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(updated
11-04-05 with 245 Pali terms & 76 English terms defined)
abandonment, contemplation of: patinissaggánupassaná, is one of the 18 chief contemplations that lead to
absorption (jhana) and insight; s. vipassaná, further Maha-satipatthana, Anapanasati, Satipatthana, Kayagata-sati suttas (DN 22; MN 10, 118, 119).
abandons - jahati.
abbhokásik'anga: 'living in the open air', is one of the ascetic means
to purification (dhutanga,
q.v.).
aberration (in morality and understanding): s. vipatti.
abhabbágamana: 'incapable of progressing'. "Those beings who are
obstructed by their evil actions (kamma, s. karma), by their defilements (kilesa, q.v.), by the result of their evil actions (s. vipáka), or who are devoid of faith, energy and knowledge,
and unable to enter the right path and reach perfection in wholesome things,
all those are said to be incapable of progressing" (Pug. 13). According
to Commentary the 'evil actions' denote the 5 heinous deeds with immediate
result (ánantarika-kamma,
q.v.), whilst the 'defilements' refer to the 'evil views with fixed destiny'
(niyata-micchá-ditthi; s. ditthi).
ábhassara: The 'Radiant Ones', are a class of heavenly beings
of the fine-material world (rúpa-loka);
cf. deva.
abhibhavati - (Abhi + bhå) overcomes.
abhibhå - m. 'conqueror', 'master'.
abhibháyatana: the 8 'stages of mastery', are powers to be obtained
by means of the kasina-exercises (s. kasina). In the Com. to M. 77,
where áyatana is explained
by 'means' (kárana) it is
said: "The abhibháyatana through
their counteracting may master the adverse states, and by means of higher
knowledge they may master the objects of mind." They are means for
transcending the sensuous sphere.
The stereotype text often met with in the
Suttas (e.g. D. 11, 33; M. 77;
A. VIII, 65; X, 29) is as follows:
(1) "Perceiving (blue..., red..., yellow...,
white) forms on one's own body, one sees forms externally small ones, beautiful
or ugly; and in mastering these one understands: 'I know, I understand.'
This is the first stage of mastery.
(2) "Perceiving forms on one's own body,
one sees forms externally, large ones .... This is the second stage of
mastery.
(3) "Not perceiving forms on one's own
body, one sees forms externally, small ones .... This is the third stage
of mastery.
(4) "Not perceiving forms on one's own
body, one sees forms externally, large ones .... This is the fourth stage
of mastery.
(5) "Not perceiving forms on one's own
body, one sees forms externally, blue forms, forms of blue color, blue
appearance, blue lustre, and mastering these one understands: 'I know,
I understand. This is the fifth stage of mastery."
(6-8) The same is repeated with yellow, red
and white forms.
As preparatory kasina-object for the 1st
and 2nd exercise one should choose on one's own body a small or a large
spot, beautiful or ugly, and thereon one should concentrate one's full
undivided attention, so that this object after a while reappears as mental
reflex or image (nimitta,
q.v.) and, as it were, as something external. Such an exercise, though
appearing quite mechanical, if properly carried out will bring about a
high degree of mental concentration and entrance into the 4 absorptions
(jhána, q.v.). In the 3rd and 4th exercises the monastic by
an external kasina-object gains the mental reflexes and absorptions. As
objects of the remaining exercises, perfectly clear and radiant colors
should be chosen, flowers, cloth, etc.
A kasina-object of small size is said to
be suitable for a mentally unsteady nature, one of a large size for a dull
nature, a beautiful object for an angry nature, an ugly one for a lustful
nature.
In Vis.M. V it is said: "By means of
the earth-kasina one succeeds in reaching the stage of mastery with regard
to small and large objects .... By means of the blue-kasina one succeeds
in causing blue forms to appear, in producing darkness, in reaching the
stage of mastery with regard to beautiful and ugly colors, in reaching
'deliverance through the beautiful', etc." (cf. vimokkha II,
3). The same is also said with regard to the other color kasinas.
abhidhamma - m. Higher Doctrine.
abhigacchati - (abhi + gamu) goes near to.
abhijánáti - (abhi + -ñá) perceives.
abhijjhá: 'covetousness' is a synonym of lobha (s. múla)
and tanhá (q.v.) and is the
8th link of the unwholesome courses of action (s. kamma-patha, I).
abhikkamati - (abhi + kamu) goes forward.
Abhimaïgala - n. great festival.
abhimukha - facing towards.
abhinibbatti: a Sutta term for rebirth; s. punabbhava.
abhiññá: The 6 'higher powers', or supernormal knowledge's, consist of 6 powers
attainable through the utmost perfection in meditative absorption (samádhi, q.v.) and penetrating insight (vipassaná, q.v.), i.e. extinction of all cankers (ásavakkhaya; s. ásava),
in other words, realization of Arahatship or Holiness. They are: (1) magical
powers (iddhi-vidha), (2)
divine ear (dibba-sota), (3)
penetration of the minds of others (ceto-pariya-ñána), (4) remembrance of former existences (pubbe-nivásánussati), (5) divine eye (dibba-cakkhu), (6) extinction of all cankers (ásavakkhaya). The stereotype text met with in all the 4 Sutta-collections
(e.g. D. 2, 34; M. 4, 6, 77, 119;
A. III, 99; V, 23; S. XV, 9 and Pug. 271, 239) is as follows:
(1) "Now, O Bhikkhus, the monastic enjoys
the various magical powers (iddhi-vidha), such as being one he becomes manifold, and having
become manifold he again becomes one. He appears and disappears. Without
being obstructed he passes through walls and mountains, just as if through
the air. In the earth he dives and rises up again, just as if in the water.
He walks on water without sinking, just as if on the earth. Cross-legged
he floats through the air, just like a winged bird. With his hand he touches
the sun and moon, these so mighty ones, so powerful ones. Even up to the
Brahma-world he has mastery over his body.
(2) "With the divine ear (dibba-sota) he hears sounds both heavenly and human, far and near.
(3) "He knows the minds of other beings
(parassa ceto-pariya-ñána),
of other persons, by penetrating them with his own mind. He knows the greedy
mind as greedy and the not-greedy one as not greedy; knows the hating mind
as hating and the not-hating one as not hating; knows the deluded mind
as deluded and the not-deluded one as not deluded; knows the shrunken mind
and the distracted one, the developed mind and the undeveloped one, the
surpassable mind and the unsurpassable one, the absorbed mind and the unabsorbed
one, the freed mind and the unfreed one.
(4) "He remembers manifold former existences
(pubbe-nivásánussati), such
as one birth, two, three, four and five births .... hundred thousand births;
remembers many formations and dissolutions of worlds: 'There I was, such
name I had .... and vanishing from there I entered into existence somewhere
else .... and vanishing from there I again reappeared here.' Thus he remembers,
always together with the marks and peculiarities, many a former existence
.
(5) ''With the divine eye (dibba-cakkhu = yathá-kammúpaga-ñána or cutúpapáta-ñána), the pure one, he sees beings vanishing and reappearing,
low and noble ones, beautiful and ugly ones, sees how beings are reappearing
according to their deeds (s. karma): 'These beings, indeed, followed evil
ways in bodily actions, words and thoughts, insulted the noble ones, held
evil views, and according to their evil views they acted. At the dissolution
of their body, after death, they have appeared in lower worlds, in painful
states of existence, in the world of suffering, in hell. Those other beings,
however, are endowed with good action .... have appeared in happy state
of existence, in a heavenly world.
(6) "Through the extinction of all cankers
(ásavakkhaya) even in this
very life he enters into the possession of deliverance of mind, deliverance
through wisdom, after having himself understood and realized it.''
4-6 appear frequently under the name of the
'threefold (higher) knowledge' (te-vijjá, q.v.). They are not the necessary condition for the attainment of sainthood
(arahatta), they are the product
(phala) of sainthood (arahatta).
DN 2 and
MN 119 give a detailed explanation
of the 6 higher powers, together with the method of attaining them.
In connection with the 4 kinds of progress
(s. patipadá), abhiññá means the 'comprehension' achieved on attainment of
the paths and fruitions.
abhisamácárika-síla: 'morality consisting in good behaviour', relates to the
external duties of a monastic such as towards his superior, etc. "abhisamácárika-síla is a name for those moral rules other than the 8 ending
with right livelihood (i.e. 4-fold right speech, 3-fold right action and
right livelihood, as in the Eightfold Path) (Vis.M. I; s. sacca IV, 3-5). "Impossible is it, o monastics, that
without having fulfilled the law of good behaviour, a monastic could fulfil
the law of genuine pure conduct" (A.V, 21). Cf. ádibrahmacariyakasíla.
abhisamaya: 'truth-realization', is the full and direct grasp of
the Four Noble Truths by the Stream-winner (Sotápanna; s. ariya-puggala). In the Com. the term is represented by 'penetration'
(pativedha, q.v.). Frequently
occurring as dhammábhisamaya, 'realization of the doctrine' Cf. S. XIII (Abhisamaya Samyutta) and Pts.M. (Abhisamaya Kathá).
abhisankhára: identical with the 2nd link of the paticca-samuppáda (q.v.), sankhára (q.v.; under I, 1) or karmaformations .
Abhisaññâ-nirodho: 'the cessation of perception' (D 9)
ability to acquire insight: cf. ugghatitaññú, vipacitaññú neyya.
abodes: vihára (q.v.). The 4 Divine,
or Heavenly, or God's a.: brahma-vihára (q.v.) The 9 a. of beings: sattávása (q.v.).
about - matta.
above - upari.
absence: natthi-paccaya, is one of the 24 conditions (paccaya, (q.v.).
absorption: s. jhána.
abstentions, the 3: virati (q.v.).
abuse - upaváda. m.
