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Chapter One

THE INDIAN FOUNDATION OF TANTRIC


BUDDHISM

1. Basic Suppositions
The term 'tantric' is derived from tantra, literally meaning a 'thread'. It is
identical in its literal meaning to the term sutra, that is, "a thread, yarn,
string, line, cord, wire," which later came to mean that which "holds
everything together, rule, direction, or manual of teaching in ritual,
philosophy, grammar."1 Sutra is a religious literature which contains the
alleged sayings of the Buddha, but tantra, in contradistinction to siitra,
specifically refers to a type of religious literature which deals with
incantation (i.e. mantra and dharani), divination and magic, and on
occasions, iconographic (i.e. mandala), sexual and other devices to sym-
bolically illustrate what the writers conceive as the truth. A system of
thought which has incorporated these elements is referred to as Tantrism.
Tantric elements can be found in ancient Indian literature, such as in the
aboriginal Dravidian literature as well as in the Vedic literature of the Indo-
Aryans. Interestingly, they developed most prominently in areas of ancient
India where cultural intercourse with alien elements was most pronounced,
such as in the west, where commercial seaports developed, and in the J
northwest, which bordered on the Silk Road. But the origin of tantra
remains obscure and efforts to define the range otantras, whether on a
ritual, symbolic, or philosophical level, have been a frustrating experience.
Bhattacharya therefore rightly points out "the writers of the tantra were
most erratic and never followed any definite plans." 2 It can be assumed that
various schools of tantrism and forms of tantric expression existed in
ancient India, of which one was Buddhism.

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