Five dhyani Buddhas

thumb|200px|Five Buddhas holding each one in hand its attribute: [[Ratnasambhava]] (yellow), [[Amitabha]] (red), [[Amoghasiddhi]] (green), [[Akshobhya]] (blue pale); in the center [[Vairocana]] The five dhyani Buddhas or Buddhas of meditation , still called Buddhas of wisdom , are a group of Déité S which, in the current Vajrayana, represents the five aspects of the paramount Buddha and five wisdoms making it possible to transform the five negative emotions into positive energy. In Sanskrit they are called jinas (conquerors) or Tathagata S (Thus-come), and in Japanese will gochinyōrai (五智如来).

Origin

The principle of the five Buddhas rests on the notion of the trikaya , proposed originally by the school Yogacara of the current Mahayana. According to this theory, the Bouddha Gautama is the demonstration visible with the eyes of all (Nirmanakaya) of a paramount Buddha (Dharmakaya). There exist as visible demonstrations for meditating and the bodhisattvas, called Sambhogakaya S. This theory gave rise to the concept as a Buddha can be geared down in various forms representing each one one of its particular aspects, its emanations.

The process according to which the group was constituted is not entirely clear. It seems that Amitabha and Akshobhya was first of all put before like manifestations of the Compassion and of the wisdom of the paramount Buddha. Later, under the influence of the model of the five elements, two other deities, representing the force released by the latent action and spiritual richnesses, would have come to supplement the group. In the Sutra of the gilded light , they are called Dundubishvara and Ratnaketu; it is in the Guhyasamaja Tantra , one of the first will tantras known, which for the first time the names of Amoghasiddhi and Ratnasambhava appear. The central figure is Vairocana, form in which the Buddha dictates the Sutra Avatamsaka after its illumination. It can be itself considered, not like the authentic paramount Buddha, but like its emanation; supreme Adibouddha is then Samantabhadra or Vajradhara.

Mandala of the five Buddhas

thumb|200px|Five Buddhas and four bodhisattvas in the center of one [[taïzôkaï|mandala matrix]], Japan

Because of diversity of the traditions and practices, the position of the Buddhas and their color can vary according to the Mandala S where they appear. They can moreover be accompanied by Parèdre S, of Bodhisattva S, courroucées forms (sometimes with their parèdre) and of Dakini S. the representation the most frequent place as follows:

Associations

The five Buddhas lend themselves to various interpretations. They are associated with the five elements and the five directions with the manner of the five Agni, the five Indra or the five faces of Shiva of the Hindouisme. They also evoke through the Mudra which makes each one five episodes of the life and the worship of the Buddha, like showed it Paul Mus. For the practitioners, they indicate before all the five ways making it possible to transform the five illusions into positive attitudes.

See too

Vairocana | Amitabha | Akshobhya

External bonds

general Presentation of the five Buddhas
the symbolism of the five Buddhas

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