Tantric Buddhism, also known as Vajrayana, is a combination of concepts, ideas, and practices from Hinayana and Mahayana teachings. It is said to be three parts or elements to the path Vajrayana. First, a foundation of ideas are established in the Hinayana texts and teachings. Second, Mahayana forms a practical and more structured set of practices that were developed from the Hinayana ideas. Third, the combination of both teachings now having a set structure to form a finalized approach to life, Vajrayana. To complete the journey through Vajrayana, one must travel and understand the first two sec

The base practice of “Vajrasattva meditation” consists of envisioning a deity at the crown chakra, on one’s head, mentally relating all the physical, mental, and spiritual attributes of oneself to a completely flawless Buddha. The practitioner sees Vajrasattva in oneself as a personal source lama, giving a feeling of purity to the practitioner. The practice normally starts with a confession that reflects on past wrongs. Then in deep meditation one begins visualizing many worldly and unworldly objects and thoughts. This stage of meditation should ideally be connected to a mind that has reached enlightenment in order to obtain deep and profound insight to thoughts, meanings, and answers. This practice is extremely powerful because it can create an actual physical deity state within one’s body. This practice pushes one very close to the ultimate goal of buddhahood.

Practitioners of “performance tantra” put an equal emphasize on external activities and internal yoga. According to the Dalai Lama, “…places equal emphasis on the external ritual purity and internal meditative development.” The main practices generate one’s self-image as a deity, then in meditation visualizing this image in front of oneself. These practices stabilize the mind by creating a focus on oneself as a deity and focus on definitive nature, emptiness, and on non-external characteristics. Those who practice “performance tantra” can reach the goal of enlightenment in only seven human lifetimes.

tions, Hinayana and Mahayana before enabling themselves to reach the third, Vajrayana.

Some topics in this essay:
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