Buddhist Tantra: A Philosophical Reflection and Religious Investigation

by Lalan Prasad Singh

Lord Buddha, after the attainment of Nirvana under Bodhi Tree at Bodh Gaya through the practice of Tantra Sadhana reflected on the nature and significance of Nirvana which resulted into the birth of a new school of philosophy and a new religious order known as Buddhism. Buddhist Tantra is the sublime and profound form of spirituality. It is monotheistic. It presents the highest form of Monism. In Buddhist Tantra, Advaya means the eternal co-existence of Prajna and Upaya which constitute the infinite unity and transcendent reality (Boddhi Citta).

Buddhist Tantra has made great contribution to the speculative metaphysics in the form of Vijnana Veda, (Yogacara) and Sunyavada (Madhyamika). The most profound ontological doctrine is considered to be the Madhyamika which claoms Sunyata to be intrinsic nature, to be the ultimate mode of existence of phenomenon. One can experience Sunyata only when the mind is liberated from all kinds of mental reification. Buddhist Tantra is aware of futility of speculative metaphysics and hence it recommends the practice of intuitional science and esotericism for the realization of ultimate reality.

In this intuitive experience of Prajna and Upaya, essence and existence becomes identical. Tantra is not based on false asceticism. The significance of mystic symbolism of Tantra cannot be understood without one's initiation (abhisekh) in its intuitional science and esotericism. It is full of symbolism. The symbolism of sex and wine under some esoteric discipline is supposed to sublimate the baser instincts.

Tantra recognizes that sex is inherent in man but it can be sublimated  In the recognition of the gradual development and transformation of human consciousness. Tantra takes cognizance of baser and crude aspect of human nature and introduces spiritual and esoteric techniques and practices to sublimate them into higher forms of divine life.

The significance of Five M's i.e Mansa (meat), Matsya (Fish), Mudra (Parched Rice) Madya (Wine) and Maithuna (Copulation), is esoteric. It cannot be grasped in its manifest from. Maithuna (Copulation) refers to the union of Prajna and Upaya in Usanisa Kamala. The esoteric is significance of the Madira (Wine) in the pineal nectar that imanates from the Usanisa Kamala.