The Vajra Of Vajrayana Buddhism - 1372 Words

The Vajra in Vajrayana Buddhism As Buddhism developed different schools or sects began to branch out taking the main component of Buddhist belief, called Dharma, but coming up with different ways to practice their own distinct view of Buddhism. Vajrayana Buddhism is of Indian tantric origin but it developed in the â€Å"Himalayan nations of Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan† because of this many Vajrayana’s tantras, rituals, have woven into Tibetan Buddhism making it difficult to differentiate between the two (â€Å"The Vajrayana †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). In this paper I will analyze the nineteenth century Tibetan artwork called Vajra Ritual Scepter donated to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and discuss the symbolism behind the vajra as well as the importance of the vajra in Vajrayana Buddhist practices. The artwork I chose to analysis was a Vajra Ritual Scepter that is currently being held by the Philadelphia Museum of Art (â€Å"Vajra Ritual Scepter† See Appendix 1). The Wheeler’s donated this piece to the museum in 1933. The actual artwork has been dated to the nineteenth century from somewhere in Tibet. The artist is unknown but the vajra was constructed of copper alloy with mercury gilding. As a result it is a shiny cool gold color, not quite true gold but not quite a true silver or metallic color. The center is made of a bead of metal where a person can hold the vajra between the tips of their thumb and a finger. From the center the decorative elements are identical on either side, creating a symmetricalShow MoreRelatedVajrayana Buddhism744 Words   |  3 PagesVajrayana Buddhism The Vajrayana approach to Buddhism is just one of a number of Buddhist traditions, and all of the aspects of Buddhism are based on the enlightened teachings of Buddha. Vajrayana Buddhism is based on Tantra which relates to the teachings of Buddha. Vajrayana Buddhism is also known as Tantric Buddhism, based of course on the Tantra (enlighten teachings). According to the Introduction to Vajrayana ( HYPERLINK http://www.vajrayana.com.au www.vajrayana.com.au), vajra is theRead MoreVajrayana Buddhism1221 Words   |  5 PagesVajrayana Buddhism NO NAME REL/133 September 19, 2011 Deborah Wilkinson Vajrayana Buddhism Vajrayana tradition of Buddhism is called the Diamond Vehicle. This third branch of Buddhism teaches that strength, clarity, wisdom, and flashes of light; here Vajrayana allows followers to receive such enlightenment through this vehicle of the lightning bolt. Those who practice this type of Buddhism find its complexities to be quite clear as the encounter truths of Buddha along the way of lifeRead MoreBuddhism During The Heian Period1510 Words   |  7 PagesBuddhism During the Heian period (745-1185AD) Buddhism spread throughout Japan and thrived in the imperial court in Heiankyo (Kyoto). There were two sects of Buddhism that were most popular during this time, one was Tendai and the other was Shingon. Both of these sects of Buddhism came from China and were brought over to Japan by two different people. Saicho or Dengyo Daishi brought over Tendai sect (767-822) and Kukai or Kobo Daishi brought over Shingon sect (774-835) known as Esoteric BuddhismRead MoreThe Diamond Buddhist Of Buddhism2133 Words   |  9 Pagesis apparent that not too many Westerners understand how complex Buddhism truly is. Buddhism has various traditions with different perceptions of Buddha’s teachings and rituals. Buddhism is practiced by all different types of people, not just monks or people who reside in the East. The Diamond Buddhist Way Center in Chicago helps display how diverse the Buddhist community is by providing a more western and contemporary style of Buddhism. The center is located at 4722 N Malden St, Chicago, IL 60640.Read MoreBuddhism And Its Of Assam3165 Words   |  13 PagesBUDDHISM AND ITS PREVALANCE IN ASSAM INTRODUCTION Buddhism, it is a nontheistic religion which can be found in almost all over the world. It has its origin in ancient India. It is very difficult to cover this entire large topic. In this assignment I have made effort to bring forth certain basic information on the religion Buddhism . The main agenda of this assignment is to give certain knowledge about the prevalence of Buddhism and Buddhist culture in Assam from an ancient time and its presentRead MoreWorld Religion5936 Words   |  24 PagesName________________________ Class Hour_______ CHAPTER 4-BUDDHISM STUDY QUESTIONS (Pages 125-148) Group A 1. Describe the social context of India in Siddhartha Gautama’s day. Give a brief outline of the Buddha’s life according to the legends. 2. What were the two most important questions about existence on which the Buddha concentrated? 3. Explain the dimensions of change that the Buddha saw in the world. 4. Discuss the meaning and scope of suffering in Buddhism. Explain in your own words the phrase â€Å"to live