The Sanskrit term Kāyāśuci can be transliterated into English as Kayasuci or Kayashuci, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Alternative spellings of this word include Kayashuchi.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Kāyāśuci (कायाशुचि) refers to the “five impurities of the body”, contemplating on which, the Yogin can obtain the “foundations of mindfulness” (smṛtyupasthāna), forming part of the thirty-seven auxiliaries to enlightenment (bodhipākṣika), according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter XXXI.—Accordingly, “the Yogin who is established in pure morality (viśuddhaśīla) and is practicing exertion (vīrya) wholeheartedly considers the fivefold impurity of the body (kāyāśuci)”.

What are these five impurities (kāyāśuci)?

1. the impurity of birthplace (jātisthāna-aśuci);
2. the impurity of seed (bīja-aśuci);
3. the impurity of intrinsic nature (svabhāva-aśuci);
4. the impurity of intrinsic characteristics (svalakṣana-aśuci);
5. the impurity of the final outcome (paryavasāna-aśuci).

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

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

Kāyasuci:—Purity of body, i.e. of action (+vacī°, ceto°) A. I, 273; It. 55;

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Kāyasuci refers to: purity of body, i.e. of action (+vacī°, ceto°) A. I, 273; It. 55;

Note: kāyasuci is a Pali compound consisting of the words kāya and suci.

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Shuci, Kaya, Asuci.

Full-text: Dharmanairatmya, Svalakshana, Svalakshanashuci, Paryavasana, Paryavasanashuci, Bijashuci, Jatisthanashuci, Jatisthana, Svabhavashuci, Bija, Svabhava.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Kayasuci, Kāya-aśuci, Kaya-asuci, Kaya-shuci, Kāya-suci, Kāya-śuci, Kaya-suci, Kayashuci, Kāyasuci, Kāyāśuci; (plurals include: Kayasucis, aśucis, asucis, shucis, sucis, śucis, Kayashucis, Kāyasucis, Kāyāśucis). 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)

E.1: The Four Foundations of Mindfulness (smṛtyupasthāna) < [Abhidharma auxiliaries (E): Detailed study of the auxiliaries]

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