The 35 Confession Buddhas, 5 Dhyani Buddhas, and More: Understanding Buddha Forms in Vajrayana Buddhism

Vajrayana Buddhism, often regarded as the "diamond vehicle," emphasizes the transformation of ordinary experiences into paths of profound spiritual awakening. Buddha in its multifaceted and symbolic system, is not a single figure in history, but an enormous variety of forms and each of them is another appearance of wisdom, compassion, and spiritual purification. These different forms of Buddha provide certain reflections on how to get rid of delusions, suffering, and cleanse the mind. Four major categories of Buddha forms which are important in Vajrayana Buddhism include: The Thirty-Five Confession Buddhas, the Five Dhyani Buddhas and the Ten Directional Buddhas, and the Six Realm Buddhas.

The Thirty-Five Confession Buddhas: Purification and Transformation

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In Vajrayana Buddhist practice, the Thirty-Five Confession Buddhas are revered figures used for purification rituals. These Buddhas originate from the Sutra of the Three Heaps (Triskandhaka Sutra) which is a crucial text of Mahayana Buddhism devoted to ethical cleansing, confession of karma, and revival of vows. It is a belief that is based on voicing confessions of wrong and glorifying virtues and renewing the vow of bodhisattva. These practices are typical of Tibetan Buddhism and East Asian Buddhism, as part of daily spiritual cleansing particularly by practitioners.

All the Thirty-Five Buddhas are the manifestations of wisdom and compassion and cleansing of karma. The ritual of prostrating to these Buddhas is not a symbolic gesture, but it is an act of surrender, humbleness, and spiritual transformation. Through deep devotion and visualization, practitioners purify themselves from their negative karma and seek guidance from these Buddhas to overcome the ten non-virtues and five heinous actions.

The ritual focuses on three core components:

• Confessing wrongdoings
• Celebrating virtues
• Reaffirming bodhisattva vows
  

A famous story from Tibetan tradition narrates how Je Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school, performed 100,000 prostrations to the Thirty-Five Buddhas during a solitary retreat. Through this practice, he reportedly cleared his karmic obscurations and received a vision of Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, confirming the transformative power of this practice. This devotion to this ritual reveals the strong effect that the Confession Buddha ritual can have on the spiritual journey of a practicing person.

In the Je Tsongkhapa thangka tradition, the Thirty-Five Buddhas are arranged symmetrically around the central figure of Shakyamuni Buddha, also known as the "King of the Shakyas," representing the central position of wisdom and purification in Vajrayana Buddhism.

Read More About 35 Buddhas of Confession

The Five Dhyani Buddhas: Archetypes of Enlightened Consciousness

The Five Dhyani Buddhas are the manifestations of the enlightened mind, each representing a different aspect of wisdom. They lead us to rise above the illusion and pain of the normal world. Therefore, Vajrayana Buddhism revolves around the Five Tathagatas, which are incorporated into rituals, meditation, and visualization to enable a person to develop spiritual traits and have an understanding of the true nature of being. These Buddhas are not abstract notions, as each of the Buddhas is linked to a particular color, direction, and element, which is the expression of the various levels of wisdom. They represent major contents of the Buddha nature that is found in every sentient being.

In Vajrayana practice, understanding these Buddhas is essential for transforming the mind and purifying negative karma. Through practices like yoga and mantra recitation, followers connect with these Buddhas, inviting their transformative energies into their own lives. In addition to their role in meditation and visualization, the Five Wisdom Buddhas also serve as a symbolic map, and assist the practitioners in meditation and visualization.

• Vairocana: The Buddha of all-encompassing wisdom, universal illumination, and expansiveness. Vairocana presides over the center, symbolizing the purification of ignorance into the realization of the Dharmakaya (truth body).
• Akshobhya: The Buddha of mirror-like wisdom, representing immovable strength and the transformation of anger into wisdom. He rules the east and is associated with purifying hatred.
• Ratnasambhava: The Buddha of equal loving, giving, and prosperity. Ratnasambhava, who reigns over the south, purifies pride into the wisdom of equanimity.
• Amitabha: The Buddha of discernment, infinite light, and compassion. Amitabha rules the west, transforming attachment into the wisdom of discriminating awareness.
• Amoghasiddhi: The Buddha of all-accomplishing wisdom and fearless action. He rules the north, purifying envy and jealousy into the wisdom of accomplishment and unwavering purpose.

