TANTRIC BUDDHISM (INCLUDING CHINA AND JAPAN)
Ksatriya, Vaisya, Sudra. It is the same (in name) according to the work. Time is
reckoned from fertilization in the womb, and from year seven until year twelve,
one can do this ciic}iikarma and ear piercing.
- Initiation as adult male householder3^1
(A rite for males): Between years 7 and 12, when the bartabandhm:za is per-
formed, one cuts the hair, leaving the al!lgsii; one cuts the nails, and then sesame
and amba are used for bathing. Following the rules, one does a piijii. Then one
gives an arrow, water pot, and stick, and sends the child to the forest. If he is one
who prefers to stay a householder, one carries the child to the (nearest) outside
Gane5a, gives alms, and brings the child home. Then there is an auspicious cele-
bration.
- First monastic initiation^32
Again, (if) one lives at home, one cuts the hair completely (including the
topknot (iil!lgsii)) and the nails. After he puts on kiisi^33 clothing, the 5 teachings
and 10 teachings^34 are given.
So having been sent to the sal!lgha for the 3 refuges and having taken the
sis/iiku^35 in the right hand and the begging bowl in the left hand, the Sal!lgha will
give instruction in the Six Piiramitiis^36 and then be told of the Catur Brahma
Vihiira^37 and the Aryan Truths.^38
Having been given the Koti Sik$ii^39 and the Bodhisattva Jiiiina,^40 if one
acquires both of these, he is called "Bhilcyu". And even if he acquires 1/4 of
these two, "Sriimaneka". And even if he acquires 1/2 of the "Sriimaneka", he is
called "Ciiiraka". And among these three, the best is the Bhik~u. But they
cannot perform the homa karma (piijii).
- Initiation as Vajriiciirya
If one is born into a Sakya clan, after the Pravarthya GrahaQa is acquired, that
Bhik~u is called "Bande". After the Bhik~u [stage], the one having the grahaQa
of the vajra and bell is called "Sri Vajracarya", and reaches the highest stage.
For the one who can pass the NirmiiQa level^41 but has no other higher aspira-
tions, one gives him the vajriiciirya abhi:seka. And he will have all rights such as
[doing] homa karma, etc. That man who has these two -the vajra-ghaTJtha initia-
tion and the right to perform homa karma, he earns the status of Vajriiciirya. If one
has the [title] "Mahayana Sutra Pandit", he will give the most auspicious darsana.
- Marriage"^2
On the right date and right moment, one looks for a girl with a body possessed
of good characteristics.
