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esoteric Buddhism
esoteric Buddhism. A general term for certain Buddhist schools and practices originally developing in parallel with Hindu (see Hinduism) tantra with mutual influence at a later stage. It is distinguished from exoteric Buddhism by its secrecy; rather than being given openly these teachings are available only to students who have received a proper initiation (abhiṣeka) from a guru who stands in a valid lineage of masters and disciples. Practice will then make use of a number of techniques in which the student visualizes a guardian Buddha, Bodhisattva, or deity with whom he or she has a special relationship established at their initiation, and then realizes his or her non-duality with that being. This appropriation of the divine guardian's role involves the establishment and spiritual fortification of a special place of practice and the use of ritual formulae (mantras), gestures (mudrās), and visualization techniques. Occasionally, this also makes use of sexual imagery or actual ritualized sexual practices as a way of harnessing the physical energy and the feeling that one has transcended personal boundaries and merged with another that come with orgasm. Esoteric Buddhist schools, including many Tibetan lineages, Chen-yen in China, and Shingon and Tendai in Japan, claim that these techniques represent a short-cut to enlightenment and enable one to attain Buddhahood in this lifetime. Many of the techniques are also used for other this-worldly purposes such as weather control and healing.
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DAMIEN KEOWN. "esoteric Buddhism." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. DAMIEN KEOWN. "esoteric Buddhism." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-esotericBuddhism.html DAMIEN KEOWN. "esoteric Buddhism." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-esotericBuddhism.html |
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Mikkyō
Mikkyō (Jap., ‘secret teaching’). Esoteric Buddhism (as opposed to kengyō, ‘exoteric teaching’, all other forms of Buddhist teaching), a Japanese term also for Vajrayāna and Tantric Buddhism. This form of Buddhism came to Japan in the 9th cent. CE, with Saichō (founder of Tendai) and Kūkai (founder of Shingon). Both established monasteries in Kyōto, which became the main centres.
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Cite this article
JOHN BOWKER. "Mikkyō." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN BOWKER. "Mikkyō." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Mikky.html JOHN BOWKER. "Mikkyō." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Mikky.html |
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Esoteric Buddhism
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Cite this article
JOHN BOWKER. "Esoteric Buddhism." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN BOWKER. "Esoteric Buddhism." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-EsotericBuddhism.html JOHN BOWKER. "Esoteric Buddhism." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-EsotericBuddhism.html |
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Mikkyō
Mikkyō. See mi-tsung.
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Cite this article
DAMIEN KEOWN. "Mikkyō." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. DAMIEN KEOWN. "Mikkyō." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-Mikky.html DAMIEN KEOWN. "Mikkyō." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-Mikky.html |
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