Introduction to Vajrayana #1
by Venerable Shangpa Rinpoche

After he attained Enlightenment, Buddha Shakyamuni gave both public and individual teachings, 84,000 baskets of teachings altogether, until his Parinirvana. His First Sermon was Dharmachakra Perwatang or the Four Noble Truths and Eight Fold Path, which is the ground of all spiritual development. This first teaching was given to the common beings and attracted the biggest gathering. His Second Sermon was the Non-Characteristics Teaching, which emphasised more on Emptiness. This teaching was given to the Bodhisattvas. The Third Sermon, a more elaborate teaching, was given to the Bodhisattva who has more intelligence and able to understand the Ultimate Truth.

Vajrayana elaborates on the Ultimate Truth. In order to listen to Vajrayana teachings, we need certain qualities . The master needs certain qualities to give Vajrayana teachings. With both qualities, one can proceed to the Path, able to understand the Ultimate Truth and reach Enlightenment quickly.

Buddha Shakyamuni's teachings contain both Sutra and Tantra. The Sutra is for general teaching eg. morality, loving-kindness and compassion, etc gradual stages. Tantra is developing within the result, eg. Vajrayana method of practice - One is supposed to accomplish all basic practices first then practise Vajrayana method, taking the environment as pure land and beings within as enlightened beings or Bodhisattvas. This is the final result we are developing, a very optimistic view - to see the qualities of beings and environment and develop that to oneself. While others see the negative and positive sides, i.e. the defects of samsara and individuals and abandoning the negatives, Vajrayana practitioner sees the qualities, the positive side, and develop the qualities in oneself accordingly. Although we may still see others' defilements such as anger, hatred, jealousy, desire and ignorance, our recognition of these defilements is actually the wisdom. The transformation of a particular defilement produces a particular wisdom. The five wisdom are the transformation of the five defilements.

A defilement, if not recognised, creates confusion and suffering. If we are able to recognise the nature of defilement, then it is wisdom. Defilements come from our own consciousness. Its nature has the potential to become the Dharmakaya. And defilement itself has the potential to become Sambogakaya and Nirmanakaya.

Many people still have doubts whether Vajrayana is Buddhism or Hinduism. It seems reasonable to think that Vajrayana Buddhism was influenced by Hinduism because when compared, they look alike.

Before Buddhism, there was Hinduism in India then. Hinduism was a religion of the highest caste of people called Brahmas or Brahmins, the most intelligent people. They could not accept Buddha's teachings because they were very intelligent and highly educated. They had their own philosophy. In order to subdue these people, Buddha introduced Vajrayana. The outlook of Vajrayana is similar to Hinduism but each aspect has a symbolic meaning. In order to make these people understand the Truth, Buddha adapted certain traditions from the Hindu religion, then led them to the Right Path. For example, the Fire Puja was actually a Hindu ritual. In fact, all ritual practices were adapted from Hindu rituals, except for philosophy and meditation. These rituals had to be adapted to suit the environment and the people. Hindus perform the fire puja to please the gods and even sacrifice animals into the fire. Buddha converted each substance as symbol of our own defilements, such as hatred. The fire then symbolises wisdom, which burns away and overcomes the defilements, so that we can understand the nature of our mind.

>>>