âcariya - m. teacher.
access, Moment of: s. javana.
access-concentration: s. javana-samádhi. While this term appears in the Abhidhamma and the
Vis, there is no canonical support for this term, so this editor has determined
it is most probably apocryphal with the intention of subverting and obfuscating
the Buddha dhamma.
accumulation (of Karma): áyúhana (q.v.), nicaya.
acquires - adhigacchati.
action - kamma. n.
ácinnaka-kamma: habitual karma; s. karma.
acinteyya: lit. 'That which cannot or should not be thought, the
unthinkable, incomprehensible, impenetrable, that which transcends the
limits of thinking and over which therefore one should not ponder. These
4 unthinkables are: the sphere of a Buddha (buddha-visaya), of the meditative absorptions (jhána-visaya), of karma-result (kamma-vipáka), and brooding over the world (loka-cintá), especially over an absolute first beginning of it
(s. D. 1, A. IV, 77).
"Therefore, o monastics, do not brood
over the world as to whether it is eternal or temporal, limited or endless
.... Such brooding, O monastics, is senseless, has nothing to do with genuine
pure conduct (s. ádibrahmacariyaka-síla),
does not lead to aversion, detachment, extinction, nor to peace, to full
comprehension, enlightenment and Nibbána, etc." (S.LVI, 41).
acquired image (during meditative absorption): s. jhana, nimitta, samádhi, kasina.
action: karma (q.v.) - Right bodily a.: sammá-kammanta; s. sacca (IV.4)
ádara - m. Affection, esteem, care.
ádáya - p.p. having taken.
adaptability (of body, mental factors and cognition): kammaññatá (q.v.); cf. khandha (soma) and Tab. II.
adaptation-knowledge: anuloma-ñána (q.v.).
adherence: parámása (q.v.)
adherent: upásaka (q.v.)
adhicitta-sikkhá 'training in higher states'; s. sikkhá.
adhibhåta - p.p. mastered.
adhigacchati - (adhi + gamu) attains, acquires.
adhimokkha: 'determination', decision, resolve: is one of the mental
concomitants (cetasika) and
belongs to the group of mental formations (sankhára-kkhandha). In M. 111,
it is mentioned together with other mental concomitants. See Tab. II, III.
adhipaññá-dhamma-vipassaná: 'insight into things based on higher wisdom', is one
of the 18 chief kinds of insight (s. vipassaná).
adhipati - m. chief, master.
adhipati-paccaya: 'predominance-condition' is one of the 24 conditions
(paccaya, q.v.); if developed, it is considered as the fourfold
road to power (iddhi-páda.
q.v.).
adhisessati - (adhi + si) will lie upon.
adhisíla: a
higher morality.
adhisíla-sikkhá: 'training in higher morality': s. sikkhá.
adhisíta - adj. very cold.
adhitthána, as a doctrinal term, occurs chiefly in two meanings:
1. 'Foundation': four 'foundations' of an
Arahat's psyche, mentioned and explained in M. 140:
the foundation of wisdom (paññá),
of truthfulness (sacca) of
generousity (cága) and of
peace (upasama). See also D. 33 and Com.
2. 'Determination', resolution, in: adhitthána-iddhi, 'magical power of determination' (s. iddhi); adhitthána-páramí, 'perfection of resolution' (s. páramí).
Adhitiññhati - (adhi + ñhà) stands upon.
adhivasati - (adhi + vasa) dwells in.
ádibrahmacariyaka-síla: 'morality of genuine pure conduct', consists in right
speech, right bodily action and right livelihood, forming the 3rd, 4th
and 5th links of the Eightfold Path (s. sacca,
IV.3, 4, 5); cf. Vis.M. I. In A. II, 86 it is said:
"With regard to those moral states connected
with and corresponding to the genuine pure conduct, he is morally strong,
morally firm and trains himself in the moral rules taken upon himself.
After overcoming the 3 fetters (ego-belief. skeptic doubt and attachment
to mere rules and ritual; s. samyojana)
he becomes one who will be 'reborn seven times at the utmost' (s. Sotápanna) and after only seven times more wandering through
this round of rebirths amongst men and heavenly beings, he will put an
end to suffering."
ádínavánupassaná-ñána: 'knowledge consisting in contemplation of misery', is
one of the 8 kinds of contemplations leading to insight (vipassaná) that form the 'purification of the knowledge and vision
of the path-progress (s. visuddhi, VI. 4). It is further one of the 18 chief kinds of insight (s. vipassaná).
adosa: 'without hate' is one of the 3 wholesome roots (múla, q.v.).
adukkha-m-asukhá vedaná: it literally means 'a feeling which is neither painful
nor joyful'. It is commonly interpreted as an indifferent feeling; however
this term appears in the Buddha's description of the 4th stage of meditative
absorption (jhana) and thus is most likely the sensoty characteristics
that are associated with meditative absorption (jhana-nimitta), which he
said were not originating from sensory stimulation. The gnostic term would
be 'charism.'khandha, vedaná.
(D. 22)
advertence (of mind to the object): ávajjana, is one of the functions of cognition (viññána-kicca, q.v.). Cf. manasikára.
advice - ováda. m.
aeon: kappa (q.v.).
affection - ádara.
m.
affliction:
illness, infirmity, sickness, Sick: (gilána).
after - pacchá.
ind.
afternoon - apara.nha.
m.
again - puna.
ind.
against - pati.
ind.
age - áyu.
n.
ago - ito.
ind.
agá - (gamu) went.
ágacchati - (á + gamu) comes.
âgatasamaõo - m. monastery.
agati: the 4 'wrong paths' are: the path of greed (chanda), of hate, of delusion, of cowardice (bhaya). "One who is freed from evil impulses is no longer
liable to take the wrong path of greed, etc.'' (A. IV, 17; IX, 7).
age, Old: jará (q.v.).
aggi - m. fire.
aggregates - of cognition: khandha (q.v.).
agility: lahutá (q.v.).
aha - n. day.
Ahaü - pro. I.
áhára: 'nutriment', 'food', is used in the concrete sense as material food and
as such it belongs to derived characteristics of the body, soma (s. khandha, Summary I.) In the figurative sense, as 'foundation'
or condition, it is one of the 24 conditions (paccaya, q.v.) and is used to denote 4 kinds of nutriment,
which are material (soma) and mental (psyche): 1. material food (kabalinkáráhára), 2. (sensorial and mental) impression (phassa), 3. mental volition (mano-sañcetaná), 4. cognition (viññána).
1. Material food feeds the eightfold physical
body having nutrient essence as its 8th factor (i.e. the solid, liquid,
heat, motion, color, odour, the tastable and nutrient essence; s. rúpa-kalápa). 2. Sensorial and mental impression is a condition
for the 3 kinds of feeling (agreeable, disagreeable and charism); s. paticcasamuppáda (6). 3. Mental volition (= karma, q.v.) feeds rebirth;
s. paticca-samuppáda (2).
4. Cognition feeds psyche and soma ;náma-rúpa; ib., 2) at the moment of conception" (Vis.M.
XI).
Literature (on the 4 Nutriments): M. 9 & Com.
(tr. in 'R. Und.'), M 38;
S. XII, 11, 63, 64 - The Four Nutriments of Life, Selected texts & Com.
(WHEEL 105/106).
áhára-ja (or-samutthána) - rúpa: 'Food-produced
corporeality'; s. samutthána.
áharati - (á + hara) brings.
áháre patikkúla-saññá: 'reflection on the loathsomeness of food', fully described
in Vis.M. XI, l.
ahetuka-citta: s. hetu.
ahetuka-ditthi: 'view of uncausedness' (of existence); s. ditthi.
ahetu-patisandhika: s. patisandhi.
ahimsá: s. avihimsá. without harm
ahirika-anottappa: 'lack of moral shame and dread', are two of the 4 unwholesome
factors associated with all karmically unwholesome states of consciousness,
the two others being restlessness (uddhacca) and delusion (moha). Cf. Tab. II.
"There are two sinister things, namely,
lack of moral shame and dread, etc." (A. II, 6). "Not to be ashamed
of what one should be ashamed of; not to be ashamed of evil, unwholesome
things: this is called lack of moral shame" (Pug. 59). "Not to
dread what one should dread ... this is called lack of moral dread (Pug.
60).
ahosi-kamma: 'ineffective karma'; s. karma.
aja - m. goat.
ajá - f. she-goat.
ájíva: 'livelihood'. About right and wrong livelihood., s. sacca (IV. 5) and micchá-magga (5).
ájíva-párisuddhi-síla: 'morality consisting in purification of livelihood',
is one of the 4 kinds of perfect morality; s. síla.
ajja - ind. to-day.
akanittha: the 'Great Ones', i.e. 'Highest Gods', are the inhabitants
of the 5th and highest heaven of the Pure Abodes (suddhávása, q.v.); cf. avacara, deva (II) Anágámí.
ákása: m. sky, space, is, according to Com., of two kinds: 1. limited space
(paricchinnákása or paricchedákása), 2. endless space (anantákása), i.e. cosmic space.
1. Limited space, under the name of ákása-dhátu (space element), belongs to derived physical (s. khandha, Summary I; Dhs 638) and to a sixfold classification
of elements (s. dhátu; M 112, 115, 140).
It is also an object of kasina (q.v.) meditation. It is defined as follows: "The
space element has the characteristic of delimiting matter. Its function
is to indicate the boundaries of matter. It is manifested as the confines
of matter; or its manifestation consists in being untouched (by the 4 great
elements), and in holes and apertures. Its proximate cause is the matter
delimited. It is on account of the space element that one can say of material
things delimited that 'this is above. below, around that' " (Vis.M.
XIV, 63).
