In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Hīnendriya (हीनेन्द्रिय) refers to “the crippled” or “those who are deficient in the faculties of the body”.—According to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XIV), “then, amongst the beings of the trisāhasramahāsāhasralokadāthu, the crippled (hīnendriya) regained their wholeness”. Why are they crippled? In the course of their previous existences (pūrvajanma), these people had mutilated bodies (kāya), cut off heads (śiras), hands and feet (pāṇipāda) and broken limbs (kāyabhāga). Or they had broken a statue of the Buddha (buddha-pratimā) and torn off its nose (ghrāna); they had damaged a picture of a saint or broken the grindstone of their parents. For these sins they are often crippled when they take on a body. Furthermore, as punishment for their bad dharmas, they are ugly (virūpa) from birth.

In the present existence (ihajanma), they are victims of robbers (caura) or butchers (ghātaka) and they are crippled (hīnendriya) because of all this. Or the sicknesses (vyādhi) of wind (vāyu), cold (śīta) or heat (uṣṇa) causes them physical discomfort and parts of their bodies become infected; this is why they are crippled. But thanks to the Buddha’s loving-kindness they recover their wholeness.

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Hina, Indriya.

Relevant text

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