大教

The great teaching.

(1) That of the Buddha.

(2) Tantrayāna. The mahātantra, yoga, yogacarya, or tantra school which claims Samantabhadra as its founder. It aims at ecstatic union of the individual soul with the world soul, Iśvara. From this result the eight great powers of Siddhi ((sa) aṣṭa-mahāsiddhi), namely, ability to

(1) make one's body lighter (laghiman);

(2) heavier (gaiman);

(3) smaller (aṇiman);

(4) larger (mahiman) than anything in the world ;

(5) reach any place (prāpti) ;

(6) assume any shape (prākāmya) ;

(7) control all natural laws (īśitva) ;

(8) make everything depend upon oneself; all at will (v.[lang id =1028]如意身 and [lang id =1028]神足). By means of mystic formulas (Tantras or dhāraṇīs), or spells (mantras), accompanied by music and manipulation of the hands (mūdra), a state of mental fixity characterized neither by thought nor the annihilation of thought, can be reached. This consists of six-fold bodily and mental happiness (yoga), and from this results power to work miracles. Asaṅga compiled his mystic doctrines circa A.D. 500. The system was introduced into China A.D. 647 by Xuanzang's translation of the <Yogācārya-bhūmi-śāstra> [lang id =1028]瑜伽師地論 ; v. [lang id =1028]瑜. On the basis of this, Amoghavajra established the Chinese branch of the school A.D. 720 ; v. [lang id =1028]阿目. This was popularized by the labours of Vajrabodhi A.D. 732 ; v. [lang id =1028]金剛智.