Tantric Theravada?

[form]

Tantric the Tibetan and Taoist style involved the transmutation of libido energy towards higher level. They also have techniques that move chi around the body. Their confirmation signs are very obvious. This is a vast difference from relatively more conservative Theravada meditation approach which I feel have missing elements not explained fully in their canon, leading to many different views.

Isn't the point that the "Tantric Theravada" is being used to describe the "less conservative" Theravada approaches? For example, the Dhammakaya approach involves visualisations, Thanissaro Bhikhu talks about energy practices which his teachers explored, and so on.


Mike

There will be many different ways people use to categorize Theravada. To me Theravada does suggest very stern looking elder monks that are very conservative. So the term tantric theravada sounds weird to me.

[Dhammanando]

There will be many different ways people use to categorize Theravada. To me Theravada does suggest very stern looking elder monks that are very conservative. So the term tantric theravada sounds weird to me.

It’s just a shorthand locution. It spares us the inconvenience of having to say: “A socially marginal religious phenomenon, arising within a traditionally Theravadin cultural milieu but sharing a certain family resemblance with Tantrism”.

[form]

There will be many different ways people use to categorize Theravada. To me Theravada does suggest very stern looking elder monks that are very conservative. So the term tantric theravada sounds weird to me.

It’s just a shorthand locution. It spares us the inconvenience of having to say: “A socially marginal religious phenomenon, arising within a traditionally Theravadin cultural milieu but sharing a certain family resemblance with Tantrism”.

Sure Bhante.

Is it correct to say tibetan buddhism is a mixture of early Buddhism with braminism and Shamanism?

[Dhammanando]

Is it correct to say tibetan buddhism is a mixture of early Buddhism with braminism and Shamanism?

Yes, with regard to Brahminism and Shamanism. But the Buddhist component is not early Buddhism, but rather the very late-stage Buddhism of India's monastic universities. Of all the Buddhist nations in Asia, the Tibetans are probably the least well-informed about early Buddhism, largely as a consequence of Atīśa's decree that the Āgama sūtras should not be translated into the Tibetan language.

[form]

Is it correct to say tibetan buddhism is a mixture of early Buddhism with braminism and Shamanism?

Yes, with regard to Brahminism and Shamanism. But the Buddhist component is not early Buddhism, but rather the very late-stage Buddhism of India's monastic universities. Of all the Buddhist nations in Asia, the Tibetans are probably the least well-informed about early Buddhism, largely as a consequence of Atīśa's decree that the Āgama sūtras should not be translated into the Tibetan language.

Oh yes. I forgot they are Mahayana.

And surprisingly they have very detailed instructions on kasina, and theories of transformation of libido.

[Caodemarte]

It is a confused term for a confused situation! It must be doubly so for those used to Tibetan Tantric Buddhism.

The coiners of terms like “Tantric Theravāda” and “Theravāda Tantrism” are following the practice in academic Buddhist and Hindu studies of defining what counts as ‘tantric’ and what does not in a polythetic manner (i.e. based on Wittgenstein’s conception of “family resemblances”) rather than the monothetic way that would be employed by Tibetans.

Yes, it must be baffling (if not annoying) for Tantric Buddhists who often spend much time defining what is Tantrayana in their terms and what is not. Almost as confusing as hearing "Zen" in French used to mean something that is vaguely cool, calm, definitely non-religious, and fashionable (and certainly not right-wing, militaristic, and extremely socially conservative) was for older Japanese Zen Buddhists.

Is it correct to say tibetan buddhism is a mixture of early Buddhism with braminism and Shamanism?

Tibetan Buddhism, a self-conscious successor to later Indian Buddhist thought and Indian Buddhist and (less self-consciously) non-Buddhist Tantra (not Brahmanism or Brahminism), certainly was influenced by local Tibetan religious traditions and practices, but the Buddhist influence on local religious traditions was massive and overwhelming. So it would probably be better to say that local Tibetan religious traditions called non-Buddhist are actually a mixture of Buddhism and local practices rather than over stress the reverse as early Western scholars often did.

[mikenz66]

Please stick to "Tantric Theravada" in this thread.

