The Sanskrit term Dharmacakṣus can be transliterated into English as Dharmacaksus or Dharmacakshus, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Alternative spellings of this word include Dharmachakshus.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Dharmacakṣus (धर्मचक्षुस्) refers to the “Dharma-eye” and represents one of the five visual powers (cakṣus) attributed to the Buddha according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XIV). The Dharma-eye (dharmacakṣus) sees a given person and discovers by what skillful means (upāya) and by what teaching (dharma) that person will find the Path.

According to chapter 50, “[...] the wisdom eye (prajñācakṣus) cannot save beings. Why? Because it does not distinguish them; this is why the Bodhisattva produces the Dharma eye (dharmacakṣus). By means of this eye, he knows that such and such a man, by practicing such and such a dharma, has obtained such and such bodhi; he knows all the methods (upāyamukha) suitable for each being in particular to attain the realization of bodhi [...] But the Dharma eye (dharmacakṣus) cannot know the means appropriate to save beings everywhere; this is why the Bodhisattva seeks the Buddha eye (buddhacakṣus)”.

Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Dharmacakṣus (धर्मचक्षुस्) refers to the “eyes of the dharma”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “Then at that time, the Lord emitted such light from his body, thereby all Buddha-fileds in ten directions became filled with it. When the beginning, middle and end of this exposition of religion was set forth, immeasurable, incalculable living beings produced the thought of awakening, and attained the tolerance [that all things are unborn.] Some of their thoughts were liberated, some of them attained the eyes of the dharma (dharmacakṣus), some of them became free from desire, some of them acquired the good qualities of gods and men and gathered causes for seeing other Buddhas, and even the Lord was pleased with all of them”.

context information

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

General definition (in Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgraha

Dharmacakṣus (धर्मचक्षुस्) or simply Māṃsa refers to the ”dharma eye“ and represents one the “five eyes” (cakṣus) as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 65). The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., dharma-cakṣus). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Dharmacakṣus (धर्मचक्षुस्).—(= Pali dhamma-cakkhu, nt., defined Dīghanikāya (Pali) commentary i.237.23 by dhammesu vā cakkhuṃ dhammamayaṃ vā cakkhuṃ), ‘eye of the Doctrine’, religious insight: ṣaṣṭīnāṃ devakoṭīnāṃ dharmacakṣur viśodhitaṃ [Page278-a+ 71] Lalitavistara 421.8 (verse); lokottamā dharmacakṣurdadāḥ 422.6 (verse). Others, where this appears as one of the five cakṣus, see under this word. In Pali not used as a member of this category.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Dharmacakṣus (धर्मचक्षुस्).—adj. loving justice, [Rāmāyaṇa] 2, 111, 22.

Dharmacakṣus is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms dharma and cakṣus (चक्षुस्).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Dharmacakṣus (धर्मचक्षुस्).—[adjective] having an eye or a sense for what is right.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Dharmacakṣus (धर्मचक्षुस्):—[=dharma-cakṣus] [from dharma > dhara] n. the eye of the l°, [Vajracchedikā]

2) [v.s. ...] mfn. having an eye for the l° or for what is right, [Rāmāyaṇa]

[Sanskrit to German]

Dharmacakshus in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Dharma, Cakshus, Tarma.

Full-text: Dharmadrishti, Cakshus, Pancacakshus, Five Eyes, Prajnacakshus, Buddhacakshus, Dharma.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Dharmacakshus, Dharmacakṣus, Dharma-cakshus, Dharma-cakṣus, Dharma-caksus, Dharmacaksus; (plurals include: Dharmacakshuses, Dharmacakṣuses, cakshuses, cakṣuses, caksuses, Dharmacaksuses). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)

Appendix 1 - Notes on the five cakṣus or visual powers of the Buddha < [Chapter XIV - Emission of rays]

Description of the ‘five eyes’ (cakṣus) < [Part 6 - Obtaining the five ‘eyes’]

Act 1.2: The Buddha smiles a first time with his whole body < [Chapter XIV - Emission of rays]

+ 8 more chapters / show preview