The Soteriologies of Buddhist Tantrism

Abstract

Abstract Tantric Buddhist practices, often regarded as transgressive or liminal, diverge from the sedate ways of the monastic establishment and the bodhisattva ideal of selfless altruism. The reconciliation of these quite different paths to enlightenment is one of the landmark intellectual projects of late Buddhism. Tantrism was conceived as a way (naya) or vehicle (yāna) leading to awakening that could be followed alongside monastic or bodhisattva religiosity in spite of its antinomian tendencies. The eradication of conceptuality (vikalpa) is one common goal that was especially suited to tantric methods, although views differed on the compatibility of these methods with Buddhist norms. The soteriology of Buddhist tantrism was developed over generations by members of the monastic community, such as Śāntarakṣita and deutero-Āryadeva; by non-monastic yogīs such as Indrabhūti and Padmavajra; and by adepts who had practised both monasticism and tantrism, such as Jñānapāda, Atiśa and Advayavajra.