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Difference between revisions of "Symbolism of the five Dhyani Buddhas"

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(Created page with "The five Dhyani Buddhas are mentioned in most of the tantric systems and represent various physical and mental aspects. Here are given only some of the most common explanation...")
 
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The five Dhyani Buddhas are mentioned in most of the tantric systems and represent various physical and mental aspects. Here are given only some of the most common explanations and representations of these so-called 'Heads of the five Buddha-families'.
 
The five Dhyani Buddhas are mentioned in most of the tantric systems and represent various physical and mental aspects. Here are given only some of the most common explanations and representations of these so-called 'Heads of the five Buddha-families'.
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It should be noted though that many different forms of each deity exist, and different tantras can have slightly different explanations (for example, in the Kalachakra tantra, six Dhyani-Buddhas are mentioned, and most have different colors and shapes).
 
It should be noted though that many different forms of each deity exist, and different tantras can have slightly different explanations (for example, in the Kalachakra tantra, six Dhyani-Buddhas are mentioned, and most have different colors and shapes).
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The five Dhyani-Buddhas are also often found on the crown on the head of tantric Buddhas, like this:
 
The five Dhyani-Buddhas are also often found on the crown on the head of tantric Buddhas, like this:
  
  
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{| class="wikitable"|-Mental symbolism of the five Dhyani Buddhas
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{| class="wikitable"
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|-
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Mental symbolism of the five Dhyani Buddhas:
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Deity !! Delusion !! Enlightened Mind
 
! Deity !! Delusion !! Enlightened Mind
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|-| Vairochana || Example || Example|-| Example || Example || Example|-| Example || Example || Example|-| Example || Example || Example|-| Example || Example || Example|}
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|-
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|style="background-color:#FFF;height:25px"| Vairochana || ignorance, delusion || All-encompassing Dharmadatu Wisdom
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|-
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| style="background-color:#0099ff;height:25px"|Akshobhya || anger, hatred || Mirror-like Wisdom
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|-
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| style="background-color:#ffff00;height:25px"|Ratnasambhava || pride, miserliness || Wisdom of Equality
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|-
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|style="background-color:#ff0000;height:25px"| Amitabha || desire, lust || Discriminating Wisdom
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|-
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|style="background-color:#00ff00;height:25px"| Amogasiddhi || jealousy, fear || All-accomplishing Wisdom
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|}
 +
 
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{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
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Physical symbolism of the five Dhyani Buddhas:
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|-
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! Deity !! Element !! Sense !! Medical/physical !! Organ
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|-
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| Vairochana ||style="background-color:#FFF;height:25px"| space || sight || energy channels || heart
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|-
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| Akshobhya ||style="background-color:#0099ff;height:25px"| water || sound || blood flow || kidneys
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|-
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| Ratnasambhava ||style="background-color:#ffff00;height:25px"| earth || smell || flesh || spleen
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|-
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| Amitabha ||style="background-color:#ff0000;height:25px"| fire || taste || body heat || liver
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|-  
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| Amogasiddhi ||style="background-color:#00ff00;height:25px"| air || touch || inner winds || lungs
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|}
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{| class="wikitable"
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|-
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Names and relation to other Buddhas & Bodhisattvas:
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|-
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! Deity (Sanskrit) !! English name !! Consort  !! Bodhisattva !! Wheel-turning Buddhas
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|-
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| Vairochana ||style="background-color:#FFF;height:25px"| Illuminating || White Tara <br/>(Vajradhatvisvari)|| Samantabhadra || Krakucchanda
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|-
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| Akshobhya ||style="background-color:#0099ff;height:25px"| Unshakable || Locana || Vajrapani || Kanakamuni
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|-
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| Ratnasambhava ||style="background-color:#ffff00;height:25px"| Jewel-born || Mamaki || Ratnapani || Kashyapa
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|-
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| Amitabha ||style="background-color:#ff0000;height:25px"| Infinite Light || Pandara || Avalokiteshvara || Shakyamuni
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|-
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| Amogasiddhi ||style="background-color:#00ff00;height:25px"| Conqueror || Green Tara || Vishvapani || Maitreya
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|}

Revision as of 07:19, 19 October 2012

The five Dhyani Buddhas are mentioned in most of the tantric systems and represent various physical and mental aspects. Here are given only some of the most common explanations and representations of these so-called 'Heads of the five Buddha-families'.

It should be noted though that many different forms of each deity exist, and different tantras can have slightly different explanations (for example, in the Kalachakra tantra, six Dhyani-Buddhas are mentioned, and most have different colors and shapes).

The five Dhyani-Buddhas are also often found on the crown on the head of tantric Buddhas, like this:


Mental symbolism of the five Dhyani Buddhas:
Deity Delusion Enlightened Mind
Vairochana ignorance, delusion All-encompassing Dharmadatu Wisdom
Akshobhya anger, hatred Mirror-like Wisdom
Ratnasambhava pride, miserliness Wisdom of Equality
Amitabha desire, lust Discriminating Wisdom
Amogasiddhi jealousy, fear All-accomplishing Wisdom
Physical symbolism of the five Dhyani Buddhas:
Deity Element Sense Medical/physical Organ
Vairochana space sight energy channels heart
Akshobhya water sound blood flow kidneys
Ratnasambhava earth smell flesh spleen
Amitabha fire taste body heat liver
Amogasiddhi air touch inner winds lungs
Names and relation to other Buddhas & Bodhisattvas:
Deity (Sanskrit) English name Consort Bodhisattva Wheel-turning Buddhas
Vairochana Illuminating White Tara
(Vajradhatvisvari)		 Samantabhadra Krakucchanda
Akshobhya Unshakable Locana Vajrapani Kanakamuni
Ratnasambhava Jewel-born Mamaki Ratnapani Kashyapa
Amitabha Infinite Light Pandara Avalokiteshvara Shakyamuni
Amogasiddhi Conqueror Green Tara Vishvapani Maitreya
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