Yogricharyas

The term "Yogacharyas" originates from Sanskrit, combining "yoga" (union, discipline) and "acharya" (teacher, master). It signifies those who embody the profound discipline of union, often associated with advanced spiritual attainment and the esoteric teachings of specific Buddhist lineages.

The "Supreme j\Iaster of the Vajra". "Vajradhara (Sk.). The Supreme Buddha with the Northern Biiddhists. Vajrapani (Sk.), or Manjushri, the Dliyani-Bodhisattva (as the spiritual reflex, or the son of the Dhyani-Buddhas, on earth) born directly from the subjective form of existence ; a deity worshipped by the profane as a god, and by Initiates as a subjective Force, the real nature of whicli is known only to. and explained by, the highest Initiates of tinYogaeliarya St-liool.

Blavatsky's definition of Yogricharyas, a term likely a variant or misprint of Yogacharyas, points to a significant current within Northern Buddhism, particularly the Yogachara school. This tradition, often translated as the "Practice of Yoga" or "Mind-Only" school, posits that reality as we apprehend it is a construct of consciousness. The Yogacharyas, therefore, are not merely teachers but embodiments of this profound realization. They are the "Supreme Masters of the Vajra," a potent symbol in Vajrayana Buddhism representing indestructible awareness and the enlightened mind. The Vajra, a ritualistic implement, signifies the unshakeable nature of awakened consciousness, capable of cutting through illusion.

This concept resonates deeply with the hermetic principle, "As above, so below," suggesting a correspondence between inner states and outer phenomena. For the Yogacharyas, the "subjective form of existence" is not a passive backdrop but the very engine of creation. The profane may see a god, a divine being to petition, but the initiate understands this deity as a manifestation of a deeper, internal force, a "subjective Force" that can be understood and mastered through the rigorous practices of yoga and meditation. Scholars like Mircea Eliade, in his exploration of shamanism and yoga, highlight the transformative power of such disciplines in altering consciousness and perception. Similarly, Carl Jung's work on archetypes and the collective unconscious finds echoes in the Yogachara emphasis on the mind's architecture. The Yogacharyas, in this light, are those who have achieved a conscious mastery over this internal architecture, transforming their own reality and, by extension, the perceived reality of others. They embody the idea that true spiritual authority lies not in external power, but in the profound understanding and control of one's own mind.

RELATED_TERMS: Bodhisattva, Vajradhara, Vijñānavāda, Consciousness, Enlightenment, Mind-Only, Mahayana Buddhism, Esoteric Buddhism