Concept
Vajrabodhi
Overview
Vajrabodhi (Sanskrit: वज्रबोधि, Chinese: 金剛智; pinyin: Jīngāngzhì, 671–741 CE) was an Indian esoteric Buddhist monk and teacher in Nalanda and later in Tang China. He is one of the eight patriarchs in Shingon Buddhism as well as Zhenyan Buddhism. He is notable for introducing Vajrayana Buddhism in the territories of the Srivijaya Empire which subsequently evolved into a distinct form known as Indonesian Esoteric Buddhism.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
Found by search and not yet checked by a person; they may only mention the idea in passing.
The Mongol Emperors were Buddhists of the Lama religion, which still prevails in Tibet and Mongolia; but the Manchu Emperors, though also northern conquerors, were ultra-orthodox Confucians. It has been customary in China, for many centuries, for the literati to be pure Confucians, sceptical in religion but not in morals, while the rest of the population believed and practised all three religions simultaneously. The…
Bertrand Russell, The Problem of China
Close in meaning to Vajrabodhi; the term itself is not named.
Other methods of deliverance from evil are in the excessive acts of penance performed by the Indians, to which a retreat within themselves is added. Now when the Indian thus internally collects himself, and retreats within his own thoughts, the moment of such pure concentration is called Brahma, the one and the clearly supersensuous state, which the understanding calls the highest possible existence. When this is so…
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Hegel's Lectures on the History of Philosophy
States what Vajrabodhi is.
At the place where Buddha attained to perfect Wisdom, there are three monasteries, in all of which there are monks residing. The families of their people around supply the societies of these monks with an abundant sufficiency of what they require, so that there is no lack or stint. The disciplinary rules are strictly observed by them.
Confucius, Chinese literature
Close in meaning to Vajrabodhi; the term itself is not named.
Philosophers who discussed Vajrabodhi
Related ideas
- Agastya
- India
- Indonesia
- Jainism
- Dharmakirti
- Nalanda mahavihara
- Kamakura period
- Medieval India
- Nagarjuna
- Sri Lanka
- Sanskrit
- Sutra
- Shingon Buddhism
- Tantra
- Buddhism
- Yoga
- Bodhisattva
- Srivijaya
- Tang dynasty
- China
- Song dynasty
- Chinese language
- Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period
- Vajrayana
Place in the tradition
Part of Buddhist philosophy.