Hiri Ottappa: 2 definitions

Introduction:

Hiri Ottappa 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»] — Hiri Ottappa in Theravada glossary
Source: Access to Insight: A Glossary of Pali and Buddhist Terms"Conscience and concern"; "moral shame and moral dread." These twin emotions - the "guardians of the world" - are associated with all skillful actions. Hiri is an inner conscience that restrains us from doing deeds that would jeopardize our own self respect; ottappa is a healthy fear of committing unskillful deeds that might bring about harm to ourselves or others. See kamma.Source: Pali Kanon: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines

'moral shame and moral dread', are associated with all karmically wholesome consciousness (s. Tab. II).

"To be ashamed of what one ought to be ashamed of, to be ashamed of performing evil and unwholesome things: this is called moral shame. To be in dread of what one ought to be in dread of, to be in dread of performing evil and unwholesome things: this is called moral dread" (Pug, 79, 80).

"Two lucid things, o monks, protect the world: moral shame and moral dread. If these two things were not to protect the world, then one would respect neither one's mother, nor one's mother's sister, nor one's brother's wife, nor one's teacher's wife ...." (A. II, 7). Cf. ahirika. See Atthasālini Tr. I. pp. 164ff.

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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