Why Mudras?

[sangyey]

Why are Mudras used in Tantra? Do Deities and Buddhas use Mudras?

[Karma_Yeshe]

To answer the second part of your question:
Take a closer look at the picture of your avatar...

KY

[sangyey]

I know in pictures that Deities are sometimes portrayed using Mudras but was wondering in a more active sense like once enlightened Mudras are something that are spontaneously accomplished.

[Grigoris]

Depends on the mudra.

Offering mudra, for example, are skillful means for accumulating merit in the absence of physical offerings.

[kalden yungdrung]

Why are Mudras used in Tantra? Do Deities and Buddhas use Mudras?

Mudra is a seal. In Tantra it seals a ritual and symbolises the done ritual as empowered.

Further can mudras show the "status" of a Buddha Statue.
One can watch the Abahya Mudra of the Buddha and know by the mudra that it means fearless Buddha. Or the Teaching Buddha with the Jnana mudra or the mudra of teaching.

In Thaland i saw a Buddha statue with a rare mudra. The Buddha was depicted with a hand to his hair. This did symbolise the meeting with his first student / Follower who the Buddha gave a hair. So a Mudra can tell a story.

In Balinese and Thai dances they use many hand and finger settings / Mudras, to show the people the story. This is one of the most difficult parts in these dances.

Meditation gesture.This is the characteristic gesture of Dhyani Buddha Amitaba.

Many Tibetan Saints are depicted in the Teaching Mudra.

http://www.buddhas-online.com/mudras.html

[Nyedrag Yeshe]

Why are Mudras used in Tantra? Do Deities and Buddhas use Mudras?

In Balinese and Thai dances they use many hand and finger settings / Mudras, to show the people the story.

http://www.buddhas-online.com/mudras.html

And so newari buddhist dance of nepal, charya nritya. It helps through the dance to connect to the qualities of the deity and embody that qualities in the practitioners

phpBB [video]

[sangyey]

Could you say that practicing Mudras in Tantra creates the causes to use Mudras from an enlightened state? Almost like an attainment where maybe based on some kind of intuition from your form body manifest different Mudras for the benefit of others?

[Nyedrag Yeshe]

Could you say that practicing Mudras in Tantra creates the causes to use Mudras from an enlightened state? Almost like an attainment where maybe based on some kind of intuition from your form body manifest different Mudras for the benefit of others?

There are the three Vajras or three secrets. The vajra of the body, the mind and speech. Mudras connects you to the body qualities or vajra of the body of a deity in a sadhana for exemple. It connects you to the physical enlightened activity that deity manifests or symbolizes.

[Fortyeightvows]

Could you say that practicing Mudras in Tantra creates the causes to use Mudras from an enlightened state? Almost like an attainment where maybe based on some kind of intuition from your form body manifest different Mudras for the benefit of others?

Sounds great! I'd better get to work!

[Tsongkhapafan]

Mudras are symbolic of Buddha's special qualities and if we understand them and contemplate their meaning, we can increase our faith.

The purpose of mudras in Tantric meditation practices is to support our meditation practice. It is good if we can engage in meditative actions of body, speech and mind at the same time because these actions are more powerful, using all three 'doors'. Mudras should help to reinforce the virtuous recognitions that our mind is developing, otherwise they would be useless.