Tantra is an Ancient Asian Spiritual Philosophy, Says Prajwal Vajracharya

 

Zoom Talk on Four Tantras in Newar Buddhism Hosted by Hong Kong Buddhist Studies Association

Rabin Man Shakya

Portland, June 13 (Nepal Oregon News): An online teaching program on "Talk on Four Tantras in Newar Vajrayana Buddhism" was organized on Friday, June 12, 2026. The remotely held event which was attended by 20 zoom participants was hosted by Hong Kong Buddhist Studies Association in collaboration with the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland, USA. Dr Miranda Shaw, Sadananda Yogi, Meadow Lisa Wong and Dr Tina Ho were among the virtual participants of the event.

The talk on four tantras was delivered by Prajwal Vajracharya who is a 35th generation Tantric Buddhist priest from Nepal and a ritual master of the Charya Nritya dance tradition and other ritual forms.

Addressing the online teaching event, Prajwal Guruji said:"Tantra is an ancient Asian spiritual philosophy and system of practices aimed at expanding consciousness and achieving spiritual liberation."

The co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland, USA added:"Rooted in Sanskrit, it translates to -- to weave or instrument to expand -- and encompasses meditation, yoga, ritual breath work, and the celebration of the physical body as sacred."

Prajwal Guruji, a ritual practitioner of Mandalas, Tantra, Mantra, and Charya Nritya went on saying:"In Buddhist philosophy, the four Tantras -- Kriya Tantra, Charya Tantra, Yoga Tantra and Anuttarayoga Tantra -- refer to the structural categorization of esoteric literature practice path."

Each one represents a complete vehicle to enlightenment using different psycho-physical methodologies, said the Guruji.

Throwing light on Kriya Tantra (action), the head priest at the Portland's Newar Buddhist temple, said this is the ritual deity practice , the bliss of curing each other.

The Guruji maintained that external practices are the first of the lower tantra classes in Vajrayana Buddhism, focusing   heavily on external ritual acts, physical purity and structural deity devotion.

Kriya Tantra is the root tantra, the foundation tantra and is ritualized based on  Vasudharnama and Pancha Rakksha Dharani, the Guruju stated.