2. Endless space is called in Atthasálini ajatákása, 'unentangled', i.e. unobstructed or empty space. It
is the object of the first immaterial absorption (s. jhána), the sphere of boundless space (ákásánañcáyatana). According to Abhidhamma philosophy, endless space
has no objective reality (being purely conceptual), which is indicated
by the fact that it is not included in the triad of the wholesome (kusalatika), which comprises the entire reality. However, that
determination simply invalidates the Abhidhamma and an authoritative document
on the non-material meditative absorption states (arupa-jhanas) becasue
they are nonceptual realities that are free of the aggregates of cognition.
Later Buddhist schools have regarded it as one of several unconditioned
or uncreated states (asankhata dharma)
- a view that is rejected in Kath. (s. Guide. p. 70). Theraváda Buddhism
recognizes only Nibbána as an unconditioned element (asankhata-dhátu:
s. Dhs. 1084).
ákása dhátu: 'space element'; see above and dhátu.
ákása-kasina 'space-kasina exercise'; s. kasina.
ákásánañcáyatana: 'sphere of boundless (infinite) space', absorption or
union (yoga) with infinite space, or a God of infinite dimension, is identical
with the 1st absorption in the immaterial sphere; s. arupa-jhána (6).
ákiñcañña-ceto-vimutti: s. ceto-vimutti.
ákiñcaññáyatana: The Sphere of No-Thingness; absorption or union (yoga)
with the Infinite such that he or she cannot distinguish between either
this nor that, neither self nor other, neither self nor god. "I am
That" Tat Twam Assi. s. arupa-jhána (7).
akiriya-ditthi: view of the inefficacy of action'; s. ditthi.
akuppá-ceto-vimutti: cf. ceto-vimutti.
akuppa-dhamma: 'unshakable', is one who has attained full mastery over
the absorptions (jhána, q.v.).
In Pug. 4 it is said:
'What person is unshakable? If a person gains
the meditative attainments of the material and immaterial sphere (rúpávacara-arúpávacara); and he gains them at his wish, without toil and exertion;
and according to his wish, as regards place, object and duration, enters
them or arises from them, then it is impossible that in such a person the
attainments may become shaken through negligence. This person is unshakable."
akusala: 'unwholesome', are all those karmic volitions (kamma-cetaná; s. cetaná)
and the cognitive processes and mental concomitants associated therewith,
which are accompanied either by greed (lobha) or hate (dosa) or merely
delusion (moha); and all these
phenomena are causes of unfavourable karma-results and contain the seeds
of unhappy destiny or rebirth. Cf. karma, paticca-samuppáda (1), Tab. II.
akusala-sádhárana-cetasika: 'general unwholesome mental factors associated with
all unwholesome actions' (volitions), are four: (1) lack of moral shame
(ahirika), (2) lack of moral dread (anottappa), (3) restlessness (uddhacca), (4) delusion (moha). For (1) and (2) s. ahirika-anottappa, for (3) s. nívarana, for (4) múla. (App.).
The corresponding term in the field of wholesome
cognitive states is sobhana- sádhárana-cetasika (s. sobhana).
akusala-vitakka: 'unwholesome thoughts' as defined under akusala (q.v.). In M. 20,
five methods of overcoming them are given: by changing the object, thinking
of the evil results, paying no attention, analyzing, suppressing.
Tr. in The Removal of Distracting Thoughts
(WHEEL 21).
alcohol prohibition: s. surámeraya-majja-ppamádattháná etc.
alikavádí - m. liar.
all - sabba.
Adj.
all-Knowing One - sabba--å.
m.
alms, vow of going for; or to do so without omitting any house: s. dhutanga, 3, 4.
alms-bowl eater, the practice of the: s. dhutanga.
alms-giving: dána (q.v.).
alms-goer, the practice of the; s. dhutanga.
alobha: 'without greed', is one of the 3 karmically wholesome roots (múla, q.v.).
áloka-kasina: 'light-kasina-exercise'; s. kasina.
áloka-saññá: 'perception of light'. The recurring canonical passage
reads: "Here the monastic contemplates the perception of light. He
fixes his-mind to the perception of the day; as at day-time so at night,
and as at night, so in the day. In this way, with a mind clear and unclouded,
he develops a stage of mind that is full of brightness." It is one
of the methods of overcoming drowsiness, recommended by the Buddha to Mahá-Moggallána
(A. VII, 58). According to D. 33, it is conducive to the development of
'knowledge and vision' (s. visuddhi),
and it is said to be helpful to the attainment of the 'divine eye' (s. abhiññá).
also - api,
ca. ind.
altruistic joy: muditá,
is one of the 4 sublime abodes (brahmavihára, q.v.).
always - nicca.m.
ind.
áma - ind. yes.
amacca - m. minister.
amata (Sanskrit amrta; Ö mr to die; = Gr. ambrosia): 'Deathlessness' according to popular belief also
the gods' drink conferring immortality, is a name for Nibbána (s. Nibbána), the final liberation from the wheel of rebirths,
and therefore also from the ever-repeated deaths .
amba - n. mango.
ambara - n. garment.
Amhàkaü - pro. our.
amoha: 'non-delusion', wisdom, is one of the 3 karmically wholesome roots (múla, q.v.).
amu - Pro. this, that, such.
Aïguli - f. finger.
anabhijjhá: 'freedom from covetousness', unselfishness; s. kammapatha (II. 8).
anabhirati-saññá: s. sabba-loke anabhirati-s.
Anágámí: the 'Non-Returner', is a noble disciple (ariya-puggala,
q.v.) on the 3rd stage of holiness. There are 5 classes of Non-Returners,
as it is said (e.g. Pug. 42-46):
"A being, through the disappearing of
the 5 lower fetters (samyojana, q.v.), reappears in a higher world (amongst
the devas of the Pure Abodes, suddhávása, q.v.), and without returning
from that world (into the sensuous sphere) he there reaches Nibbána.
(1) "He may, immediately after appearing
there (in the Pure Abodes) or without having gone beyond half of the life-time,
attain the holy path for the overcoming of the higher fetters. Such a being
is called 'one who reaches Nibbána within the first half of the life' (antará-parinibbáyí).
(2) "Or, whilst living beyond half of
the lifetime, or at the moment of death, he attains the holy path for the
overcoming of the higher fetters. Such a being is called 'one who reaches
Nibbána after crossing half the life-time' (upahacca-parinibbáyí).
(3) "Or, with exertion he attains the
holy path for the overcoming of the higher fetters. Such a being is called
'one who reaches Nibbána with exertion' (sasankhára-parinibbáyí).
(4) "Or, without exertion he attains
the holy path for the overcoming of the higher fetters. Such a being is
called 'one who reaches Nibbána without exertion' (asankhára-parinibbáyí).
(5) "Or, after vanishing from the heaven
of the Aviha-gods (s. suddhávása), he appears in the heaven of the unworried
(atappa) gods. After vanishing from there he appears in the heaven of the
clearly-visible (sudassa) gods, from there in the heaven of the clear-visioned
(sudassí) gods, from there in the heaven of the highest (akanittha) gods.
There he attains the holy path for the overcoming of the higher fetters.
Such a being is called 'one who passes up-stream to the highest gods' (uddhamsota-akanittha-gámí)."
analysis of the 4 elements: dhátu-vavatthána (q.v.).
analytical doctrine: vibhajja-váda (q.v.).
analytical knowledge, the 4 kinds of: patisambhidá (q.v.).
anaññátañ-ñassámít'indriya: is one of the 3 supernatural senses or faculties; s.
indriya (20).
anantara-paccaya: 'proximity', is one of the 24 conditions (paccaya, q.v.).
ánantarika-kamma: the 5 heinous 'actions with immediate destiny' are:
parricide, matricide, killing an Arahat (Saint), wounding a Buddha, creating
schism in the monastics' Order. In A.V., 129 it is said:
"There are 5 irascible and incurable
men destined to the lower world and to hell, namely: the parricide," etc.
About the 5th see A. X., 35, 38. With regard to the first crime, it is
said in D. 2 that if King
Ajátasattu had not deprived his father of life, he would have reached entrance
into the path of Stream-entry (App.).
ánantarika-samádhi 'Immediacy' or 'Immediate absorption' mentioned in the
Ratana Sutta (Sn. v. 22) and in Pts.M. 1, Ñánakathá.
ánantariya: the 'Immediacy', is a name for that concentration of
mind which is associated with such insight (vipassaná, q.v.) as is present
in any one of the 4 kinds of supernatural path consciousness (s. ariya-puggala),
and which therefore is the cause of the immediately following consciousness
as its result or 'fruition' (phala, q.v.). According to the Abhidhamma,
the path (of the Sotápanna, etc.) is generated by the insight into the
impermanence, misery and impersonality of existence, flashing up at that
very moment and transforming and ennobling one's nature forever.
It is mentioned under the name of ánantarika-samádhi
in the Ratana Sutta (Sn. v. 22) and in Pts.M. 1, Ñánakathá.
ánápána-sati: 'mindfulness on in-and-out-breathing', is one of the
most important exercises for reaching mental concentration and the 4 absorptions
(jhána, q.v.).
In the Satipatthána Sutta (D. 22, M. 10, 118, 119) and elsewhere, 4 methods of
practice are given that serve as the basis for meditation. The 'Discourse
on Mindfulness of Breathing' (Ánápánasati Sutta, M. 118) and other texts have 16
methods of practice, which divide into 4 groups of four.
"With attentive mind he breathes in,
with attentive mind he breathes out.
I.
(1) "When making a long inhalation he knows: 'I make a long inhalation';
when making a long exhalation he knows: 'I make a long exhalation.'
(2) "When making a short inhalation
he knows: 'I make a short inhalation'; when making a short exhalation he
knows: 'I make a short exhalation.'
(3) " 'Clearly perceiving the entire
(breath-) body I will breathe in,' thus he trains himself; 'clearly perceiving
the entire (breath-) body I will breathe out,' thus he trains himself.
(4) " 'Calming this bodily function
I will breathe in,' thus he trains himself; 'calming this bodily function
I will breathe out,' thus he trains himself.
II.
