ABSTRACT
This chapter explores Vajrayāna Buddhism as a living paradigm of contemplative science meant to reproduce the enlightened cultural agency of Buddhahood in the form of selfless confidence or “divine pride.” The chapter presents Vajrayāna Buddhism as a fruitional or effect vehicle, approaching the path from the standpoint of its fruit or consequence. Enlightenment is achieved through reliance on a heroic role-model or mentor-archetype (guru-devatā), a perfected world (maṇḍala), enlightening speech (mantra), gestures (mūdra), and breath control (praṇayama). Surveying the complete path of Unexcelled Tantric practice, from the prerequisites, introduction via initiation, and the stages of creative and integrative practice, this chapter highlights how a practitioner’s body, speech, and mind are all harnessed in Vajrayāna Buddhism to produce antidotes to delusions and cultivate Buddhahood.
