user157: I read somewhere that there are a number of Tantric Theravadan Buddhists practicing in Cambodia. What is Tantric Theravda and what are it's distinguishing practices? Can it be said to be a vajrayana practice? Does it use visualisations practices and if so what sort of things are visualised? How is it different to non-tantric Therevadan practice?

user745: This particular tradition of practice is actually not based on Vajrayana practice, but is more of a mixture of traditional Theravada meditation with Hindu Tantra, not Buddhist Tantra, so there isn't any deity yoga, but is instead based on generating a nimitta made of light and then moving it around within one's body. 

user157: I found this scholarly article by Kate Crosby. To summarise the distinctive feature

The creation of a Buddha within through the performance of ritual by
placing and recognising within one's body the qualities of the Buddha,
which in turn become the Buddha.
The use of sacred language, combined with microcosm to macrocosm
identity. Sacred syllables or phrases are used to represent a larger entity.
Sacred language as the creative principle. The Dhamma arises out of the
Pali alphabet and sacred syllables. This refers to formation of Dhamma in
all senses of the term: 
Esoteric interpretations of words, objects and myths that otherwise have
a standard exoteric meaning or purpose in TheravBda Buddhism.
The necessity of initiation prior to the performance of a ritual or practice.
The application of the methodologies outlined above to both
soteriological ends, i.e. the pursuit of Nibbaa, and worldly ends, such
as healing, longevity, protection, invincibility and, potentially, the
harming of others.

Interestingly it appears to be using the Pali langauge itself as a focus for esoteric practices. It's practiced in Cambodia and Laos.

157: <p>I read somewhere that there are a number of Tantric Theravadan Buddhists practicing in Cambodia. What is Tantric Theravda and what are it's distinguishing practices? Can it be said to be a vajrayana practice? Does it use visualisations practices and if so what sort of things are visualised? How is it different to non-tantric Therevadan practice?</p>
 745: <p>This particular tradition of practice is actually not based on Vajrayana practice, but is more of a mixture of traditional Theravada meditation with Hindu Tantra, not Buddhist Tantra, so there isn't any deity yoga, but is instead based on generating a nimitta made of light and then moving it around within one's body. </p>
 157: <p>I found this <a href="http://abhidharma.ru/A/Vedalla/Content/0003.pdf" rel="nofollow">scholarly article by Kate Crosby</a>. To summarise the distinctive feature</p>

<ol>
<li>The creation of a Buddha within through the performance of ritual by
placing and recognising within one's body the qualities of the Buddha,
which in turn become the Buddha.</li>
<li>The use of sacred language, combined with microcosm to macrocosm
identity. Sacred syllables or phrases are used to represent a larger entity.</li>
<li>Sacred language as the creative principle. The Dhamma arises out of the
Pali alphabet and sacred syllables. This refers to formation of Dhamma in
all senses of the term: </li>
<li>Esoteric interpretations of words, objects and myths that otherwise have
a standard exoteric meaning or purpose in TheravBda Buddhism.</li>
<li>The necessity of initiation prior to the performance of a ritual or practice.</li>
<li>The application of the methodologies outlined above to both
soteriological ends, i.e. the pursuit of Nibbaa, and worldly ends, such
as healing, longevity, protection, invincibility and, potentially, the
harming of others.</li>
</ol>

<p>Interestingly it appears to be using the Pali langauge itself as a focus for esoteric practices. It's practiced in Cambodia and Laos.</p>