(5) " 'Feeling bliss (píti) I will breathe in,' thus he trains himself;
'feeling bliss I will breathe out,' thus he trains himself.
(6) " 'Feeling joy (sukha) I will breathe in,' thus he trains
himself; 'feeling joy I will breathe out,' thus he trains himself.
(7) " 'Feeling the mental formation
(citta-sankhára) I will breathe in,' thus he trains himself, 'feeling the
mental formation I will breathe out,' thus he trains himself.
(8) " 'Calming the mental formation
I will breathe in,' thus he trains himself; 'calming the mental formation
I will breathe out,' thus he trains himself.
III.
(9) " 'Clearly perceiving the mind (citta) I will breathe in,' thus
he trains himself; 'clearly perceiving the mind I will breathe out,' thus
he trains himself.
(10) " 'Gladdening the mind I will breathe
in,' thus he trains himself; 'gladdening the mind I will breathe out,'
thus he trains himself.
(11) " absorbing (samadhi) the mind I will breathe in, thus
he trains himself; absorbing the mind I will breathe out', thus he trains
himself.
(12) " 'Freeing the mind I will breathe
in,' thus he trains himself; 'freeing the mind I will breathe out,' thus
he trains himself
IV.
(13) " 'Reflecting on impermanence (anicca) I will breathe in,' thus
he trains himself; 'reflecting on impermanence I will breathe out,' thus
he trains himself.
(14) " 'Reflecting on detachment (virága)
I will breathe in,' thus he trains himself; 'reflecting on detachment I
will breathe out,' thus he trains himself.
(15) " 'Reflecting on extinction (nirodha)
I will breathe in,' thus he trains himself; 'reflecting on extinction I
will breathe out,' thus he trains himself.
(16) " 'Reflecting on abandonment (patinissagga)
I will breathe in, thus he trains himself; 'reflecting on abandonment I
will breathe out,' thus he trains himself."
In M 118 it is further shown how these
16 exercises bring about the 4 foundations of mindfulness (satipatthána,
q.v.), namely: 1-4 contemplation of the body, 5-8 contemplation of feeling,
9-12 contemplation of mind (cognition), 13-16 contemplation of mind-objects.
Then it is shown how these 4 foundations of mindfulness bring about the
7 factors of enlightenment (bojjhanga, q.v.); then these again deliverance
of mind (ceto-vimutti, q.v.) and deliverance through wisdom (paññá-vimutti,
q.v.).
Literature: Ánápánasati Samyutta (S. LIV).
- Pts.M. Ánápánakathá - Full explanation of practice in Vis.M. VIII, 145ff.
- For a comprehensive anthology of canonical and commentarial texts, see
Mindfulness of Breathing, Ñánamoli Thera (Kandy: BPS, 1964).
anattá: 'not-self', non-ego, egolessness, impersonality, is the last of the three
characteristics of existence (ti-lakkhana, q.v.) The anattá doctrine teaches
that neither within the bodily and mental phenomena of existence, nor outside
of them, can be found anything that in the ultimate sense could be regarded
as a self-existing real ego-entity, soul or any other abiding substance.
This is the central doctrine of Buddhism, without understanding which a
real knowledge of Buddhism is altogether impossible. It is the only really
specific Buddhist doctrine, with which the entire Structure of the Buddhist
teaching stands or falls. All the remaining Buddhist doctrines may, more
or less, be found in other philosophic systems and religions, but the anattá-doctrine
has been clearly and unreservedly taught only by the Buddha, wherefore
the Buddha is known as the anattá-vádi, or 'Teacher of Impersonality'.
Whosoever has not penetrated this impersonality of all existence, and does
not comprehend that in reality there exists only this continually self-consuming
process of arising and passing bodily and mental phenomena, and that there
is no separate ego-entity within or without this process, he will not be
able to understand Buddhism, i.e. the teaching of the 4 Noble Truths (sacca,
q.v.), in the right light. He will think that it is his ego, his personality,
that experiences suffering, his personality that performs good and evil
actions and will be reborn according to these actions, his personality
that will enter into Nibbána, his personality that walks on the Eightfold
Path. Thus it is said in Vis.M. XVI:
"Mere suffering exists, no sufferer
is found;
The deeds are, but no doer of the deeds is there;
Nibbána is, but not the man that enters it;
The path is, but no traveler on it is seen."
"Whosoever is not clear with regard
to the conditionally arisen phenomena, and does not comprehend that all
the actions are conditioned through ignorance, etc., he thinks that it
is an ego that understands or does not understand, that acts or causes
to act, that comes to existence at rebirth .... that has the sense-impression,
that feels, desires, becomes attached, continues and at rebirth again enters
a new existence" (Vis.M. XVII, 117).
While in the case of the first two characteristics
it is stated that all formations (sabbe sankhárá) are impermanent and subject
to suffering, the corresponding text for the third characteristic states
that "all things are not-self" (sabbe dhammá anattá; M. 35,
Dhp. 279). This is for emphasizing
that the false view of an abiding self or substance is neither applicable
to any 'formation' or conditioned phenomenon, nor to Nibbána, the Unconditioned
Element (asankhatá dhátu).
The Anattá-lakkhana Sutta, the 'Discourse
on the Characteristic of Not-self', was the second discourse after Enlightenment,
preached by the Buddha to his first five disciples, who after hearing it
attained to perfect Holiness (arahatta).
The contemplation of not-self (anattánupassaná)
leads to the emptiness liberation (suññatá-vimokkha, s. vimokkha). Herein
the faculty of wisdom (paññindriya) is outstanding, and one who attains
in that way the path of Stream-entry is called a Dhamma-devotee (dhammánusári;
s. ariya-puggala); at the next two stages of sainthood he becomes a vision-attainer
(ditthippatta); and at the highest stage, i.e. Holiness, he is called 'liberated
by wisdom' (paññá-vimutta).
For further details, see paramattha-sacca,
paticca-samuppáda, khandha, ti-lakkhana, náma-rúpa, patisandhi.
Literature: Anattá-lakkhana Sutta, Vinaya
I, 13-14; S. XXII, 59; tr. in Three Cardinal Discourses of the Buddha (WHEEL
17). - Another important text on Anattá is the Discourse on the Snake Simile
(Alagaddúpama Sutta, M. 22;
tr. in WHEEL 48/49) . Other texts in "Path". - Further: Anattá and
Nibbána, by Nyanaponika Thera (WHEEL 11); The Truth of Anattá, by Dr. G.
P. Malalasekera (WHEEL 94); The Three Basic Facts of Existence III: Egolessness
(WHEEL 202/204)
anattánupassaná: 'contemplation of not-self' is one of the 18 chief contemplations
leading to insight (s. vipassaná). See also above.
anattá-saññá: 'perception of not-self'; see A. VI, 104; A. VII, 48;
A.X, 60; Ud. IV, 1.
anattá-váda: the 'doctrine of impersonality'; s. anattá.
and - ca.
ind.
áneñja: 'imperturbability', denotes the immaterial sphere (arúpávacara; s. avacara);
s. sankhára. cf. M. 106.
anger: s. múla, kodha.
m.
angry (gets) - kujjhati.
anicca: 'impermanent' (or, as abstract noun, aniccatá, 'impermanence') is the
first of the three characteristics of existence (tilakkhana, q.v.). It
is from the fact of impermanence that, in most texts, the other two characteristics,
suffering (dukkha) and not-self (anattá), are derived (S. XXII, 15; Ud.
IV, I)
"Impermanence of things is the rising,
passing and changing of things, or the disappearance of things that have
become or arisen. The meaning is that these things never persist in the
same way, but that they are vanishing dissolving from moment to moment" (Vis.M.
VII, 3).
Impermanence is a basic feature of all conditioned
phenomena, be they material or mental, coarse or subtle, one's own or external:
All formations are impermanent" (sabbe sankhárá aniccá; M 35,
Dhp. 277). That the totality of
existence is impermanent is also often stated in terms of the five aggregates
(khandha, q.v.), the twelve personal and external sense bases (áyatana q.v.), etc. Only Nibbána (q.v.), which is unconditioned and not a formation
(asankhata), is permanent (nicca, dhuva).
The insight leading to the first stage of
deliverance, Stream-entry (sotápatti; s. ariya-puggala), is often expressed
in terms of impermanence: "Whatever is subject to origination, is
subject to cessation" (s. Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, S. XLVI, 11).
In his last exhortation, before his Parinibbána, the Buddha reminded his
monastics of the impermanence of existence as a spur to earnest effort: "Behold
now, Bhikkhus, I exhort you: Formations are bound to vanish. Strive earnestly!" (vayadhammá sankhárá,
appamádena sampádetha; D. 16).
Without the deep insight into the impermanence
and insubstantiality of all phenomena of existence there is no attainment
of deliverance. Hence comprehension of impermanence gained by direct meditative
experience heads two lists of insight knowledge: (a) contemplation of impermanence
(aniccánupassaná) is the first of the 18 chief contemplations leading to
insight (q.v.); (b) the contemplation of arising and vanishing (udayabbayánupassaná-ñána)
is the first of 9 kinds of knowledge which lead to the 'purification by
knowledge and vision of the path-progress' (s. visuddhi, VI). - Contemplation
of impermanence leads to the conditionless deliverance (animitta-vimokkha;
s. vimokkha). As herein the faculty of confidence (saddhindriya) is outstanding,
he who attains in that way the path of Stream-entry is called a faith-devotee
(saddhánusárí; s. ariya-puggala) and at the seven higher stages he is called
faith-liberated (saddhá-vimutta), - See also anicca-saññá.
See The Three Basic Facts of Existence I:
Impermanence (WHEEL 186/187)
aniccánupassaná: 'contemplation of impermanence', is one of the 18 contemplations
leading to insight (s. vipassaná).
anicca-saññá: 'perception of impermanence', is defined in the Girimananda
Sutta (A.X. 60) as meditation on the impermanence of the five groups of
existence.
