Essay name: Hevajra Tantra (analytical study)
Author:
Seung Ho Nam
Affiliation: University of Kerala / Faculty of Oriental Studies
This is an English study of the Hevajra Tantra: an ancient Sanskrit text that teaches the process of attaining Buddha-hood for removing the sufferings of all sentient beings. The Hevajratantra amplifies the views and methods found in the Guhyasamaja Tantra (one of the earliest extant Buddhist Tantras) dealing with Yoga and Mandalas.
Chapter 1 - Tantric Buddhism
3 (of 63)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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achieve the omniscient state of Buddhahood, one must simultaneously
hold the right view or wisdom regarding the ultimate truth or 艢奴nyat膩, as
that will be the object of direct cognition of the Buddha mind in the
state of meditative equipoise. To have the omniscient mind of a Buddha,
a practitioner of the Cittam膩tra school has to ultimately realise the
Madhyamika view of selflessness and Emptiness. The proper fruit of his
spiritual practice can be achieved only when the motivation and the path
is proper.
The altruistic motivation to attain the omniscience state is identical in
the mantra division of Mah膩y膩na, including all four sets of Tantras. The
person with altruistic motivation who seeks enlightenment to liberate
others is a Bodhisattva. A Bodhisattva may adopt Sutra or Tantric
practice depending upon the intensity of his compassion for the suffering
sentient beings, and his unflinching wish to remove the suffering of all
beings,
The figure of the Bodhisattva is central to Mah膩y膩na. The Sanskrit
term literally means 鈥渆nlightenment (bodhi) being (sattva)," and it
indicates that a Bodhisattva is someone who is progressing toward the
state of enlightenment of a Buddha.
The Bodhisattva is commonly contrasted with the H墨nay膩na ideal of the
arhat, who seeks to escape from cyclic
escape from cyclic
existence but is primarily
concerned with personal liberation. The Bodhisattva, by contrast, seeks to
establish all sentient beings in enlightenment and even takes on their
karmic burden. Mah膩y膩na texts indicate that Bodhisattvas are able to
transfer the sufferings and afflictions of others to themselves, and that
they also give their own merit to others.
The purview of the Bodhisattva's compassion is universal, since
Bodhisattvas seek the liberation of all beings, without exception and
without distinctions. It is admitted in Mah膩y膩na literature that arhats also
have compassion and that they teach others. Their accomplishments are
impressive: they overcome the afflictive emotions, eliminate hatred,
ignorance, and desire for the things of cyclic existence. They become
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