Buddhist Encyclopedia -- Esoteric Buddhism

Author: Li Jicheng, Ding Mingyi
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Features: The unique human and geographical environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has given rise to a splendid religious culture. The origins of Vajrayana Buddhism, as by scholars both within and outside China, are generally believed to have emerged around a thousand years after the Buddha's passing, during the late period of Mahayana Buddhism, which can also be considered a time of decline in Indian Buddhism. The rise of Vajrayana Buddhism exhibits clear Indian national characteristics. Early Buddhism opposed the traditional religious beliefs of India, holding a stance of rejection, criticism, and opposition toward the polytheism of Brahmanism, the mantras and esoteric phrases in the Vedas, and even religious rituals. However, after the rise of Mahayana Buddhism, this stance gradually shifted, leading to the introduction of secular mantra concepts and the gradual Buddhist transformation of mantras and esoteric phrases. Indian Buddhism incorporated all secular religious concepts from traditional Brahmanism, such as those for averting disasters, praying for blessings, and polytheism, into Buddhism. By combining these with high-level Buddhist doctrines and theories, such as the Middle Way, Yoga, and Dhyana, it gave rise to Vajrayana Buddhism. From the perspective of religious sociology, the emergence of Vajrayana Buddhism can be seen as a full expression of Indian national religious beliefs. While the early forms of Buddhism were highly rationalized, philosophical, and ethical, reflecting humanity's outstanding wisdom, it eventually could not escape the framework of its own national beliefs. It can even be said that this change might have been a common and fundamental psychological tendency of most people at the time. The esoteric practices of Brahmanism, aided by Buddhist theory, constitute a new development in traditional Indian Buddhism while also embodying the combination of human rationality and mystical psychological needs. There are few books in China that specifically discuss and introduce Vajrayana Buddhism, and people generally perceive it as mysterious. The purpose of this book is to shed light on the mystery of Vajrayana Buddhism from aspects such as its origins, formation, development, spread, doctrines, practices, and rituals, introducing basic knowledge about Vajrayana Buddhism to the general public or scholars of religious studies, hoping to be of benefit to them.