Maha Ati
Encyclopedia
Maha Ati is one sub-division of the nine yana
s taught by the Nyingma
school of Tibetan Buddhism
. The highest three yanas, or vehicles, in this tradition are the three inner tantras, Maha Yoga, Anu Yoga, and Ati Yoga. Nyingma masters have further divided each of these three into three further divisions. Thus, the first inner tantra, Maha Yoga, is sub-divided into Maha-Maha, Maha-Anu, and Maha-Ati, thus making Maha-Ati the third sub-division of nine.
This term was also used by Buddhist teacher Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
as a Sanskrit equivalent of the Tibet term Dzogpa chenpo
, although this back-translation is unconventional and did not catch on more widely.
Yana (Buddhism)
Yāna refers to a mode or method of spiritual practice in Buddhism, and in particular to divisions of various schools of Buddhism according to their type of practice.-Nomenclature, etymology and orthography:...
s taught by the Nyingma
Nyingma
The Nyingma tradition is the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism . "Nyingma" literally means "ancient," and is often referred to as Nga'gyur or the "old school" because it is founded on the first translations of Buddhist scriptures from Sanskrit into Tibetan, in the eighth century...
school of Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...
. The highest three yanas, or vehicles, in this tradition are the three inner tantras, Maha Yoga, Anu Yoga, and Ati Yoga. Nyingma masters have further divided each of these three into three further divisions. Thus, the first inner tantra, Maha Yoga, is sub-divided into Maha-Maha, Maha-Anu, and Maha-Ati, thus making Maha-Ati the third sub-division of nine.
This term was also used by Buddhist teacher Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche was a Buddhist meditation master and holder of both the Kagyu and Nyingma lineages, the eleventh Trungpa tülku, a tertön, supreme abbot of the Surmang monasteries, scholar, teacher, poet, artist, and originator of a radical re-presentation of Shambhala vision.Recognized...
as a Sanskrit equivalent of the Tibet term Dzogpa chenpo
Dzogchen
According to Tibetan Buddhism and Bön, Dzogchen is the natural, primordial state or natural condition of the mind, and a body of teachings and meditation practices aimed at realizing that condition. Dzogchen, or "Great Perfection", is a central teaching of the Nyingma school also practiced by...
, although this back-translation is unconventional and did not catch on more widely.