View source for Philosophy:Diamond Realm

{{Short description|Metaphysical space in Vajrayana Buddhism}}
[[File:Kongokai.jpg|thumb|Diamond Realm Mandala in Tangmi and Shingon]]
[[File:Mandala of Vajradhatu.JPG|thumb|Tibetan painting of Vajradhatu]]
In [[Philosophy:Vajrayana|Vajrayana]] Buddhism, the '''Diamond Realm''' ([[Social:Sanskrit|Skt.]] वज्रधातु ''vajradhātu'', [[Social:Traditional Chinese characters|Traditional Chinese]]: 金剛界; [[Pinyin]]: ''Jīngāngjiè''; [[Social:Romanization of Japanese|Romaji]]: ''Kongōkai'') is a metaphysical space inhabited by the [[Religion:Five Tathagatas|Five Tathagatas]].  The Diamond Realm Mandala is based on an esoteric Buddhist [[Philosophy:Sutra|sutra]] called the ''Vajrasekhara Sutra''.

The Diamond Realm is a very popular subject for [[Philosophy:Mandala|mandala]]s, and along with the [[Philosophy:Womb Realm|Womb Realm]] (''garbhakoṣadhātu'') Mandala forms the [[Religion:Mandala of the Two Realms|Mandala of the Two Realms]].  This mandala, along with the Womb Realm, form the core of Chinese Tangmi and Japanese Shingon rituals, including the initiation or [[Philosophy:Abhiṣeka|abhiṣeka]] ritual. In this ritual, new initiates are blindfolded, and are asked to toss a flower upon a mandala. Where the flower lands helps decide which Buddhist figure the student should devote themselves to.<ref>{{cite book | last = Hakeda | first = Yoshito S. | title = Kūkai and His Major Works | publisher = Columbia University Press | year = 1972 | isbn = 0-231-05933-7 | pages=44}}</ref>

In traditional Tangmi and Shingon halls, the Diamond Realm Mandala is hung on the west wall symbolizing the final realization of [[Religion:Vairocana|Mahāvairocana]] Buddha.<ref>{{cite book | last = Hakeda | first = Yoshito S. | title = Kūkai and His Major Works | publisher = Columbia University Press | year = 1972 | isbn = 0-231-05933-7 | pages=87}}</ref> In this setting, the Womb Realm Mandala is hung on the east wall, symbolizing the young stage of Mahāvairocana Buddha.

In Chinese Buddhism, the Diamond Realm Mandala is also associated with the Yogacara Flaming Mouth Ritual (瑜伽焰口法會), which is often conducted during the [[Unsolved:Ghost Festival|Chinese Ghost Festival]] in order to feed [[Unsolved:Preta|pretas]] and reduce their suffering. Part of the ritual involves the performing ritual master wearing a Vairocana crown which is adorned with images of the [[Religion:Five Tathāgatas|Five Tathāgatas]]. The textual tradition for this part of the ritual asserts that the thirty-seven deities which make up the Diamond Realm Mandala are installed in the crown and that these deities confer their blessings and powers on the ritual master during the performance of the ritual.<ref>{{Cite thesis|title=Feeding Ghosts: A Study of the Yuqie Yankou Rite|url=https://doi.org/10.18130/V3S82Z|publisher=University of Virginia|doi=10.18130/v3s82z|first=Hun Yeow|last=Lye|date=2003 }}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Philosophy:Skandha#Eighteen Dhātus and Four Paramatthas|Dhatu]] 
*Vajradhatu 
*[[Philosophy:Womb Realm|Womb Realm]] 
*[[Philosophy:Dharmadhatu|Dharmadhatu]]

== References ==
<references/>

== Further reading ==
*  Grotenhuis, Elizabeth Ten (1999). Japanese mandalas: representations of sacred geography, Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, pp. 33-57 

== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110728104619/http://www.thangka.de/Gallery-3/Cosmos/9-6/garbhadatu-0.htm The Diamond and Womb World Mandalas] Dharmapala Thangka Centre
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110728104631/http://www.thangka.de/Gallery-3/Cosmos/9-6/antique.htm Mandala of the Womb World - Dharmapala Thangka Centre]


[[Category:Buddhist philosophical concepts]]

{{Sourceattribution|Diamond Realm}}