"Though, with a faithful heart, one
takes refuge in the Buddha, his Teaching and the Community of monastics;
or with a faithful heart observes the rules of morality, or develops a
mind full of loving-kindness, far more meritorious it is if one cultivates
the perception of impermanence, be it only for a moment" (A.X. 20).
See A. VI, 102; A. VII, 48; Ud. IV, 1; S.
XXII, 102.
animitta-ceto-vimutti: s. ceto-vimutti. deliverence without the sign, signless
deliverence.
animittánupassaná: s. vipassaná signless insight.
animitta-vimokkha: s. vimokkha liberation without the sign or signless
liberation.
annada - giver of food.
añña: 'other', 'another', being of the opposite category.
aññá: 'highest knowledge', gnosis, refers to the perfect knowledge of the Saint
(Arahat; s. ariya-puggala). The following passage occurs frequently in
the Suttas, when a monastic indicates his attainment of Holiness (arahatta): "He
makes known highest knowledge (aññam vyákaroti), thus: 'Rebirth has ceased,
fulfilled is the holy life, the task is accomplished, and there is no more
of this to come.' "
The 'faculty of highest knowledge' (aññ'
indriya = aññá-indriya; s. indriya), however, is present in six of the
eight stages of holiness, that is, beginning with the fruition of Stream-Winning
(sotápatti-phala) up to the path of Holiness (arahatta-magga). See Dhs.
(PTS) 362-364, 505, 553; Indriya Vibhanga; "Path" 162.
aññámañña-paccaya: 'mutuality-condition,' is one of the 24 conditions (paccaya,
q.v.).
aññatara - adj. certain.
aññátávindriya: 'the faculty of one who knows'; s. indriya, 22.
aññindriya: 'the faculty of highest knowledge'; s. aññá and indriya,
21.
announces - ároceti.
another - a--a.
pro.
anottappa: s. ahirika.
answers - pa.tivadati.
answering questions: 4 ways of: s. pañhá-byákarana.
antará-parinibbáyí: is one of the 5 kinds of Non-Returners or Anágámí (q.v.).
antevásiko - m. pupil.
antima - adj. last.
antinomies: s. ditthi.
anu - pre. like, after, along, under.
anugacchati - (anu + gamu) follows.
anuloma-citta: 'adaptation-moment of cognition, denotes the third of
the 4 moments of impulsion (javana, q.v.) flashing up immediately before
either reaching the absorptions (jhána, q.v.) or the supernatural paths
(s. ariya-puggala). These 4 moments of impulsion are: the preparation (parikamma),
access (upacára), adaptation (anuloma) and maturity (gotrabhú) moments.
For further details, s. javana, gotrabhú.
anulomato - in accordance with.
anuloma-ñána: 'adaptation-knowledge' or conformity-knowledge, is identical
with the 'adaptation-to-truth knowledge', the last of 9 insight-knowledges
(vipassaná-ñána) which constitute the purification of knowledge and vision
of the path-progress' (s. visuddhi VI, 9). Cf. Vis.M. XXI.
anunáyaka - m. sub-chief.
anupádisesa-nibbána: see Nibbána, upádi.
anupassaná: 'contemplation' - 4 fold: s. satipatthána - 18 fold:
- 7 fold: "The seven contemplation's: (1) Contemplating (formations)
as impermanent, one abandons the perception of permanence. (2) Contemplating
(them) as painful, one abandons the perception of happiness (to be found
in them). (3) Contemplating (them) as not self, one abandons the perception
of self. (4) Becoming dispassionate, one abandons delighting. (5) Causing
fading away, one abandons greed. (6) Causing cessation, one abandons originating.
(7) Relinquishing, one abandons grasping" (Pts.M. I, p. 58). - See
also Vis.M. XXI, 43; XXII, 114.
Anupubbaü - in due course.
anupubba-nirodha: The 9 'successive extinctions', are the 8 extinctions
reached through the 8 absorptions (jhána, q.v.) and the extinction of feeling
and perception' (s. nirodha-samápatti), as it is said in A. IX, 31 and
D. 33:
"In him who has entered the 1st absorption,
the sensuous perceptions (káma-saññá) are extinguished. Having entered
the 2nd absorption, thought-conception and discursive thinking (vitakkavicára,
q.v.) are extinguished. Having entered the 3rd absorption, bliss (píti,
q.v.) is extinguished. Having entered the 4th absorption, in-and-out breathing
(assása-passása, q.v.) are extinguished. Having entered the sphere of boundless
space (ákásánañcáyatana), the corporeality perceptions (rúpa-saññá) are
extinguished. Having entered the sphere of boundless consciousness (viññánañcáyatana),
the perception of the sphere of boundless space is extinguished. Having
entered the sphere of nothingness (ákiñcaññáyatana), the perception of
the sphere of boundless consciousness is extinguished. Having entered the
sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception (neva-saññá-násaññáyatana)
the perception of the sphere of nothingness is extinguished. Having entered
the extinction of perception and feeling (saññávedayitanirodha) perception
and feeling are extinguished." For further details, s. jhána, nirodha-samápatti.
anupubba-vihára: the 9 'successive abodes', are identical with the 9
anupubba-nirodha (s. above). In A. IX, 33 they are called successive attainments
(anupubba-samápatti).
ánupubbí-kathá: 'gradual instruction', progressive sermon; given by
the Buddha when it was necessary to prepare first the listener's mind before
speaking to him on the advanced teaching of the Four Noble Truths. The
stock passage (e.g. D. 3; D 14;
M. 56)
runs as follows:
"Then the Blessed One gave him a gradual
instruction - that is to say, he spoke on liberality ('giving', dána, q.v.),
on moral conduct (síla) and on the heaven (sagga); he explained the peril,
the vanity and the depravity of sensual pleasures, and the advantage
of renunciation. When the Blessed One perceived
that the listener's mind was prepared, pliant, free from obstacles, elevated
and lucid; then he explained to him that exalted teaching particular to
the Buddhas (buddhánam sámukkamsiká desaná), that is: suffering, its cause,
its ceasing, and the path."
anurája - m. successor.
anurakkhana-padhána: the 'effort to maintain' wholesome states; s. padhána.
anusaya: the 7 'proclivities', inclinations, or tendencies are:
sensuous greed (káma-rága, s. samyojana), grudge (patigha), speculative
opinion (ditthi, q.v.), skeptical doubt (vicikicchá, q.v.), conceit (mána,
q.v.), craving for continued existence (bhavarága), ignorance (avijjá,
q.v.) (D. 33; A. VII, 11, 12).
"These things are called 'proclivities'
since, in consequence of their pertinacity, they ever and again tend to
become the conditions for the arising of ever new sensuous greed, etc.''
(Vis.M. XXII, 60).
Yam. VII, first determines in which beings
such and such proclivities exist, and which proclivities, and with regard
to what, and in which sphere of existence. Thereafter it gives an explanation
concerning their overcoming, their penetration, etc. Cf. Guide VI (vii).
According to Kath. several ancient Buddhist schools erroneously held the
opinion that the anusayas, as such, meant merely latent, hence karmically
neutral qualities, which however Contradicts the Theraváda conception.
Cf. Guide V, 88, 108, 139.
anussati: 'recollection', meditation, contemplation. The six recollections
often described in the Suttas (e.g. A. VI, 10, 25; D. 33) are: (1) recollection
of the Buddha, (2) his Doctrine, (3) his Community of noble disciples,
(4) of morality, (5) liberality, (6) heavenly beings (buddhánussati, dhammánussati,
sanghánussati, sílánussati, cágánussati, devatánussati).
(1) "The noble disciple, Mahánáma, recollects
thus: 'This Blessed One is holy, a fully Enlightened One, perfected in
wisdom and conduct, faring happily, knower of the worlds, unsurpassed leader
of men to be trained, teacher of heavenly beings and men, a Buddha, a Blessed
One.'
(2) 'Well proclaimed by the Blessed One is
the Doctrine (dhamma), directly visible, with immediate fruit, inviting
investigation, leading on to Nibbána, to be comprehended by the wise, each
by himself.'
(3) 'Of good conduct is the Community (Sangha)
of the Blessed One's disciples, of upright conduct, living on the right
path, performing their duties, to wit: the 4 pairs of men or 8 individuals
(s. ariya puggala). This Community of the Blessed One's disciples is worthy
of offerings, worthy of hospitality, worthy of gifts, worthy of reverence
with raised hands, the unsurpassed field for doing meritorious deeds.'
(4) "The noble disciple further recollects
his own morality (síla) which is unbroken, without any breach, undefiled,
untarnished, conducive to liberation, praised by the wise, not dependent
(on craving or opinions), leading to absorption (samadhi).
(5) "The noble disciple further recollects
his own liberality (cága) thus: 'Blessed truly am I, highly blessed am
I who, amongst beings defiled with the filth of stinginess, live with heart
free from stinginess, liberal, open-handed, rejoicing in giving, ready
to give anything asked for, glad to give and share with others.'
(6) "The noble disciple further recollects
the heavenly beings (devatá): 'There are the heavenly beings of the retinue
of the Four Great Kings, the heavenly beings of the World of the Thirty-Three,
the Yámadevas ... and there are heavenly beings besides (s. deva). Such
faith, such morality, such knowledge, such liberality, such insight, possessed
of which those heavenly beings, after vanishing from here, are reborn in
those worlds, such things are also found in me.' " (A. III,70; VI,10;
XI,12).
"At the time when the noble disciple
recollects the Perfect One ... at such a time his mind is neither possessed
of greed, nor of hate, nor of delusion. Quite upright at such a time is
his mind owing to the Perfect One ... With upright mind the noble disciple
attains understanding of the sense, understanding of the law, attains joy
through the law. In the joyous one bliss (piiti) arises. With heart in
bliss, his whole being becomes stilled. Stilled within his being, he feels
happiness; and the mind of the happy one becomes firm. Of this noble disciple
it is said that amongst those gone astray, he walks on the right path,
among those suffering he abides free from suffering. Thus having reached
the stream of the law, he develops the recollection of the Enlightened
One...." (A. VI, 10).