Off-topic posts have been moved here: viewtopic.php?f=16&t=31909#p471763


Mike

[Grigoris]

Had an interesting time tracking down Tantric Theravada teachers in Bangkok.

Came into contact with a westerner who had been practicing in Thailand since 13 years old. Started off in the Forest tradition, then went to the Reusi tradition where he learnt traditional Thai medicine too. Currently practices in a Nath tradition in Nepal.

Anyway, he took me to see one of his old teachers at Wat Ratchasittharam Ratchaworawiharn. Amazing complex with a beautiful yard walled in by meditation huts (all done in marble).

The teacher jumped straight into things making me do a meditation on the spot to "assess my mind state". The meditation included visualisations.

In the Wat itself there is an emphasis on healing and energy practices. Pictures of internal energy systems adorn the walls and human models depicting acupressure are scattered around various meditation rooms. There were at least two statues of Jivaka (the Buddha's physician) and Phoo Reusi in the main hall and smaller meditation halls.

The practices tend to emphasise the development of siddhi.

jivaka.jpg (133.35 KiB) Viewed 3989 times

[Sam Vara]

The teacher jumped straight into things making me do a meditation on the spot to "assess my mind state".

Did you get a clean bill of health, or did he ring the police?

[Grigoris]

The teacher jumped straight into things making me do a meditation on the spot to "assess my mind state".

Did you get a clean bill of health, or did he ring the police?

They have special white upper garments for practitioners like me, with extra long wrap around sleeves.

[DooDoot]

Had an interesting time tracking down Tantric Theravada teachers in Bangkok.

This seems to be equating "Thailand" with "Theravada". Religion in Thailand is very diverse.

[Grigoris]

Had an interesting time tracking down Tantric Theravada teachers in Bangkok.

This seems to be equating "Thailand" with "Theravada". Religion in Thailand is very diverse.

I am not trying to do anything of the sort, I am just using Thailand as an example of a Theravada country. Many of the heterodox practices in Thailand came from Cambodia, which would seem to imply that Cambodian Theravada is not all that orthodox either.

Actually, orthodoxy is generally a (limiting) mental concept that rarely has a basis in reality.

[DooDoot]

I am not trying to do anything of the sort, I am just using Thailand as an example of a Theravada country.

Theravada Buddhism is not even the State Religion of Thailand. The King is a Reincarnation of Vishnu. Most people practise Spirit & Ancestor Worship. Thailand is merely a country where Theravada monks did not overtly interfere with the historical religious beliefs of the people. The Thai statues below of Avalokiteśvara (connected to Mahayana in Indonesia; as visited by the Mahayana sage Atiśa) are not Theravada.

[Grigoris]

Theravada Buddhism is not even the State Religion of Thailand.

It is true that it is not in the constitution...

The King is a Reincarnation of Vishnu.

He is a reincarnation of Rama. Followers of Vishnu incorporated Rama as an avatar of Vishnu (like they did with the Buddha too) but Rama has a a seperate religion. You do know that the King of Thailand, by law, has to be a Theravada Buddhist?

Most people practise Spirit & Ancestor Worship.

Yes, this has also been incorporated into Thai Theravada Buddhism.

Thailand is merely a country where Theravada monks did not overtly interfere with the historical religious beliefs of the people.

Thailand is a Theravada Buddhist country, like it or lump it.

The Thai statues below of Avalokiteśvara (connected to Mahayana in Indonesia; as visited by the Mahayana sage are not Theravada.

Mahayana once dominated the region, before Theravada became the main form of Buddhism there. But Thailand is currently a Theravada Buddhist country.

For example: Greece had it's own religions (well, it actually borrowed heavily from Ancient Egypt, but let's not go there right now), but it is now a Greek Orthodox Christian country; even though if you visit museums you will see statues of Ancient (and pre-Ancient) Greek deities.

[Aloka]

I'm not sure if one could say that there's a strain of Theravada called "Tantric Theravada", although there is no denying that some Theravada monastics in SE Asia are informed by remnants of Tantra that were attested to have been prevalent in some time of Buddhism's chequered history in SE Asia.

Interesting that a Wikepedia page was created for Tantric Theravada.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tantric_Theravada