护世者
印度教
在印度教中,各方向的护世者被称为方位守护者。四位主要守护者是:
佛教
在佛教中,护世四天王是一种护法。而在中国民间,四天王成为了确保风调雨顺的农业守护神。 祂们都有各自的法宝、装束很容易辨识。[1]
在藏传佛教中,许多这些护世者是由西藏本土神、山神、恶魔、灵魂或鬼魂,在被莲花生或其他法师降服后,誓言守护寺院、三宝、正道的具誓护法。
这些护世者被召唤出以帮助寺院或佛教修行者消除修行的障碍。但是,因为祂们未脱离轮回,而不被崇拜或作为皈依对象。
参考
- ^ Welch, Patricia Bjaaland. Chinese Art: A Guide to Motifs and Visual Imagery. Vermont: Tuttle, 2008, p. 194.
- ^ Hua, Gold Mountain Shramana Tripitaka Master Hsuan; Bhikshuni Rev. Heng Chih; Bhikshuni Rev. Heng Hsien; David Rounds; Ron Epstein; et al. The Shurangama Sutra - Sutra Text and Supplements with Commentary by the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua - First Edition. Burlingame, California: Buddhist Text Translation Society. 2003. ISBN 0-88139-949-3. (原始内容存档于2009-05-29)., Volume 6, Chapter 3: The Spiritual Shurangama Mantra, pp. 87-162, and Chapter 5, The Twelve Categories of Living Beings, pp. 177-191,
来源
- Kalsang, Ladrang (1996) The Guardian Deities of Tibet Delhi: Winsome Books. (Third Reprint 2003) ISBN 81-88043-04-4
- Linrothe, Rob (1999) Ruthless Compassion: Wrathful Deities in Early Indo-Tibetan Esoteric Buddhist Art London: Serindia Publications. ISBN 0-906026-51-2
- De Nebesky-Wojkowitz, Rene. (1956) Oracles and Demons of Tibet. Oxford University Press. Reprint Delhi: Books Faith, 1996 - ISBN 81-7303-039-1. Reprint Delhi: Paljor Publications, 2002- - ISBN 81-86230-12-2