The Tathagatagarbha doctrine (tathāgatagarbha) teaches that each sentient being contains the effulgent Buddhic element or potential to become a Buddha. "Tathagata-garbha" means "Buddha Womb/ Buddha Matrix" or "Buddha Embryo", and this notion is explicated by the Buddha in the "Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra" as the "True Self" within all sentient beings - the unconditioned, boundless, nurturing, sustaining, deathless and diamond-like Self of Buddha, which is indiscernible to worldly, unawakened vision as a result of the masses of neg ...

Including:

• Tathagatagarbha doctrine - Tathagatagarbha in Zen
• Tathagatagarbha doctrine - Buddha-bots
• Tathagatagarbha doctrine - Texts

Read more here: » Tathagatagarbha doctrine: Encyclopedia - Tathagatagarbha doctrine

Also known as Tantric Buddhism, Mantrayana, Tantrayana, Esoteric Buddhism, Diamond Vehicle or True Words Sect. (Secret) Mantra vehicle is the name most commonly used in Tibetan scriptures. Vajrayāna Buddhism is often viewed as the third major 'vehicle' (Yana) of Buddhism, alongside the Hinayana and Mahayana. The Vajrayana is an extension of Mahayana Buddhism consisting not of philosophical differences, but rather the adoption of ad ...

Including:

• Vajrayana - Distinguishing features of Vajrayana
• Vajrayana - Tantra techniques
• Vajrayana - Esoteric Transmission Initiation
• Vajrayana - Relationship with Mahayana
• Vajrayana - History of Vajrayana
• Vajrayana - India
• Vajrayana - China
• Vajrayana - Tibet and other Himalayan kingdoms
• Vajrayana - Japan
• Vajrayana - Indonesia and Malaysia
• Vajrayana - Mongolia

Read more here: » Vajrayana: Encyclopedia - Vajrayana

Daisaku Ikeda (池田 大作, born January 2, 1928) is the president of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), a Buddhist association of more than 12 million members in more than 190 countries and territories, and founder of several educational, cultural and research institutions. Born of poor origins, his family endured the hardships of the war, as many did. In his youth, he lost an older brother to World War II, which developed in him a strong opposition to war. In his late teens, he learned of Nichiren Shoshu Bud ...

Including:

• Daisaku Ikeda - Accomplishments
• Daisaku Ikeda - Books

Read more here: » Daisaku Ikeda: Encyclopedia - Daisaku Ikeda

Soka Gakkai International (創価学会インターナショナル; also, SGI) is the international umbrella organization for Soka Gakkai-affiliated lay organizations in over 190 countries. SGI has over 12 million members, who practice Soka Gakkai's particular form of Nichiren Buddhism. SGI's Japan-based parent, Soka Gakkai, was formed in 1930 and is closely associated with the New Komeito, an influential Japanese political party. SGI itself was founded in 1975 and characterizes itself and its constituent organizations as a sup ...

Including:

• Soka Gakkai International - History
• Soka Gakkai International - Doctrine
• Soka Gakkai International - Practice
• Soka Gakkai International - SGI Charter
• Soka Gakkai International - Criticism
• Soka Gakkai International - Excommunication
• Soka Gakkai International - Sources

Read more here: » Soka Gakkai International: Encyclopedia - Soka Gakkai International

Venerable Master Yin Shun (印順導師, Yin Shun Dao Shi) (March 12th, 1906–June 4, 2005) was an important figure in modern Mahayana Buddhism. Known as a contemporary master, he was notably known as the mentor of Venerable Master Cheng Yen, the founder of Tzu-Chi Buddhist Foundation, a charity association that has gained a worldwide presence. Master Yin Shun also helped bring forth the ideal of Humanistic Buddhism, a ...

Including:

• Yin Shun - Biography
• Yin Shun - Early years
• Yin Shun - Quest for the Truth
• Yin Shun - Discovering Buddhism
• Yin Shun - Becoming a monastic
• Yin Shun - Searching for the Dharma
• Yin Shun - Decline of Buddhism in China
• Yin Shun - Seeing the Buddha
• Yin Shun - The Buddha in the World
• Yin Shun - Achievements
• Yin Shun - Encounter with Master Cheng Yen
• Yin Shun - Signs of waning health
• Yin Shun - Death and Funeral

Read more here: » Yin Shun: Encyclopedia - Yin Shun

Buddhism, a religion and philosophy from ancient India, is based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, of the Shakyas. His lifetime is traditionally given as 566 to 483 BCE; it spread throughout the Indian subcontinent in the five centuries following his death. Missionaries would carry Buddhism throughout Central Asia, Sri Lanka, Tibet, as well as East Asian countries such as China, Korea, and Japan in the following two millenia. Buddhism is classified as an Ārya dharma ("Noble religion") and is one ...

