In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Puṇyakriyāvastu (पुण्यक्रियावस्तु) refers to “place of practice of the meritorious action”, according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter L.—Accordingly, “[...] the bodhisattva-mahāsattva must practice the perfection of wisdom (prajñāpāramitā) of he wants to establish all beings in the place of practice of the meritorious action (puṇyakriyāvastu) consisting of generosity, in the place of practice consisting of morality, in the place of practice consisting of meditation, in the place of practice consisting of incentive; if he wants to establish beings in meritorious material works and in meritorious works of the Dharma”.

Notes: The puṇyakriyāvastus are the places of the practicing (vastu = adhiṣthāna) of meritorious (puṇya) action (kriyā). As the Kośa, IV, p. 232, comments, the three things—generosity, morality and meditation—are merit, action and place of practice, each according to its nature. The three puṇyakriyāvastus are defined in the Sarvāstivādin Abhidharmas such as the Saṃgītiparyāya and the Mahāvibhāṣā.

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

Sanskrit dictionary

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

Puṇyakriyāvastu (पुण्यक्रियावस्तु).—nt. (= Pali puññakiriyavatthu, or, according to Childers, °kriyāvatthu), object or item of meri- torious action; in Pali 3 kinds are listed, dānamaya, sīlamaya, and bhāvanāmaya: in Mahāvyutpatti 1699—1704 five kinds, dāna- mayaṃ 1700, śīlamayaṃ 1701, bhāvanāmayaṃ 1702, aupadhikaṃ (q.v.) 1703, and guṇyaṃ (q.v.) 1704; upadhi- ka-pu° (= aupa°) Lalitavistara 32.1; (aupadhikānāṃ) °vastūnāṃ Śikṣāsamuccaya 138.8; see Abhidharmakośa LaV-P. iv.15, 94, 231 f., 237.

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: Punyakriya, Vastu.

Full-text: Gunya, Aupadhika.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Punyakriyavastu, Puṇyakriyāvastu, Punyakriya-vastu, Puṇyakriyā-vastu; (plurals include: Punyakriyavastus, Puṇyakriyāvastus, vastus). 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)

Puṇyakriyāvastu: preliminary note < [Part 5 - Establishing beings in the puṇyakriyāvastus]

Part 5 - Establishing beings in the puṇyakriyāvastus < [Chapter L - Arriving at the other Shore]

Preliminary note on sympathetic joy and transfer of merit < [Chapter XLIV - Sympathetic Joy and Transfer of Merit]

+ 8 more chapters / show preview