Introduction to Vajrayana #2
by Venerable Shangpa Rinpoche

Buddhism is actually very flexible. Examples can be seen in Tibet, China, Japan, etc. In Tibet, the Buddha's image is made according to the Tibetan people's appearance and the landscape in the background is also like Tibet. In China, the Buddha's image and landscape look like Chinese and in Japan, it is the same. There is nothing wrong in this. Instead of using one for all traditions, Buddhism adapts accordingly.

Is Vajrayana Teachings actually taught by Buddha or are they introduced by some other people or monks? These kinds of concepts or doubts still exist in some people. We are not to blame them because Buddha introduced Buddhism three times. The first teaching was widely spread, and is commonly known and preserved until today. Mahayana was taught to beings who were able to become Bodhisattvas, i.e. selected people. Some people think that Mahayana was not taught by Buddha. This is due to different levels of understanding. Among the Mahayanas there were a few of special qualities, Buddha taught them Vajrayana.

In Tibet, there are 102 Kangyur Text, 40 on Sutra and 62 on Mahayana, half of which are on Vajrayana, which are directly taught by Buddha and all written in Sanskrit. Vajrayana is individual practice, therefore it is not common to everybody. The continuation of teaching lineage is no longer in India. It can only be found in Tibet. The teachings of Tantra has described many deities, peaceful, semi-wrathful and wrathful; single or in union. Of the many different types you have seen, each and every aspect of the appearance has its own symbolic meaning. This is why Vajrayana is not easily understood and practised.

The deities in Vajrayana practices have hundreds and thousands of appearances because of the levels and defilements of each individual. In order to subdue that type of defilement, there is the need to have that type of deity. These deities are not regarded as gods but as Sambogakaya of Buddha. In the ultimate point of view, all deities are just like space - non-dual and there is not even one deity !

Although the ultimate result is same, ie enlightenment, the difference between Sutra and Tantra lies in methods of practice. Vajrayana has more methods of practice, hundreds and thousands of different deities to subdue countless defilement through meditations, mantra recitation and visualisations. Visualisation is to purify the body. Mantra recitation is to purify the speech. Meditation on the ultimate essence of the deity, is to purify the mind. Within one session of practice, you involve the whole part of your body and this is a very profound method. if you offer one piece of fruit with sincerity, you can accumulate lots of merits. Through visualisation, one can create infinite offerings, eg. mandala and countless universes, to the infinite Buddhas. The amount of merits one can accumulate is vast and countless. Vajrayana methods are very profound and can accumulate more merits and much greater wisdom than the other methods.

Effortless is one quality of Vajrayana. Through other approaches, one needs lots of effort in order to attain Enlightenment, such as solitary practice in isolated places, gradual development which takes eons of time and involves lots of hardship whereas Vajrayana is effortless, developing through the mind (mental). Buddha says the mind is the most important. Mind activates all. To be able to learn and practise this kind of profound teachings, it needs three qualities: the disciple must be intelligent, the master must be a skillful enlightened being, and teachings must be introduced to each disciple's level of acceptance.

Others may teach according to what they know, whether suitable or not. Buddha teaches according to our level and needs, not according to what he knows. That is the special quality of Buddha's teachings. (As we are not enlightened, ) We have lots of different ways of explanation and different methods of practice about Buddha's teachings; not just based on one book but thousands and thousands of volumes of text. We have to study and seek a Master to help. We have to choose one teaching and apply it to oneself in order to be awakened.