CONTOURS OF BUDDHISM (CONTD)

Vajrayana Buddhism: The Way of The Diamond

Vajrayana Buddhism is known as “the Way of the Diamond.” It’s sometimes also called Tantric or Esoteric Buddhism.

As far as different types of Buddhism go, Vajrayana is one of the most unique.

What makes Vajrayana Buddhism so special is its approach to rapid Enlightenment through the use of tantras — mystical texts that date back to the 6th century CE. Some of these practices combine spiritual and physical practices that can be overwhelming for beginners.
Because of the intense application needed for many Vajrayana Buddhist practices, most Vajrayana schools only accept advanced teachers and students.

Buddha's disciples and early Buddhists

Chief Disciples

Sāriputta — Chief disciple, "General of the Dhamma", foremost in wisdom

Mahamoggallāna — Second chief disciple, foremost in psychic powers

Great Disciples

Monks

Ānanda — Buddha's cousin and personal attendant

Maha Kassapa — Convener of First Buddhist Council

Anuruddha — Half-cousin of the Buddha

Mahakaccana — Foremost in teaching

Nanda — Half-brother of the Buddha

Subhuti

Punna

Upali — Master of the Vinaya

Nuns

Mahapajapati Gotami — Eldest nun, half-mother of Buddha

Khema — First great female disciple in power

Uppalavanna — Second great female disciple

Patacara — Foremost exponent of the Vinaya, the rules of monastic discipline

Laymen

Anathapindika — Chief lay disciple, foremost disciple in generosity

Hatthaka of Alavi

Jivaka

Citta — the foremost householder for explaining the Teaching

Cunda

Laywomen

Khujjuttara

Velukandakiya

Visakha

Rohini

Sujata

First  Five Disciples of the Buddha

Kondañña — the first Arahant

Assaji — converted Sāriputta and Mahamoggallāna

Bhaddiya

Vappa

Mahanama

Two seven-year-old Arahants

Samanera Sumana

Samanera Pandita

Other disciples

Channa — royal servant and head charioteer of Prince Siddhartha

Angulimala — mass murderer turned saint

Kisa Gotami

Later Indian Buddhists (after Buddha)

Buddhaghosa — 5th-century Indian Theravadin Buddhist commentator and scholar, author of the Visuddhimagga

Mahinda — son of Emperor Ashoka

Sanghamitta — daughter of Emperor Ashoka

Nagarjuna — founder of the Madhyamaka school

Aryadeva — disciple of Nagarjuna

Asanga — exponent of the yogācāra school

Vasubandhu

Buddhapālita — commentator on the works of Nagarjuna and Aryadeva

Candrakīrti

Dharmakirti

Atisha

Indo-Greek Buddhists

Dharmaraksita

Nagasena

Chinese Buddhists

Bodhidharma

Dajian Huineng

Ingen

Tibetan Buddhists

The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, a renowned Tibetan lama.

Je Tsongkhapa

Milarepa

Longchenpa

Marpa Lotsawa

Padmasambhava

Sakya Pandita

Panchen Lama

Karmapa

Dalai Lama

1st Dalai Lama

2nd Dalai Lama

3rd Dalai Lama

4th Dalai Lama

5th Dalai Lama

6th Dalai Lama

7th Dalai Lama

8th Dalai Lama

9th Dalai Lama

10th Dalai Lama

11th Dalai Lama

12th Dalai Lama

13th Dalai Lama

14th Dalai Lama

Japanese Buddhists

Saichō

Kūkai

Hōnen

Shinran

Dōgen

Eisai

Nichiren

Vietnamese Buddhists

Thích Nhất Hạnh

Thich Chan Khong

Thich Thiên Ân

Thich Quang Duc

Burmese Buddhists

Ledi Sayadaw

Mahāsī Sayādaw

Webu Sayadaw

U Ba Khin

Mother Sayamagyi

U Pandita

S. N. Goenka

Thai Buddhists

Ajahn Buddhadasa

Ajahn Chah

Ajahn Maha Bua

Ajahn Mun Bhuridatta

Ajahn Thate

Sri Lankan Buddhists

Balangoda Ananda Maitreya

Henepola Gunaratana

K. Sri Dhammananda

Piyadassi Maha Thera

Walpola Rahula

American Buddhists

Ajahn Sumedho

Bhikkhu Bodhi

Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Brazilian Buddhists

Ajahn Mudito

Monja Coen

British Buddhists

Ajahn Amaro

Ajahn Brahm

Ajahn Khemadhammo

Ñāṇamoli Bhikkhu

Ñāṇavīra Thera

Arthur Lillie

German Buddhists

Ayya Khema

Bhikkhu Analayo

Muho Noelke

Nyanatiloka

Nyanaponika Thera

Irish Buddhists

U Dhammaloka

Indian Buddhists

Ashoka - Greatest Indian emperor

Bodhisattva B. R. Ambedkar - Father of modern India, Polymath, Revivalist of Buddhism