Buddhism · branch

Vajrayana (Tibetan) Buddhism

Mahayana aims plus tantric means: an elaborate deity practice, a guru whose authority is central, and a use of the body and the passions as the path rather than as obstacles. The most ritually dense form of Buddhism here.

What makes it unusual

The axes on which this tradition sits furthest from the middle of the matrix — which is to say, the positions that actually distinguish it.

C2 Shape of timecyclical returnFurther toward "cyclical return" than most traditions in the matrix.
A3 Pluralityleaning many powers and spiritsFurther toward "many powers and spirits" than most traditions in the matrix.
E2 Origin of the cosmosbeginningless or naturalFurther toward "beginningless or natural" than most traditions in the matrix.
B3 Institutional authorityclergy and tradition decideFurther toward "clergy and tradition decide" than most traditions in the matrix.

All seventeen positions

Each cell carries a centre, a dispersion — how much internal variation the tradition genuinely tolerates — and the source the position rests on. Disagree with one? Say so; corrections are public and recorded.

The same seventeen values as a single shape, read clockwise from A1 at the top. The outline is where the tradition sits; the wider band around it is the variation it genuinely tolerates, so a tight outline is a tight tradition.

position
tolerated variation

A · The divine

Axis	Position	Value	±σ
A1 Divine realitynothing beyond the natural → a divine reality certainly exists	leaning a divine reality certainly existsTibetan tantric commentarial literature and Lamrim texts	0.78	0.14
A2 Personhoodimpersonal principle or order → a personal being one can address	between impersonal principle or order and a personal being one can addressTibetan tantric commentarial literature and Lamrim texts	0.58	0.18
A3 Pluralitystrictly one → many powers and spirits	leaning many powers and spiritsTibetan tantric commentarial literature and Lamrim texts	0.80	0.10
A4 Locuswholly beyond the world → fully present within it	fully present within itTibetan tantric commentarial literature and Lamrim texts	0.88	0.08

B · Knowledge and authority

Axis	Position	Value	±σ
B1 Source of truthrevealed and fixed → reason and direct experience	between revealed and fixed and reason and direct experienceTibetan tantric commentarial literature and Lamrim texts	0.55	0.15
B2 Reading of sacred textliteral and binding → metaphorical, or no text at all	between literal and binding and metaphorical, or no text at allTibetan tantric commentarial literature and Lamrim texts	0.40	0.15
B3 Institutional authorityclergy and tradition decide → individual conscience decides	clergy and tradition decideTibetan tantric commentarial literature and Lamrim texts	0.08	0.08

C · Self and destiny

Axis	Position	Value	±σ
C1 Survival of the selfends at death → continues in some form	between ends at death and continues in some formTibetan tantric commentarial literature and Lamrim texts	0.48	0.20
C2 Shape of timeone life, then judgment → cyclical return	cyclical returnTibetan tantric commentarial literature and Lamrim texts	0.95	0.04
C3 The human conditionfallen and in need of rescue → ignorant but fundamentally sound	ignorant but fundamentally soundTibetan tantric commentarial literature and Lamrim texts	0.88	0.08

D · Practice

Axis	Position	Value	±σ
D1 Mechanism of the ultimate goodgiven as grace → achieved by effort or insight	leaning achieved by effort or insightTibetan tantric commentarial literature and Lamrim texts	0.72	0.14
D2 Centrality of ritualessential and prescribed → optional or absent	essential and prescribedTibetan tantric commentarial literature and Lamrim texts	0.05	0.05
D3 The bodyto be disciplined → to be celebrated	between to be disciplined and to be celebratedTibetan tantric commentarial literature and Lamrim texts	0.58	0.16

E · World and others

Axis	Position	Value	±σ
E1 Exclusivityone true path → many valid paths	between one true path and many valid pathsTibetan tantric commentarial literature and Lamrim texts	0.48	0.16
E2 Origin of the cosmosan intentional act → beginningless or natural	beginningless or naturalTibetan tantric commentarial literature and Lamrim texts	0.92	0.06
E3 Locus of belonginga people, inherited → an individual choice	between a people, inherited and an individual choiceTibetan tantric commentarial literature and Lamrim texts	0.58	0.15
E4 Standing of naturecreation, given for use → animate and itself sacred	leaning animate and itself sacredTibetan tantric commentarial literature and Lamrim texts	0.70	0.13

Compared with

Where do you sit?

The questionnaire places your own answers on these same seventeen axes and reports how close you are to this tradition and to 64 others. Take it — eight to fourteen questions, nothing transmitted.