Wzorce praktyki religijnej we wczesnej wadźrajanie i ich związek z buddyjską filozofią
Patterns of religious practice in early Vajrayāna and their relationship to Buddhist philosophy

Summary/Abstract: The development of religious practice in early tantric Buddhism is under consideration in the paper. Three successively arising patterns of religious practice are identified. All of them are expressed in Buddhist tantras, so only taken together they can give a picture of early Vajrayāna during the formative period. The oldest of the models developed from the rituals focused on spells recitation and elements of those rituals were included in each of three distin- guished patterns. The hallmark of the the original pattern is striving for identification with visulized deity in order to change one’ own body temporarily into a kind of container for deity’s presence. It is believed that deity can miraculously affect participants of ritual or their surroundings in that way. The pattern of achieving gnosis through identification with the mandala overlord is based on the conviction that integration with some deity leads an adept to lasting transformation into buddha. Participation in the cognitive activity of deity is considered to be crucial aspect of identification with the visualised mandala overlord. The pattern of the manipulation of emotions includes sexual intercourse and other activities provoking strong emotions. Sexual ecstasy in the ritualistic context is believed to have cognitive aspect and to cause soteriological transformation of mind. Another element of the third pattern is the concept that the appropriate modification of life force moving in the human body can cause buddhahood. The second and third patterns appear to be originally related with philosophy of buddha nature.

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