ABSTRACT
Between the ambivalent language of the Tipiṭaka and the explicit symbolism of the tantras there is a historical gap of at least a thousand years. There is also a great difference in content and style, suggesting little likelihood of continuity of tradition between the two systems. Nevertheless, as pointed out earlier, certain pieces of evidence, in particular certain cross-references to events associated with Gotama’s enlightenment, suggest that the two systems may after all be related, and may even belong to a single continuous esoteric tradition. 1 To this possibility we shall return below.
