Vajrayāna Buddhism (Devanagari: वज्रयान; Mongolian: Очирт хөлгөн, Ochirt Hölgön) is also known as Tantric Buddhism, Tantrayāna, Mantrayāna, Secret Mantra, Esoteric Buddhism and the Diamond Vehicle. The period of Vajrayana Buddhism has been classified as the fifth or final period of Indian Buddhism. Vajrayana is a complex and multifaceted system which evolved over several centuries and reveals much inconsistency and a variety of opinions. Vajrayana probably came into existence in the 6th or 7th century CE, while the term Vajrayana first came into evidence in the 8th century CE. Its scriptures are called the Tantras. The distinctive feature of Vajrayana Buddhism is ritual, which is used as a substitute or alternative for the earlier abstract meditations.
Vajrayana scriptures say that Vajrayana refers to one of three routes to enlightenment, the other two being Hinayana and Mahayana.
Pope Benedict XVI has confirmed that he will be travelling to
Scotland as part of his tour to the United Kingdom this year.
The Pope made the announcement, which was in a gathering with
the Scottish Catholic bishops in Rome, Italy, in response to an
address from Cardinal Keith Michael Patrick O'Brien.
The Pope has been quoted as saying: "Later this year, I shall have
the j…
In a tribute to Gadhimai, a Hindu goddess of power, a Nepalese
festival began today with the mass sacrifice of 20,000 buffalo in
the village of Bariyapur. Shortly after, 300,000 birds, sheep and
goats were similarly ritually slaughtered.
It is estimated as many as 750,000 people travelled from India,
which recently banned similar mass-sacrifices, to make up the
majority of…
An all-party committee of French parliamentarians has
recommended that Muslim women should be banned from wearing face
veils when using public services such as hospitals and public
transport. Other recommendations include refusing citizenship or
residence permits to those who visibly show "radical religious
practice". The report does not call for a complete ban, but it
wo…