Cakkhu: 6 definitions

Introduction:

Cakkhu means something in Buddhism, Pali, Jainism, Prakrit. 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)

Source: Journey to Nibbana: Patthana Dhama

Cakkhu means related to eye.

Source: Buddhist Information: A Survey of Paramattha Dhammas

Cakkhu means eye;

Source: Pali Kanon: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines

'eye' s. āyatana. -

The foll. 5 kinds of 'eyes' are mentioned and explained in CNid. (PTS, p. 235; the first 3 also in It. 52):

  • 1. the physical eye (mamsa cakkhu),

  • 2. the divine eye (dibba-cakkhu; s. abhiññā),

  • 3. the eye of wisdom (paññā-cakkhu),

  • 4. the eye of a Buddha (Buddha-c.),

  • 5. the eye of all-round knowledge (samanta-c.; a frequent appellation of the Buddha).

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

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

cakkhu : (nt.) the eye.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Cakkhu, (nt.) (Vedic cakṣuḥ, etym. not clear, as redupl. perhaps to īks, akṣa eye, kṣạṇa moment, or as intens. to cit, cp. cinteti, & see Walde, Lat. Wtb. under inquam) the eye (Nom. sg. cakkhuṃ Vin. I, 34; S. I, 115; M. III, 134, etc.).—I. The eye as organ of sense-(a) psychologically: cakkhunā rūpaṃ disvā “seeing visible object (shape) with the eye” (Nd2 on rūpa q. v.) is the defin. of this first & most important of the senses (cp. Pv. II, 61 dakkhiṇa c. =the most valuable thing): the psychology of sight is discussed at DA. I, 194 sq. , and more fully at Dhs. 597 sq. (see DhsA. 306 sq; Dhs. trsl. 173 sq.); cp. cak khunā puriso ālokati rūpagatāni Nd2 234. In any enumeration of the senses cakkhu heads the list, e.g. Vin. I, 34; D. I, 21; II, 308, 336 sq. ; III, 102, 225, 244 sq. ; 269; Nett 28. -See rūpa. Also combd. with sota: M. I, 318; III, 264; A. I, 281.—cakkhusmiṃ haññati rūpehi S. IV, 201; hata° A. I, 129. passāmi naṃ manasā cakkhunā va “I see him with my mind as with my eye” Sn. 1142. -Vin. I, 184; S. I, 32, 199; IV, 123; Dh. 360; J. IV, 137; DA. I, 183; Nett 191. Vism. 444 sq. As adj. (-°) seeing, having or catching sight of: eka° (dvi°) one-eyed (two°) A. I, 128 sq. ; āmisa° seeing an object of sensual enjoyment S. II, 226; IV, 159; J. V, 91 (=kilesalola). acakkhu blind A. III, 250, 256; Ps. I, 129.—(b) ethically: as a “sense” belonging to what is called “body” (kāya) it shares all the qualities of the latter (see kāya), & is to be regarded as an Instr. only, i.e. the person must not value it by itself or identify himself with it. Subduing the senses means in the first place acquiring control over one’s eyes (cp. okkhitta cakkhu, with down-cast eyes Sn. 63, 411, 972; Pv IV. 344; & indriyesu guttadvāra; °indriya). In this connection the foll. passages may be mentioned: Vin. I, 34; D. I, 70; S. IV, 123; II, 244 (aniccaṃ, etc.); III, 255 (do.) IV. 81, 128 (na tumhākaṃ); Ps. I, 132 (aniccatṭhaṃ). Numerous others see under rūpa.—II. The eve as the most important channel of mental acquiring, as faculty of perception & apperception; insight, knowledge (cp. veda, olda to vid, to see). In connection with ñāṇa (ghώsis) it refers to the apperception of the truth (see dhamma-cakkhu): intuition and recognition, which means perfect understanding (cp. the use of the phrase jānāti passati “to know and to see”=to understand clearly). See e.g. S. II, 7—11, 105; IV, 233; V, 179; 258; 422 sq. Most frequently as dhamma° “the eye of the truth,” said of the attainment of that right knowledge which leads to Arahantship, in phrase virajaṃ vitamalaṃ dh-cakkhuṃ uppajjati Vin. I, 16; D. I, 86, 110; S. II, 134 sq. ; IV, 47; 107; V, 467; A. IV, 186; Ps. II, 150 sq. ; 162; Miln. 16. Similarly paññā°, It. 52; ariya° M. I, 510.—III, The eye as the Instr. of supersensuous perception, “clear” sight, clairvoyance. This is the gift of favoured beings whose senses are more highly developed than those of others, and who through right cognition have acquired the two “eyes” or visionary faculties, termed dibba- cakkhu & buddha-cakkhu It. 52; D. II, 38 resp. They are most completely described at Nd2 235 (under cakkhumā), & the foll. categories of the range of application of cakkhu are set forth: 1. maṃsa-cakkhu: the physical eye which is said to be exceptionally powerful & sensitive. See Kv III, 7 (trans. p. 149 ff.). Vism. 428 (maṃsa° 2 ñāṇa°). -2. dibba-°: the deva-eye, the eye of a seer, allpervading, & seeing all that proceeds in hidden worlds. ‹-› 3. paññā°: the eye of wisdom; he who knows all that can be known (jānaṃ passaṃ recognizing & seeing, i.e. of perfect understanding; cakkhubhūta ñāṇa° dhamma° brahma°).—4. buddha°: the eye of a Buddha or of complete intuition, i.e. of a person who “sees the heart of man,” of a being realizing the moral state of other beings and determined to help them on the Path to Right Knowledge.—5. samanta°: (a summary account of Nos. 1—4, & in all Scripture-passages a standing Ep. of Gotama Buddha, see below), the eye of all round knowledge, the eye of a Tathāgata, of a being perfected in all wisdom.—Out of these are mentioned & discussed singly or in set: (Nos. 1—5): DhsA. 306; SnA 351; (Nos. 1—3: ) It. 52=Kvu 251 sq. (It. 52=Kvu 254); (dibba: ) Vin. I, 8, 288; II, 183; III, 5; D. I, 82, 162; III, 52, III, 281; M. I, 213; S. I, 144, 196; II, 122, 213, 276; IV, 240; V, 266, 305; A. I, 165, 256, 281 sq. ; III, 19, 29, 418; IV, 85, 141, 178, 291; V, 13, 35, 68, 200, 211, 340; J. III, 346; Ps. I, 114; II, 175; Vbh. 344; PvA. 5.—(paññā°: ) S. IV, 292; V, 467, A. I, 35; DhA. III, 174, 175.—(buddha°: ) Vin. I, 6; S. I, 138; Ps. II, 33; PvA. 61.—(samanta°: ) S. I, 137=Nd2 2354; Sn. 345, 378, 1063, 1069, 1090, 1133; Ps. II, 31=Nd2 2355.

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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Prakrit-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary

Cakkhu (चक्खु) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Cakṣuṣ.

context information

Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.

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