7. The Secret Teaching (= Tantric Buddhism)

Nalanda became the great centre of secret teaching in the 8th century. Both the schools of Madhyamika and of Vijnanavadin were gradually overshadowed by the secret teaching. Dharani and Mantra were incorporated in the Mahayana sutras and the secret teaching introduced by Mahavairocana-tathagata gradually had a firm footing. This was named as Mantrayana. There are many sutras of the secret teaching, which can be divided into four groups. They are Kriya-tantra, Canya-tantra, Yoga-tantra and Anuttara-yoga-tantra. There are Bhaisajya-guru-sutra, Suvarnaprabhasottama-raja-sutra and Mahamayuri sutra in Kriya-tantra. There are Mahavairocana sutra etc. in Carya-tantra, Tattvasamgraha and Prajnaparamitanayapancasatika sutra in Yoga-tantra. There are Kalacakratantra. Samvarodayatantra, Hevajratantra and Guhyasamaja etc. in Anuttarayoga-tantra. The secret teaching was flourishing in middle India under the protection of the Pala rulers.

-: 111 : The thought of nothingness (Sunya, sunysta) of Madhyamika and the theory of Vijnapti-matrata of the Vijnanavada were also accepted to the secret teaching. On the basis of these thoughts they should practice Yoga. For that purpose the introduced some Mudra, su chanting of Mantras and meditating on various Buddhas and gods in front of the mandala. The mandala is the symbolized Bodhicitta, which is to be meditated for the purpose; of being fused. Of the Mahayana Texts mentioned above, the following nine Texts are called Navadharma or nine sacred texts famous and worshipped in Nepal. They are: Lalitavistara, Samadhirajasutra, Lankavatara, Astasahasrika PrajnapFremita, Gandavvuna, Saddharmapundarika, Dasabhumika, Suvarnaprabhasa and Tathagataguhyaka. They are also called Vaipulya-sutras (i.e. extensive and glorious sutras).