Including:

• Buddhism - What is a Buddha?
• Buddhism - Origins
• Buddhism - Principles of Buddhism
• Buddhism - The Three Marks of Existence
• Buddhism - The Four Noble Truths
• Buddhism - The Noble Eightfold Path
• Buddhism - Practices of Buddhism
• Buddhism - Refuge in The Three Jewels
• Buddhism - The Five Precepts
• Buddhism - Meditation
• Buddhism - Buddha-dhatu Buddha-Principle Buddha-nature
• Buddhism - Other principles and practices
• Buddhism - Vegetarianism
• Buddhism - Buddhist religious philosophy and branches
• Buddhism - Buddhism after the Buddha
• Buddhism - Principal schools of Buddhist philosophy
• Buddhism - Scriptures
• Buddhism - Relations with other Eastern faiths
• Buddhism - Buddhism in the modern world
• Buddhism - Buddhism and the West
• Buddhism - Buddhism
• Buddhism - Related systems and religions
• Buddhism - References and Links
• Buddhism - References
• Buddhism - Footnotes
• Buddhism - External links

Read more here: » Buddhism: Encyclopedia - Buddhism

Tantra (Sanskrit: loom), tantric yoga or tantrism is any of several esoteric traditions rooted in the religions of India. It exists in Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Bönpo, and New Age forms. Tantra's roots are in the village life of ancient India. The word "tantra" first appears in the written record in the middle of the first millennium CE. Tantra has persisted and often thrived throughout Asian history. Its practitioners have lived in India, China, Japan, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Korea, Cambodia, Burma, Ind ...

Including:

• Tantra - History of Tantra
• Tantra - Hindu tantra
• Tantra - Tibetan tantra
• Tantra - Japan's Shingon sect
• Tantra - New Age tantra or Neo Tantra
• Tantra - Tantric practices
• Tantra - Tantra in the modern world
• Tantra - Hindu tantra
• Tantra - Buddhist tantra

Read more here: » Tantra: Encyclopedia - Tantra

Kalachakra is a term used in Tantric Buddhism that means "time-wheel" or "time-cycles". It refers both to a Tantric deities (tib. yidam) of Vajrayāna Buddhism and to the philosophies and meditation practices contained the Kālachakra Tantra and its many commentaries. The Kālachakra Tantra is more properly called the Kālachakra Laghutantra, and is said to be an abridged form of an original text, the Kālachakra Mūlatantra. Some Buddhist masters assert that Kālachakra is the most a ...

Including:

• Kalachakra - The Kālachakra Laghutantra
• Kalachakra - Initiation
• Kalachakra - History
• Kalachakra - Kālachakra Practice Today in the Four Tibetan Buddhist Schools
• Kalachakra - Astrology
• Kalachakra - Controversy

Read more here: » Kalachakra: Encyclopedia - Kalachakra

The history of Buddhism spans from the 6th century BCE to the present, starting with the birth of the Buddha Siddharta Gautama. This makes it one of the oldest religions practiced today. Throughout this period, the religion evolved as it encountered various countries and cultures, adding to its original Indian foundation Hellenistic as well as Central Asian, East Asian, and Southeast Asian cultural elements. In the process, its geographical extent became considerable so as to affect at one time or another most of the Asian continent. ...

Including:

• History of Buddhism - Life of the Buddha
• History of Buddhism - Early Buddhism
• History of Buddhism - 1st Buddhist council 5th c. BCE
• History of Buddhism - 2nd Buddhist council 383 BCE
• History of Buddhism - Ashokan proselytism c. 260 BCE
• History of Buddhism - 3rd Buddhist council c.250 BCE
• History of Buddhism - Hellenistic world
• History of Buddhism - Asian expansion
• History of Buddhism - Sunga persecutions 2nd–1st c.BCE
• History of Buddhism - Greco-Buddhist interaction 2nd c. BCE–1st c. CE
• History of Buddhism - Rise of Mahayana 1st c.BCE–2nd c.CE
• History of Buddhism - Mahayana expansion 1st c.CE–10th c.CE
• History of Buddhism - India
• History of Buddhism - Central and Northern Asia
• History of Buddhism - South-East Asia
• History of Buddhism - Emergence of the Vajrayana 5th century
• History of Buddhism - Theravada Renaissance 11th century CE—
• History of Buddhism - Expansion of Buddhism to the West
• History of Buddhism - Notes

Read more here: » History of Buddhism: Encyclopedia - History of Buddhism

The Báb · Abdu'l-Bahá Kitáb-i-Aqdas · Kitáb-i-Íqán The Hidden Words Administrative Order The Guardian Universal House of Justice Continental Counsellors Spiritual Assembly Haifa · Akká Shiraz · Baghdad Bahá'í History · Timeline Bábís · Shaykh Ahmad Táhirih · Quddús · Badí' Shoghi Effendi Rúhíyyih Khanum Unity of humanity Unity of religion Gender equality Universal education Science and religion Auxilliary language Symbols · H ...