In A. I, 21 (PTS: I, xvi) and A. I, 27 (PTS:
xx. 2) another 4 recollections are added: mindfulness on death (marana-sati,
q.v.), on the body (káyagatá-.sati, q.v.), on breathing (ánápána-sati,
q.v.), and the recollection of peace (upasamánussati, q.v.).
The first six recollections are fully explained
in Vis.M. VII, the latter four in Vis.M. VIII.
apa - pre. from, away from.
ápabbata - n. As far as the rock.
apagacchati - (apa + gamu) goes away.
ápana - n. shop, market.
apara - adj. other, western, subsequent.
Aparaõha - m. Afternoon.
aparápariya-vedaníya-kamma: 'karma bearing fruits in later births'; s. karma.
aparihána-dhamma: 'incapable of relapse', or 'of falling away', namely,
with regard to deliverance from some or all fetters of existence (s. samyojana).
Thus all noble disciples are called, i.e. all those who have attained any
of the 4 noble paths to holiness (s. ariyapuggala). With regard to the
absorptions (jhána, q.v.), anyone is called 'unrelapsable' who has attained
full mastery over the absorptions. See A. VI, 62; Pug. 6. Cf. akuppa-dhamma.
aparihániya-dhamma: 'conditions of welfare' (lit. of non-decline), for a
nation. Seven such conditions are mentioned in the Mahá-Parinibbána Sutta
(D. 16). They are followed by five sets of 7,
and one set of 6 conditions, conducive to the welfare of the Community
of monastics, the Sangha. Identical texts at A. VII, 20-25. To be distinguished
from the preceding term.
apasáláya - from the hall.
apaváda - m. Abuse, blame.
apáya: The 4 'lower worlds'. are: the animal world, ghost world, demon-world,
hell. See Vis.M. XIII, 92f.
api - ind. over, near to.
apidhána - n. cover, lid.
ápo-dhátu: 'water-element'; s. dhátu.
appa - adj. little, few.
appamáda: 'zeal', non-laxity, earnestness, diligence, is considered
as the foundation of all progress.
Just as all the footprints of living beings
are surpassed by the footprint of the elephant, and the footprint of the
elephant is considered as the mightiest amongst them, just so have all
the meritorious qualities zeal as their foundation, and zeal is considered
as the mightiest of these qualities'' (A. X, 15).
Cf. the Chapter on Zeal (Appamáda Vagga)
in Dhp., and the Buddha's last exhortation: "Transient are all formations.
Strive zealously!" (appamádena sampádetha: D. 16) - In the commentaries, it is often explained
as the presence (lit. 'non-absence') of mindfulness (satiyá avippavása).
appamánábha: a kind of heavenly being; s. deva, (II).
appamána-ceto-vimutti: s. ceto-vimutti.
appamána-subha: a kind of heavenly being: s. deva (II).
appamaññá: The 4 'Boundless States', identical with brahma-vihára (q.v.).
appaná-samádhi: 'attainment absorption or 'full absorption' (from apeti,
to fix), is the absorption existing during (jhána, q.v.); s. samádhi.
appanihita-vimokkha: s. vimokkha. - Appanihitánupassaná.
appearance - va.n.na. m.
appendants, The 3: kiñcana (q.v.).
appicchatá: 'having only few wishes', contentedness, is one of the
indispensable virtues of the monastic; cf. A. X. 181-190, and ariyavamsa (q.v.).
approaches - upasa~nkamati.
apuññábhisankhára: s. sankhára.
aquatic - jalaja.
arahanta - m. Arahat.
Arahat and arahatta-magga,-phala: s. ariya-puggala.
áráma - m. temple, garden.
árammana: 'object'. There are six: visible object, sound, odor,
taste, body-impression, mind-object. The mind-object (dhammárammana) may
be physical or mental, past, present or future, real or imaginary. The
5 sense-objects belong to the corporeality-group (rúpa-kkhandha, s. khandha).
They form the external foundations for the sense-perceptions, and without
them no sense-perception or sense-cognition (seeing, hearing, etc.) can
arise. Cf. áyatana, paccaya. (App: paccaya 2.).
árammanádhipati, árammanupanissaya: s. paccaya.
áraññikanga: The 'exercise of the forest-dweller', is one of the
ascetic purification-exercises (dhutanga, q.v.).
arises - uggacchati.
arises (is born) - jáyati, uppajjati.
arising and vanishing (of things). The knowledge consisting in the contemplation
of; s. visuddhi (VI. 1.).
ariya-iddhi: s. iddhi. Noble powers
ariya-magga: s. foll.
ariya-puggala: or simply ariya: 'Noble Ones', 'noble persons'.
(A) The 8 ,a. are those who have realized one of the 8 stages of
holiness, i.e. the 4 supernatural paths (magga) and the 4 supernatural
fruitions (phala) of these paths. There are 4 pairs:
1. The one realizing the path of Stream-winning
(sotápattimagga).
2. The one realizing the fruition of Stream-winning
(sotápattiphala).
3. The one realizing the path of Once-return
(sakadágámiphala).
4. The one realizing the fruition of Once-return
(sakadágámiphala).
5. The one realizing the path of Non-return
(anágámimagga).
6. The one realizing the fruition of Non-return
(anágámiphala).
7. The one realizing the path of Holiness
(arahatta-magga).
8. The one realizing the fruition of Holiness
(arahatta-phala).
Summed up, there are 4 noble individuals
(ariya-puggala): the Stream-winner (Sotápanna), the Once-Returner (Sakadágámi),
the Non-Returner (Anágámí), the Holy One (Arahat).
In A. VIII,10 and A. IX, 16 the gotrabhú (q.v.)
is listed as the 9th noble individual.
According to the Abhidhamma, 'supernatural
path', or simply 'path' (magga), is a designation of the moment of entering
into one of the 4 stages of holiness - Nibbána being the object - produced
by the attainment (phala) of meditative absorption (jhana) forever transforming
one's life and nature. By 'fruition' (phala) is meant those moments of
consciousness which follow immediately thereafter as the result of the
path, and which in certain circumstances may repeat for innumerable times
during the life-time.
(I) Through the path of Stream-winning (sotápatti-magga)
one 'becomes' free (whereas in realizing the fruition, one 'is' free) from
the first 3 fetters (samyojana, q.v.) which bind beings to existence in
the sensuous sphere, to wit: (1) personality-belief (sakkáya-ditthi; s.
ditthi), (2) skeptical doubt (vicikicchá, q.v.), (3) attachment to mere
rules and rituals (sílabbata-parámása; s. upádána).
(II) Through the path of Once-return (sakadágámi-magga)
one becomes nearly free from the 4th and 5th fetters, to wit: (4) sensuous
craving (káma-cchanda = káma-rága; s. rága), (5) ill-will (vyápáda = dosa,
s. múla).
(III) Through the path of Non-return (anágámi-magga)
one becomes fully free from the above-mentioned 5 lower fetters.
(IV) Through the path of Holiness (arahatta-magga)
one further becomes free from the 5 higher fetters, to wit: (6) craving
for fine material existence (rúpa-rága), (7) craving for immaterial existence.
(arúpa-rága), (8) conceit (mána, q.v.), (9) restlessness (uddhacca, q.v.),
(10) ignorance (avijjá, q.v.).
The stereotype Sutta text runs as follows:
(I) "After the disappearance of the
three fetters, the monastic has won the stream (to Nibbána) and is no more
subject to rebirth in lower worlds, is firmly established, destined for
full enlightenment.
(II) "After the disappearance of the
three fetters and reduction of greed, hatred and delusion, he will return
only once more; and having once more returned to this world, he will put
an end to suffering.
(III) "After the disappearance of the
five fetters he appears in a higher world, and there he reaches Nibbána
without ever returning from that world (to the sensuous sphere).
(IV) "Through the extinction of all
cankers (ásava-kkhaya) he reaches already in this very life the deliverance
of mind, the deliverance through wisdom, which is free from cankers, and
which he himself has understood and realized."
For the various classes of Stream-winners
and Non-Returners, s. Sotápanna, Anágámí.
(B) The sevenfold grouping of the noble disciples
is as follows:
(1) the faith-devotee (saddhánusárí), (2)
the faith-liberated one (saddhávimutta), (3) the body-witness (káya-sakkhí),
(4) the both-ways-liberated one (ubhato-bhága-vimutta), (5) the Dhamma-devotee
(dhammánusárí), (6) the vision-attainer (ditthippatta), (7) the wisdom-liberated
one (paññá-vimutta). This group of seven noble disciples is thus explained
in Vis.M. XXI, 73:
(1) "He who is filled with resolution
(adhimokkha) and, in considering the formations as impermanent (anicca),
gains the faculty of faith, he, at the moment of the path to Stream-winning
(A.1) is called a faith-devotee (saddhánusárí); (2) at the seven higher
stages (A. 2-8) he is called a faith-liberated one (saddhá-vimutta). (3)
He who is filled with tranquillity and, in considering the formations as
miserable (dukkha), gains the faculty of concentration, he in every respect
is considered as a body-witness (káya-sakkhí). (4) He, however, who after
reaching the absorptions of the immaterial sphere has attained the highest
fruition (of Holiness), he is a both-ways-liberated one (ubhato-bhága-vimutta).
(5) He who is filled with wisdom and, in considering the formations as
not-self (anattá), gains the faculty of wisdom, he is at the moment of
Stream-winning a Dhamma-devotee (dhammánusárí), (6) at the later stages
(A. 2-7) a vision-attainer (ditthippatta), (7) at the highest stage (A.
