An Introduction to Tantric Buddhism c9.2

c9.2

We have said in a previous chapter that the most important and the most interesting study in the Buddhist Tantras is that of the gradual transformation of Mahāyānic ideas into an esoteric theology and the association of the esoteric Yogic practices with them. We repeat here that it may not be a fact that the practices are there solely because of this theology; on the contrary we are inclined to postulate great influence of these practices in evolving the doctrinal theology through the gradual transformation of the Mahāyānic ideas. Let us now have some idea about the transformation of some of the main Mahāyānic thoughts into Tāntric esoterism.