Including:

• Bahá'í Faith and world religions - Bahá'í Faith and Comparative Theology
• Bahá'í Faith and world religions - Judaism
• Bahá'í Faith and world religions - Christianity
• Bahá'í Faith and world religions - Islam
• Bahá'í Faith and world religions - Hinduism
• Bahá'í Faith and world religions - Buddhism
• Bahá'í Faith and world religions - Bahá'í Faith and Religious Studies

Read more here: » Bahá'í Faith and world religions: Encyclopedia - Bahá'í Faith and world religions

Zen is the Japanese name of a well known branch of Mahāyāna Buddhist schools, practiced originally in India as Dhyan (ध्यान), which then came to be known in China as Ch'an (禪), and subsequently in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. Zen emphasizes the role of sitting meditation (zazen) in pursuing enlightenment. Though considered simply a practice by most of its practitioners, Zen is also considered a religion or a philosophy by some. It has also been describe ...

Including:

• Zen - Spread of Zen
• Zen - Zen in Japan
• Zen - Zen and Buddhism
• Zen - Zen teachings and practices
• Zen - Zazen
• Zen - The teacher
• Zen - Koan practice
• Zen - Radical teachings
• Zen - Zen and Western culture
• Zen - Zen in Films
• Zen - American Zen

Read more here: » Zen: Encyclopedia - Zen

Attainment of Buddhahood by evil persons

(Jpn.: akunin jobutsu)

See: attainment of Buddhahood

(See also: Attainment of Buddhahood by evil persons, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Attainment of Buddhahood in the remote past

(Jpn.: kuon jitsujo)

Shakyamuni's original attainment of enlightenment in the inconceivably remote past as related in the "Life Span" (sixteenth) chapter of the essential teaching (latter fourteen chapters) of the Lotus Sutra. In this chapter, Shakyamuni discloses that he actually attained enlightenment in the distant past. He then illustrates in rather awe-inspiring detail the cosmic proportions of the time that has elapsed since then, the magnitude of which is abbreviated as "numberless major world system dust particle kalpas." Nothing Shakyamuni had taught until this point challenged people's basic assumption that he had attained enlightenment in his present lifetime after sitting in meditation under the bodhi tree near Gaya, India.

This is the assumption upheld in the theoretical teaching (first fourteen chapters) of the Lotus Sutra and in the other sutras. Through this revelation in the "Life Span" chapter, however, Shakyamuni demolishes the belief that he attained enlightenment for the first time in his present lifetime. The "Life Span" chapter says: "In all the worlds the heavenly and human beings and asuras all believe that the present Shakyamuni Buddha, after leaving the palace of the Shakyas, seated himself in the place of meditation not far from the city of Gaya and there attained supreme perfect enlightenment. But good men, it has been immeasurable, boundless hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, millions of nayutas of kalpas since I in fact attained Buddhahood."

(See also: Attainment of Buddhahood in the remote past, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Attainment of Buddhahood by persons of the two vehicles

(Jpn.: nijo-sabutsu)

See: attainment of Buddhahood

(See also: Attainment of Buddhahood by persons of the two vehicles, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Attaining Buddhahood in one's present form

(Jpn.: soku-shin-jobutsu)

See: attainment of Buddhahood

(See also: Attaining Buddhahood in one's present form, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Buddhahood

(Jpn.: bukkai)

The state of awakening that a Buddha has attained. The ultimate goal of Buddhist practice and the highest of the Ten Worlds. The word enlightenment is often used synonymously with Buddhahood. Buddhahood is regarded as a state of perfect freedom, in which one is awakened to the eternal and ultimate truth that is the reality of all things. This supreme state of life is characterized by boundless wisdom and infinite compassion. The Lotus Sutra reveals that Buddhahood is a potential in the lives of all beings.

See: attainment of Buddhahood

(See also: Buddhahood, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Seed of Buddhahood

(Jpn.: busshu)

The cause for attaining Buddhahood. The Buddha nature inherent in ordinary people, or the innate potential to become a Buddha; also the Buddha's teaching, which clarifies and enables people to realize their Buddha nature.

Bodhisattva practice, the practice required of a bodhisattva, is also regarded as the seed of Buddhahood. One ensures the cause for realizing enlightenment by receiving the Buddha's teaching, the seed of Buddhahood. Based on the Lotus Sutra, T'ien-t'ai (538-597) interpreted the seed of Buddhahood as the doctrine of three thousand realms in a single moment of life, and Nichiren (1222-1282) defined it as the Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

See: Sowing maturing and harvesting

(See also: Seed of Buddhahood, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Pratyekabuddha: Solitary practitioners who attain Buddhahood without a teacher. These are private Buddhas.

 (See also: Pratyekabuddha, Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

BODHISATTVA: A being who, having developed the Awakening Mind (a mind infused with the aspiration to attain the state of Buddhahood), devotes his life to the task of achieving Buddhahood for the sake of all sentient beings.

(See also: BODHISATTVA, Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Enlightenment

(Jpn.: satori)

See also: attainment of Buddhahood)

Bodhisattva:

Bodhisattva: a being who, having developed the  awakening mind (a mind infused with the aspiration to attain the  state of Buddhahood), devotes his life to the task of achieving  Buddhahood for the sake of all sentient beings.

(See also: Bodhisattva, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)