The five Tathagatas

The Adibuddha* Vajradhara emanates into five dhyani or Tathagata* Buddhas, who embody the fundamental philosophical principles of the later Mahayana Buddhism. They are also called Buddhas of meditation.

Vairocana*, Akshobhya, Ratnasambhava*, Amithaba and Amoghasiddha* each stand for one the five wisdoms: the wisdom of universal lawfulness, the mirror-like wisdom, the wisdom of essential similarity, the wisdom of distinction and the wisdom of karmic completion. They are the remedies against the reasons for remaining in the cycle of rebirths: ignorance, hatred, pride, desire and greed.

The five dhyani Buddhas dwell in a sphere which is far above worldly concerns. In order to become actively effective, Buddha Amithaba*, from the group of the five dhyani Buddhas, for instance, manifests himself as Amitayus* on the level of Sambhogakaya. Here he can be reached in meditation, but also in prayers, and many believers turn to him in emergency situations.

Amitayus* belongs to the most venerated deities in Bhutan.