The teaching and practice of the Vajrayana or ‘Secret Mantra Vehicle’ lies at the heart of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition of Tibet. Based on the motivation of bodhichitta, the Vajrayana is a path centred on cultivating purity of perception. Vajrayana practices emphasise the close guidance of a qualified teacher and employ many special methods such as visualisation, mantra recitation and profound meditation, in order to arrive swiftly at a direct realisation of one’s true nature and the nature of reality itself.
Many masters have reminded us of the importance of educating and preparing ourselves carefully before formally entering the Vajrayana path (when we request to receive an empowerment). To read more about how ‘Vajrayana Main’ fits into the different stages of the path click here.
After having spent some time studying and practising the ‘preliminaries to the Vajrayana’ (ngöndro), you might be wanting to learn more about Vajrayana practice and are beginning to reflect about whether or not you want to receive an empowerment and start the main Vajrayana practices (sadhanas).
- This guide includes a playlist of curated teachings to get you started on exploring this important topic
- You can also find recommendations for more teachings and resources for further study
