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Tantric Buddhism probably began around 300
AD as an esoteric development among small circles of
initiates, passed down from guru to pupil. It
gathered momentum after 600 AD, and was espoused by
the rulers of a kingdom known as Uddyana (possibly
around Peshawar in modern Pakistan) and by the Pala
dynasty in Bengal (750-1150). It was largely
suppressed during the Moghul period.
Countless practices of several Asian religions have
been lumped together by western scholars under the
heading "Tantra." The only commonality among these
practices is the use of ritual or sacramental action
to channel divine energies. The earliest tantra
probably grew out of the Hindu-Vedic tradition.
Buddhist tantra developed independently of Hindu for
many centuries, however, and they are barely related
now in spite of a surface resemblance.
At first sight nothing seems more alien to the
oldest form of Buddhism, Theravada, than Tantric
Buddhism. Where Theravada urges us to reflect on the
repulsiveness of the body, Tantric Buddhism tells us
to revere it as a temple and to indulge its most
sensual impulses. Theravada preaches the
renunciation of all desires: Tantric Buddhism their
over-fulfillment.
Vajrayana Buddhism also defines tantra as a means to
channel the energy of desire and transform the
experience of pleasure into realization of
enlightenment. According to the late Lama Thubten
Yeshe.
There is neither passion nor absence of passion.
Seated beside her own, her mind destroyed,
Thus I have seen the yogini. [85]
That blissful delight that consists between lotus
[vagina] and vajra [thunderbolt, ie, penis],
Who does not rejoice there?
This moment may be the bliss of means, or of both
wisdom and means . .
It is profound, it is vast.
it is neither self nor other . . .
Even as the moon makes light in black darkness,
So in one moment the supreme bliss removes all
defilement.
When the sun of suffering has set,
Then arises this bliss, this lord of the stars.
It creates with continuous creativity,
And of this comes the mandala circle [of the
cosmos].
Gain purification in bliss supreme,
For here lies final perfection.
As a clear crystal assumes
The colour of another object,
So the jewel of the mind is colored
With the hue of what it imagines.
The jewel of the mind is naturally devoid
Of the colour of these ideas.
Originally pure, unoriginated,
Impersonal, and without stain.
So with all one's might, one should do
Whatever fools condemn,
And, since one's mind is pure,
Dwell in union with one's divinity.
The mystics, pure of mind,
Dally with lovely girls,
Infatuated with the poisonous flame of passion,
That they may be set free from desire . . .
The mystic duly dwells
On the manifold merits of his divinity
He delight in thoughts of passion,
And by the enjoyment of passion is set free.
As a washerman uses dirt
to wash clean a garment,
So, with impurity,
The wise man makes himself pure.
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