8) a wisdom-liberated one (paññávimutta)." - Further details about
the body-witness, the both-ways-liberated one and the wisdom-liberated
one, s. under the three Páli terms. Cf. also M. 70;
A. IX, 44; S. XII, 70; Pts.M. II, p. 33, PTS.
ariya-sacca: The Four 'Noble Truths'; s. sacca.
ariya-vamsa: The four 'noble usage's', are: contentedness (of the
monastic) with any robe, contentedness with any alms-food, contentedness
with any dwelling, and delight in meditation and detachment. In the Ariya-vamsa
Sutta, (A. IV , 28) and similarly in D. 33, it is said :
"Now the monastic is contented with
any robe, with any alms-food, with any dwelling, finds pleasure and enjoyment
in mental training and detachment. But neither is he haughty on that account,
nor does he look down upon others. Now, of a monastic who herein is fit
and indefatigable, who remains clearly conscious and mindful, of such a
monastic it is said that he is firmly established in the ancient, noble
usage's known as the most lofty ones."
Full tr. of Ariya-vamsa Sutta in WHEEL 83/84.
ariya-vihára: s. vihára. Noble home
ároceti - (á + ruca) informs, tells, announces.
árogya - n. health.
arúpa-bhava: s. bhava, lo ka.immate existencerial
arúpa-jjhána: - s. jhána.
arúpa-kkhandha: The four 'immaterial groups' of existence are: sensation,
perception, mental structures (formations), cognition; s. khandha.
arúpávacara: s. avacara.
áruppa: s. jhána. non-material meditative absorptions.
asádhu - m. Bad man.
ásana - n. seat.
asankhára-parinibbáyí: The 'one reaching Nibbána without exertion', is one
of the five classes of Non-Returners (Anágámí, q.v.)
asankhárika-citta: an Abhidhamma term signifying a 'state of cognition
arisen spontaneously', i. e. without previous deliberation, preparation,
or prompting by others; hence: 'unprepared, unprompted'. This term and
its counterpart (sasankhárikacitta, q.v.), probably go back to a similar
distinction made in the Suttas (A. IV, 171; "Path" 184). See
Tab. I; examples in Vis.M. XIV, 84f.
asankhata: The 'Unformed, Unoriginated, Unconditioned' is a name
for Nibbána, the beyond of all becoming and conditionality.
asaññá: 'non-percipient'
asañña-satta: The 'non-percipient beings', are a class of heavenly
beings in the fine-material world; s. deva (II). "There are, o monastics,
heavenly beings known as the 'non-percipient ones. As soon, however, as
in those beings perception arises, those beings will vanish from that world.
Now, o monastics, it may happen that one of those beings after vanishing
from that world, may reappear in this world...." (D. 24). Further
details, s. Kath., Yam. (Guide, pp. 68, 79, 96 ff.).
ásava: (lit: influxes), 'cankers', taints, corruption's, intoxicant biases.
There is a list of four (as in D. 16,
Pts.M., Vibh.): the canker of sense-desire (kámásava), of (desiring eternal)
existence (bhavásava), of (wrong) views (ditthásava), and of ignorance
(avijjásava). A list of three, omitting the canker of views, is possibly
older and is more frequent in the Suttas, e.g. in M. 2, M. 9, D. 33; A. III, 59, 67; A. VI, 63. - In
Vibh. (Khuddakavatthu Vibh.) both the 3-fold and 4-fold division are mentioned.
The fourfold division also occurs under the name of 'floods' (ogha) and
'yokes' (yoga).
Through the path of Stream-Entry, the canker
of views is destroyed; through the path of Non-Returning, the canker of
sense-desire; through the path of Arahatship, the cankers of existence
and ignorance. M. 2 shows how to
overcome the cankers, namely, through insight, sense-control, avoidance,
wise use of the necessities of life, etc. For a commentarial exposition,
see Atthasálini Tr. I, p. 63f: II, pp. 475ff.
Khínásava, 'one whose cankers are destroyed',
or 'one who is canker-free', is a name for the Arahat or Holy One. The
state of Arahatship is frequently called ásavakkhaya, 'the destruction
of the cankers'. Suttas concluding with the attainment of Arahatship by
the listeners, often end with the words: "During this utterance, the
hearts of the Bhikkhus were freed from the cankers through clinging no
more" (anupádáya ásavehi cittáni vimuccimsú'ti).
ásavakkhaya: see above.
ascending insight: s. vutthána-gáminí-vipassaná.
ascetic purification practices: s. dhutanga.
asekha: (lit.: 'not-learner'; s. sekha), a disciple 'perfected in training',
one beyond training, an adept. This is a name for the Arahat, the Holy
One (s. ariya-puggala), since he has reached the perfection in higher moral
training, higher mind training and higher wisdom training (s. sikkhá) and
needs no longer to train himself therein.
The Five aggregates of one who is “beyond training:”
| 1 |
virtue |
síla |
| 2 |
absorption |
samádhi |
| 3 |
wisdom |
paññá |
| 4 |
liberation |
vimokkha |
| 5 |
knowledge and vision |
ñánadassana |
SN 3 Kosalasamyutta, 24 (4) (Sagathavagga) Archery Book 1 with
verses
ásevana-paccaya: 'repetition', is one of the 24 conditions (paccaya, q.v.).
asi - m. sword.
Asikaëaho - m. swordfight.
asíti - eighty.
asmi-mána: (lit.: 'I am'-conceit), 'ego-conceit', may range from
the coarsest pride and self-assertion to a subtle feeling of one's distinctiveness
or superiority that persists, as the 8th fetter (samyojana, q.v.), until
the attainment of Arahatship or Holiness. It is based upon the comparison
of oneself with others, and may, therefore, manifest itself also as a feeling
of inferiority or the claim to be equal (s. mána). It has to be distinguished
from 'ego-belief' (sakkáya-ditthi, q.v.) which implies a definite belief
or view (ditthi) concerning the assumption of a self or soul, and, being
the 1st of the fetters, disappears at attainment of Stream-Entry (sotápatti; s. ariya-puggala).
"Even when the five lower fetters have
vanished in a noble disciple, there is still in him, with regard to the
five groups of clinging, a slight undiscarded measure of the conceit 'I
am', of the will 'I am', of the proclivity 'I am' " (S . XXII, 89)
. - s. mána.
assa - m. horse.
assá - f. mare.
assása-passása: 'in-and-out-breathing', are corporeal or physical functions
or 'formations' (káya-sankhára), (2). In-and-out-breathing forms
one of the 6 aspects of the wind-element (s. dhátu). Cf.
(M. 62, 118).
Assasati: mindfulness of the in-breath
(M 118).
association: sampayutta-paccaya, is one of the 24 conditions (paccaya,
q.v.). asubha: 'impurity',
loathsomeness, foulness. - In Vis.M. VI, it is the cemetery contemplations
(sívathika, q.v.) that are called 'meditation-subjects of impurity' (asubha-kammatthána;
s. bhávaná). In the Girimananda Sutta (A. X., 50), however, the perception
of impurity (asubha-saññá) refers to the contemplation of the 32 parts
of the body (s. káya-gatá-sati). The contemplation of the body's
impurity is an antidote against the hindrance of sense-desire (s. nívarana) and
the mental perversion (vipallása, q.v.) which sees what is truly impure
as pure and beautiful. See S. XLVI, 51; A. V. 36, Dhp. 7, 8; Sn. 193ff. - The Five Mental Hindrances
(WHEEL 26), pp. 5ff.
asura: 'demons', titans, evil ghosts, inhabiting one of the lower worlds (apáya, q.v.).
atappa: 'the unworried', is the name of a class of deities (s. deva,) inhabiting
the first of the five Pure Abodes (suddhávása, q.v.), in which the Anágámí (q.v.)
has his last rebirth.
Añavi - f. forest.
atigacchati - (ati + gamu) overcomes.
atikkamati - (ati + kamu) transgresses.
atimána: 'superiority-conceit'; s. mána.
atisundara - very beautiful.
atithi - m. guest.
ativiya - adj. very.
attá: 'self, ego, personality, is in Buddhism a mere conventional expression
(voháradesaná), and no designation for anything really existing; s. paramattha-desaná, anattá, puggala, satta, jíva.
attachments: s. parámása.
atta-ditthi (-váda): 'ego-belief', 'personality-belief', s. ditthi.
attainment-concentration: appaná-samádhi (q.v.); s. samádhi.
attainments, 'The 8 a.';
s. samápatti.
atta-kilamatha: 'self-mortification', is one of the two extremes to
be avoided, the other extreme being addiction to sensual pleasures (káma-sukha),
whilst the Noble 8-fold Path constitutes the Middle Path (majjhima-patipadá,
q.v.). See the Buddha's first sermon, "The Establishment of the Realm
of Dhamma" (Dhamma-cakkappavattana-Sutta).
atta-saññá (°citta, °ditthi): 'perception (cognition, view) of
an ego', is one of the 4 perversions (vipallása, q.v.).
atta-vádupádána: 'attachment to the ego-belief', is one of the 4 kinds
of clinging (upádána, q.v.).
atta-vyàbàdhàya: (atta + vyápáda) 'self' + 'ill-will' = 'ill-will toward self'; s. vyápáda
attention: s. manasikára.
attentiveness, attention, mindfulness; s. sati, satipatthána.
attha - m. matter, meaning, good.
Aññha - eight.
Aññhàdasa - eighteen.
Aññhama - eighth.
atthangika-magga: The 'Eightfold Path'; s. magga.
attha-patisambhidá: The 'analytical knowledge of meaning', is one of the
4 kinds of analytical knowledge (patisambhidá, q.v.).
atthi-paccaya: 'presence', is one of the 24 conditions (paccaya, q.v.) .
