Five Dhyani Buddhas: 2 definitions

Introduction:

Five Dhyani Buddhas means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Five Dhyani Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism glossary
Source: WikiPedia: Tibetan Buddhism

In Vajrayana Buddhism, the Five Dhyani Buddhas (Vairocana, Aksobhya, Amitabha, Ratnasambhava, Amoghasiddhi) are representations of the five qualities of the Buddha. These five Buddhas are a common subject of Vajrayana mandalas.

  1. Vairocana (principal deity/ meditator).
  2. Amoghasiddhi (north).
  3. Aksobhya (east).
  4. Ratnasambhava (south).
  5. Amitabha (west).

The Wisdom Buddhas are all aspects of the dharmakaya or "reality body", which embodies the principle of enlightenment. Initially two Buddhas appeared which represented wisdom and compassion - they were, respectively, Aksobhya and Amitabha. A further distinction embodied the aspects of power, or activity, and the aspect of beauty, or spiritual riches. In the Sutra of Golden Light (an early Mahayana Sutra) the figures are named Dundubishvara, and Ratnaketu, but over time their names changed to become Amoghasiddhi, and Ratnasambhava. The central figure came to be called Vairocana.

 

Tibetan Buddhism book cover
context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

Discover the meaning of five dhyani buddhas in the context of Tibetan Buddhism from relevant books on Exotic India

General definition (in Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Five Dhyani Buddhas in Buddhism glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgraha

Five Dhyani Buddhas:—A technical term in Buddhism corresponding to the Sanskrit pañcabuddha defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 3):

  1. Shining Buddha (Vairocana),
  2. Immovable Buddha (Akṣobhya),
  3. Jewel-Born Buddha (Ratnasambhava),
  4. Endless-Light Buddha (Amitābha),
  5. Unfailing Buddha (Amoghasiddhi),

The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., pañcabuddha, ‘five dhyani Buddhas’). The work is attributed to Nagarguna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.

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