In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

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

Prajñopāya (प्रज्ञोपाय) refers to “(the employment of) means and insight”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “How then, son of good family, does the Bodhisattva perform his practice of a Bodhisattva (bodhisattvacaryā) after having obtained the sameness of extinction? The extinction is the pacification of all vices, the allaying of every feeling, the pacification of all objects, and no connection with the parts of personality, realms or fields of perception. Thus the good man, having obtained the sameness of extinction, playfully employs the great compassion, means and insight (prajñopāya), and knowledge of the former lives. He is sustained by the presence of the Buddhas. He cultivates insight and knowledge. [...]”.

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.

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (tantric Buddhism)

Prajñopāya (प्रज्ञोपाय) refers to “both wisdom and means”, according to the Nāmamantrārthāvalokinī by Vilāsavajra, which is a commentary on the Nāmasaṃgīti.—Accordingly, [while describing Mahāvairocana]—“And then [the Sādhaka should visualise] Mahāvairocana on the principal seat, generated by means of the syllable āḥ. [...] He is white in colour because he has the Dharma-Sphere as his nature. He has braids of hair [stacked up on his head] as a crown and is unadorned because he is one whose mind is tranquil. Since he has both wisdom and means as his nature (prajñopāya-ātmakatvāa) he makes the bodhyagrī (“highest awakening”) hand gesture”.

Source: MDPI Books: The Ocean of Heroes

Prajñopāya (प्रज्ञोपाय) refers to “(the pleasure of) wisdom and means”, according to the 10th-century Ḍākārṇava-tantra: one of the last Tibetan Tantric scriptures belonging to the Buddhist Saṃvara tradition consisting of 51 chapters.—Accordingly, “[...] [He should meditate on] moistures of pleasure of wisdom and means (prajñopāya) in all junctures throughout the body. He should visualize [himself (Heruka)] being splendorous with fires, [which assume the shape of] various [forms of] Heruka. The vow-observer should give turbans to the heads of all [Herukas] . [...]”.

Note: “Wisdom” (prajñā) and “means” (upāya) signify a woman and a man, respectively, in Buddhist Tantrism.

context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Upaya, Prajna.

Starts with: Prajnopayatmaka.

Full-text: Yuganaddha, Dhyana.

Relevant text

Search found 3 books and stories containing Prajnopaya, Prajñopāya, Prajña-upāya, Prajna-upaya; (plurals include: Prajnopayas, Prajñopāyas, upāyas, upayas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Guhyagarbha Tantra (with Commentary) (by Gyurme Dorje)

Text 1.8 (Commentary) < [Chapter 1 (text and commentary)]

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Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)

Bhūmi 2: the stainless ground (vimalā) < [Chapter XX - (2nd series): Setting out on the Mahāyāna]

Definition of dhyāna and the virtue of meditation (dhyānapāramitā) < [Part 5 - The virtue of meditation]

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Akshayamatinirdesha [english]

10th Imperishable, Insight

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