Abhinna Vagga, Abhiññā-vagga: 2 definitions

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Abhinna Vagga means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Abhinna Vagga in Theravada glossary
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

The twenty sixth section of the Catukka Nipata of the Anguttara Nikaya. It consists of ten suttas. A.ii.246-53.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

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Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Abhinna Vagga in Pali glossary
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

1) Abhiññā, 2 ger. of abhijānāti. (Page 64)

2) Abhiññā, 1 (f.) (fr. abhi + jñā, see jānāti). Rare in the older texts. It appears in two contexts. Firstly, certain conditions are said to conduce (inter alia) to serenity, to special knowledge (abhiññā), to special wisdom, and to Nibbāna. These conditions precedent are the Path (S.V, 421 = Vin.I, 10 = S.IV, 331), the Path + best knowledge and full emancipation (A.V, 238), the Four Applications of Mindfulness (S.V, 179) and the Four Steps to Iddhi (S.V, 255). The contrary is three times stated; wrong-doing, priestly superstitions, and vain speculation do not conduce to abhiññā and the rest (D.III, 131; A.III, 325 sq. andV, 216). Secondly, we find a list of what might now be called psychic powers. It gives us 1, Iddhi (cp. levitation); 2, the Heavenly Ear (cp. clairaudience); 3, knowing others’thoughts (cp. thought-reading); 4, recollecting one’s previous births; 5, knowing other people’s rebirths; 6, certainty of emancipation already attained (cp. final assurance). This list occurs only at D.III, 281 as a list of abhiññās. It stands there in a sort of index of principal subjects appended at the end of the Dīgha, and belongs therefore to the very close of the Nikāya period. But it is based on older material. Descriptions of each of the six, not called abhiññā’s, and interspersed by expository sentences or paragraphs, are found at D.I, 89 sq. (trsl. Dial. I.89 sq.); M.I, 34 (see Buddh. Suttas, 210 sq.); A.I, 255, 258 = III, 17, 280 = IV.421. At S.I, 191; Vin.II, 16; Pug.14, we have the adj. chaḷabhiññā (“endowed with the 6 Apperceptions”). At S.II, 216 we have five, and at S.V, 282, 290 six abhiññā’s mentioned in glosses to the text. And at S.II, 217, 222 a bhikkhu claims the 6 powers. See also M.II, 11; III, 96. It is from these passages that the list at D.III, has been made up, and called abhiññā’s.

Afterwards the use of the word becomes stereotyped. In the Old Commentaries (in the Canon), in the later ones (of the 5th cent. A.D.), and in medieval and modern Pāli, abhiññā, nine times out ten, means just the powers given in this list. Here and there we find glimpses of the older, wider meaning of special, supernormal power of apperception and knowledge to be acquired by long training in life aud thought. See Nd1 108, 328 (expln. of ñāṇa); Nd2 s. v. and N0. 466; Ps.I, 35; II, 156, 189; Vbh.228, 334; Pug.14; Nett 19, 20; Miln.342; Vism.373; Mhvs XIX.20; DA.I, 175; DhA.II, 49; IV, 30; Sdhp.228, 470, 482. See also the discussion in the Cpd. 60 sp., 224 sq. For the phrase sayaṃ abhiññā sacchikatvā and abhiññā-vosita see abhijānāti. The late phrase yath’abhiññaṃ means “as you please, according to liking, as you like” , J.V, 365 (= yathādhippāyaṃ yathāruciṃ C.). For abhiññā in the use of an adj. (°abhiñña) see abhiñña. (Page 64)

Pali book cover
context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

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