Aññhi - n. Bone.
auditory organ: s. áyatana.
avabhodha - m. understanding.
avacara: 'sphere', realm. The 3 spheres of existence are: the
sensuous sphere (kámávacara), the fine-material sphere (rúpávacara), the
immaterial sphere (arúpávacara). "Which things are of the sensuous
sphere (kámávacara)? Whatever things exist within the interval bounded
beneath by the Avíci-hell and above by the Paranimmitavasavatti-heaven
(s. deva), having therein their sphere, and being therein included, to
wit: the groups of existence, the elements, bases (s. khandha, dhátu, áyatana),
corporeality, feeling, perception, mental structures (formations) and cognition,
all these things are of the sensuous sphere. - But which things are of
the fine material sphere (rúpávacara)? Whatever things exist within the
interval bounded beneath by the Brahma-world and above by the Akanittha-world
(s. deva), having therein their sphere, and being therein included ...
and also cognitive and mental factors in one who has entered the (fine-material)
absorptions, or who has been reborn in that sphere, or who already during
his life-time is living in happiness (of the absorptions), all these things
are of the fine-material sphere. - Which things are of the immaterial sphere
(arúpávacara)? Cognitive and mental factors arising within the interval
bounded beneath by the beings reborn in the sphere of unbounded space and
above by the beings reborn in the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception
(s. jhána 5-8), and cognitive and mental factors in one who has entered
the (immaterial absorptions), or who has been reborn in that sphere, or
who already during his lifetime is living in happiness (of the immaterial
absorptions), all these things are of the immaterial sphere." (Cf.
Dhs. 1280, 1282, 1284; Vibh. XVIII). (App.).
avacarati - (ava + cara) traverses.
avaharati - (ava + hara) takes away.
avajánáti - (ava + -á) despises.
ávajjana: 'advertence' of the mind towards the object, forms the
first stage in the process of cognition (s. viññána-kicca). If an object of the 5 physical senses is concerned,
it is called 'five-door advertence' (pañca dvárávajjana); in the case of a mental object, 'mind-door advertence'
(mano-dvárávajjana).
avakkamati - (ava + kamu) descends.
Avamaññati - (ava + mana) looks down upon.
aversion (from existence), contemplation of: (VI . 5)
Avíci is the name of one of the most frightful hells (niraya, q.v.).
avigata-paccaya: 'non-disappearance', is one of the 24 conditions (paccaya, q.v.).
aviha (derivation uncertain; Sanskrit avrha) is one of the five Pure Abodes (suddhávása, q.v.) in the fine-material sphere. For details, s.
under Anágámí.
avihimsá (equivalents: ahimsá, avihesá): 'harmlessness', nonviolence, absence of cruelty.
The 'thought of harmlessness' (or: 'non-cruelty'; avihimsá-vitakka) is one of the three constituents of right thought
(sammá-sankappa), i.e. the 2nd factor of the Eightfold Path (s. magga).
In the several lists of 'elements' (dhátu) appears also an 'element of
harmlessness' (avihesá-dhátu),
in the sense of an elementary quality of noble thought. See Dhp. 225, 261, 270, 300.
avijjá: 'ignorance,' nescience, unknowing; synonymous with delusion (moha, s.
múla), is the primary root of all evil and suffering in the world, veiling
man's mental eyes and preventing him from seeing the true nature of things.
It is the delusion tricking beings by making life appear to them as permanent,
happy, substantial and beautiful and preventing them from seeing that everything
in reality is impermanent, liable to suffering, void of 'I' and 'mine',
and basically impure (s. vipallása). Ignorance is defined as 'not knowing
the four truths, namely, suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the
way to its cessation' (S. XII, 4).
As ignorance is the foundation of all life-affirming
actions, of all evil and suffering, therefore it stands first in the formula
of Dependent Origination (paticca-samuppáda, q.v.). But for that reason,
says Vis.M. (XVII, 36f) ignorance should not be regarded as "the causeless
root-cause of the world ... It is not causeless. For a cause of it is stated
thus 'With the arising of cankers (ásava, q.v.) there is the arising of
ignorance' (M. 9).
But there is a figurative way in which it can be treated as a root-cause;
namely, when it is made to serve as a starting point in an exposition of
the Round of Existence ... As it is said: 'No first beginning of ignorance
can be perceived, Bhikkhus, before which ignorance was not, and after which
it came to be. But it can be perceived that ignorance has its specific
condition (idappaccaya)" (A. X, 61). The same statement is made (A.
X, 62) about the craving for existence (bhava-tanhá; s. tanhá). The latter
and ignorance are called "the outstanding causes of kamma that lead
to unhappy and happy destinies" (Vis.M. XVII, 38).
As ignorance still exists - though in a very
refined way until the attainment of Arahatship or Holiness, it is counted
as the last of the 10 fetters (samyojana, q.v.) which bind beings to the
cycle of rebirths. As the first two roots of evil, greed and hate (s. múla),
are on their part rooted in ignorance, consequently all unwholesome states
of mind are inseparably bound up with it. Ignorance (or delusion) is the
most obstinate of the three roots of evil.
Ignorance is one of the cankers (ásava, q.v.)
and proclivities (anusaya, q.v.). It is often called a hindrance (nívarana;
e.g. in S.XV, 3; A.X, 61) but does not appear together with the usual list
of five hindrances.
avikkhepa: 'undistractedness', is a synonym of absorption (samádhi,
q.v.), one-pointedness of mind (citt'ekaggatá) and tranquillity (samatha,
q.v.; further s. samatha-vipassaná).
avoidance and performance: s. cáritta, etc. - The effort to avoid, s. padhána.
ávuso - ind. friend, brother.
aya - n. iron.
avyákata: lit. 'indeterminate' - i.e. neither determined as karmically
'wholesome' nor as 'unwholesome' - are the karmically neutral, i.e. amoral,
cognitive states and mental factors. They are either mere karma-results
(vipáka, q.v.), as e.g. all the sense perceptions and the mental factors
associated therewith, or they are karmically independent functions (kiriya-citta, q.v.), i.e. neither karmic nor karma-resultant. See
Tab. I. (App.).
avyápáda: 'hatelessness', non-ill-will, goodness; is one of the
three kinds of right thought (s. sacca, IV. 2), or wholesome thoughts (vitakka,
q.v.) and is the 9th of the 10 wholesome courses of actions (kammapatha
II. q.v.). The most frequently used synonyms are adosa (s. múla) and mettá (s. brahma-vihára).
awakenment: s. bodhi.
awareness, consciousness, concentration: sati
áyatana: 1. 'domain', 'spheres', 'plane,' or 'base' is a name
for the four immaterial absorptions; s. jhána (5-8). 2. The 12 'bases'
or 'sources' on which depend the mental processes, consist of five physical
sense-organs
and
cognition, being the
six personal (ajjhattika) bases; and the six objects,
the so-called external (báhira) bases - namely:
- eye, or visual organ visible object
- ear, or auditory organ sound, or audible object
- nose, or olfactory organ odour, or olfactive object
- tongue, or gustatory organ taste, or gustative object
- body, or tactile organ body-impression, or tactile object
- mind-base, or cognition-object
(manáyatana) (dhammáyatana)
"By the visual organ (cakkháyatana)
is meant the sensitive part of the eye (cakkhu-pasáda) built up of the
four elements ... responding to sense-stimuli" (sa-ppatigha).... (Vibh.
II). Similar is the explanation of the four remaining physical sense-organs.
Mind-base (manáyatana) is a collective term
for all cognitive processes whatever, and should therefore not be confounded
with the mind-element (mano-dhátu; s. dhátu II, 16), which latter performs
only the functions of adverting (ávajjana) to the sense-object, and of
receiving (sampaticchana) the sense-object. On the functions of the mind,
s. viññána-kicca.
The visible object (rúpáyatana) is described
in Vibh. II as "that phenomenon which is built up of the four physical
elements and appears as color, etc." What is' seen by-visual perception,
i.e. by visual acuity (lit. eye-cognition) (cakkhu-viññána) are colors
and differences of light, but not three dimensional bodily things.
'Mind-object-base' (dhammáyatana) is identical
with 'mind-object-element' (dhamma-dhátu; s. dhátu II) and dhammárammana
(s. árammana). It may be physical or mental, past, present or future, real
or imaginary.
The 5 physical sense-organs are also called
faculties (indriya, q.v.), and of these faculties it is said in M. 43: "Each
of the five faculties owns a different sphere, and none of them partakes
of the sphere of another one; ... they have mind as their support... are
conditioned by vitality, ... but vitality again is conditioned by heat,
heat again by vitality, just as the light and flame of a burning lamp are
mutually conditioned."
The 12 bases are fully discussed in Vis.M.
XV. In Yam III (s Guide, p 98f) the 12 terms are subjected to a logical
investigation The six personal bases form the 5th link of dependent origination
(paticca-samuppáda 5, q.v.).
ayomaya - made of iron.
áyu - n. Age.
áyúhana: (karmic) 'accumulation', is a name used in the commentarial
literature for the wholesome and unwholesome volitional activities (karma,
q.v.) or karma-formations (sankhára; s. paticca-samuppáda), being the bases
of future rebirth. " 'Accumulation', is a name for the karma-formations,
and signifies those volitions (cetaná) which arise at the performance of
a karma, first while thinking 'I will give alms', and then while actually
giving alms (e.g.) for one month or a year. The volition, however, at the
time when one is handing the alms over to the recipient; is called karma-process
(kamma-bhava, s. Vis.M. XVII, IX, X). Or, the volitions during the first
six impulsive-moments (javana, q.v.) depending on one and the same state
of advertence (ávajjana, s. viññána-kicca), these are called the karma-formations,
whilst the 7th impulsive moment is called the karma-process (kamma-bhava)....
Or, each volition is called 'karma-process' and the accumulation connected
with it, 'karma-formation'. " (Vis.M. XVII). Cf. paticca-samuppáda (2, 10) - (App.).
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