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The Vajrayana is itself divided into levels. In the Tibetan tradition, two
main systems of dividing the tantras exist. The first is that used by the "Old
Ones," (rnying ma), and proposes a nine level system while the second is upheld
by the "New Schools" (gsar ma) and divides Buddhism into Hinayana and Mahayana
first, then divides the Mahayana into Sutra and Tantra, then divides the Tantras
into four classes.
The Nine level system of the "Old Ones" has both Hinayana
and Mahayana as "Outer" practices, with yoga being the fourth through ninth.
This is important in appreciating the art, for by knowing where the deity fits
into the map of the way to Enlightenment, we can know what level of insight is
expected to understand the practice connected with the deity in the painting.
While there are differences in how the Old Ones and the New School describe and
display the highest levels of experience, on the more basic levels they are in
almost complete agreement. So much has the transmission of the Old Ones and
that of the New Schools been integrated that Padmasambhava—the first major
success in bringing Buddhism to Tibet—is often portrayed on Thangkas where he is
not known to have been a lineage holder. Such as this Kalachakra painting with
Padmasambhava at the top.
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