
Channels
Chakras
Loosening the Knots
Winds
Drops
The Enlightenment Process
Emptiness and Bliss
Emptiness, Bliss, and the Meaning of Evam
The Union of Emptiness and Great Bliss
8. The Six Levels of the Completion Stage
Physical Isolation. The Actual Meditation of Physical IsolationThe Post-Meditation Session
Tumo Practice
Verbal Isolation
The Mantra-Drop Meditation
The Light-Drop Meditation
The Substance-Drop Meditation
Mental Isolation
The Two Levels of Mental Isolation
The Action Seal
The Illusory Body
Clear Light
Union
Learner's Union
Non-Learner's Union
No-More Learning
Appendix 1 The Inseparability of the Guru and Avalokiteshvara
Appendix 2 The Six Deities Within the Nyungne Practice
Notes
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
About the Authors
The Foundation of Buddhist Thought.