These five Dhyani Buddhas serve as reminders for practitioners to overcome delusions and purify the mind through meditation, visualization, and the cultivation of specific virtues associated with each Buddha.

Read More About The Five Dhyani Buddhas: An Introduction to Wisdom and Enlightenment

The Six Realm Buddhas: Enlightenment for Every State of Existence

The Six Realms of Existence (Bhavachakra) represent different states of suffering in the cycle of samsara: birth, death, and rebirth. These realms are often depicted in Buddhist cosmology as mental states influenced by our karmic actions. In Vajrayana Buddhism, each realm is presided over by a unique Buddha (or Muni), and each provides a unique teaching and guidance that is intended to help in reducing the affliction that is common in that realm.

The Six Realms and their associated Buddhas are depicted in thangkas and other Buddhist art, each Muni representing a specific method (upaya) of bringing the mental affliction of that realm to the wisdom and liberation of enlightenment. These Buddhas with their peculiarities, mudras, colour, and halo are used not only educative but also for devotional. They teach the practitioners to meditate and stand against their habitual nature and develop the virtues related to each of the realms.

Six Realms and Their Corresponding Buddhas

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The Ten Directional Buddhas: The Infinite Presence of Enlightenment

In Buddhist cosmology, the Ten Directional Buddhas represent an extended interpretation of the universe, portraying the open-endedness of enlightenment in all space and time. The universe is perceived as a multidimensional space, and the ten directions which are east, west, north, south, and the intermediate directions, are controlled by Buddhas. These Buddhas are what are invoked to act as testifiers to the truth and protectors of vows.

The Ten Directional Buddhas are often depicted as forming a sacred mandala, surrounding a central figure such as Shakyamuni Buddha or Vairocana. These Buddhas symbolize the Dharmakaya (truth body) and remind that the enlightenment is not limited in any part of the universe, but it is a universal entity.

The universe according to Buddhist cosmology is not limited to a single plane but also it is extended over an unlimited, multidimensional space. The focal point of this great spiritual scenery is the concept of the ten directions on which ten Buddhas gaze:

1. East
2. South
3. West
4. North
5. Northeast
6. Southeast
7. Southwest
8. Northwest
9. Zenith (Above)
10. Nadir (Below)

It is believed that each of these directions contains a Buddha and they are collectively referred to as the Ten Direction Buddhas (dasa dik-buddhah). These Buddhas are referred to as witnesses of the truth of the Dharma, or guarantors of vows or places of refuge in numerous sutras, such as the Lotus Sutra (Saddharma Pundarika Sutra) and the Avatamsaka Sutra (Flower Garland Sutra). They are also described as present in the sky when issuing some important teachings and showering their blessings from their distinct realms. For instance, in the Avataṃsaka Sutra, when the bodhisattva Sudhana is on his quest for enlightenment, he’s guided to meet countless spiritual teachers across the ten directions. This beautifully illustrates that every corner of space holds a piece of awakened wisdom.

In the practice of rituals, particularly within tantric Buddhism, the Ten Direction Buddhas are visualized as part of creating a sacred mandala, making it a unique Buddha art. They form an outer ring around a central figure to represent the dharmakaya, the all-encompassing truth body of the Buddha. This cosmic setup is known as the Buddha-ksetra, or Buddha-field, and it creates a meditative space that feels both limitless and secure. 

At its core, the Ten Direction Buddhas are more than just a cosmic map, they embody the deep connection between space and enlightenment. Their presence serves as a gentle reminder to practitioners that no matter where they are, whether standing, meditating, or dreaming, they're always close to their Buddha nature. The universe isn't an empty void; it's a vibrant field filled with awakened energy.

Buddhas of the Three Times: Past, Present, and Future Enlightenment

According to Buddhism, Buddhas of the Three Times are the continuity of awakening between ages, when Dipankara, Shakyamuni, and Maitreya lived. Instead of being fixed in a moment in history, enlightenment is viewed as a flowing stream of wisdom and compassion that manifests in any place and at any time so as to help beings to be liberated. This threesome is a living example of a fundamental Buddhist teaching awakening recurs many times according to the demands of the world and the desire of sentient beings.

Dipankara Buddha: The Buddha of the Past

Dipankara Buddha is considered as one of the Buddhas who lived many centuries before Shakyamuni. His name translated as Lamp Bearer, was in his honour as a spiritual light and which had enlightened those seeking the truth in times earlier than those of the current age. Most traditions believe that he lived on Earth a time so remote it cannot be recalled by the common history, but his existence in the Buddhist legend is the symbolic key to the lineage of enlightenment invariably.

Among the most treasured tales regarding Dipankara is the one that talks about his meeting with a young ascetic called Sumedha (a past life of Buddha Shakyamuni). As Dipankara came near, Sumedha went down to the mud where he laid down his matted hair to serve as a floor on which the Buddha would tread. Inspired by this selfless gesture, Dipankara made the prophecy that on another occasion, Sumedha would be a full Buddha, Gautama Buddha. This story does not just focus on the theme of dedication and righteousness but also focuses on the karmic cycle that connects Buddhas throughout time.

Shakyamuni Buddha: The Buddha of the Present Age

The Buddha whose life and teaching are the basis of all Buddhist traditions was Shakyamuni Buddha, who was born as Siddhartha Gautama in Nepal. He went on with the journey of deep meditation and self-discovery after turning his back on the life of kings and finally became completely enlightened under the Bodhi tree. He devoted his life afterward to the teaching of the Dharma or the way of liberation of suffering by means which could be understood and followed by everyone.

The teachings of Shakyamuni explain the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path and thousands of discourses explaining the origin of suffering and methods of its cessation. His appearance in the world is a living connection between the wisdom of the ancient Buddhas such as Dipankara and the hope of the awakening. He is commonly shown in a teaching or meditating pose on the walls of Buddhist temples and in iconography to remind the practitioners that the Dharma is eternal and here and now.

Maitreya Buddha: Buddha of the Future

Maitreya is one who is given a special status in Buddhist tradition as the future Buddha who will come about when the teachings of Shakyamuni will no longer exist in the world. Maitreya is now believed to be in the Tushita Heaven, a place in the heavens where progressive Bodhisattvas are waiting to be able to descend to the Earth, as suggested by Buddhist scriptures and commentaries. At a time when the beings are lost in the Dharma, and the spiritual practice is diminished, Maitreya will be reborn into a human world, achieve enlightenment, and once again turn the wheel of Dharma.

In art, particularly in Asia, Maitreya is usually depicted in another pose than the historical Buddhas, either sitting with his feet raised or in the mode of a Bodhisattva, to indicate his availability and future role. The followers also believe that Maitreya is an epitome of renewal and a spiritual light of hope that will one day engulf the earth in compassion and wisdom to serve the sentient beings.

Read More About The Three Buddhas: A Timeless Journey from the Past to Eternity

Conclusion:

The various manifestations of the Buddha, including the Thirty-Five Confession Buddhas, the Five Dhyani Buddhas, the Ten Directional Buddhas and the Six Realm Buddhas, are the some of the most significant symbols of spiritual purification, transformation, and awakening in Vajrayana Buddhism. Every Buddha is a distinct mode of wisdom, compassion and power to overcome the illusion and afflictions that give sentient beings attachment to the wheel of samsara. These forms, be it through visualization, mantras or rituals train the practitioners to overcome their inner impediments and achieve the state of enlightenment.

The practice of meditating on and connecting with these Buddha forms is a transformational spiritual practice that results in inner peace, wisdom, and compassion. By undergoing the purification procedures of the Thirty-Five Confession Buddhas, the practitioner cleanses his or her karma, removes negative feelings, and renews his or her bodhisattva vows. The Five Dhyani Buddhas represent various aspects of the enlightened mind, and each of them provides instructions to be able to change certain delusions into wisdom. Similarly, the Ten Directional Buddhas and Six Realm Buddhas act as reminders of the universality of enlightenment, not confined to one realm or space, but ever-present across time and space.

Finally, Vajrayana Buddhism is a holistic, all-inclusive form of the spiritual journey. Through the incorporation of these Buddha forms in everyday life, it enhances the attachment of the practitioners to the Dharmakaya (truth body) and helps them to understand the nature of reality and the possibility of having unlimited compassion and wisdom. The variety of Buddha forms offers an in-depth recovery, cleansing, and change of awakening the Buddha nature in all sentient beings.