Shunyahetu, Śūnyahetu, Shunya-hetu: 1 definition

Introduction:

Shunyahetu 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.

The Sanskrit term Śūnyahetu can be transliterated into English as Sunyahetu or Shunyahetu, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: MDPI Books: The Ocean of Heroes

Śūnyahetu (शून्यहेतु) refers to the “principle that the cause is empty (by nature)”, 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, “[...] (The meaning of the letter he, i.e., the emptiness of cause and so on, etc.—) The letter he is [as follows]: From the heart, [he should visualize] all [deities], such as Heruka, [who] reside on their own circles. [Vajra-]holders and others are originating; [he should know] all [of them] originating through visualization. That [letter he represents the principle that] the cause is empty by nature (śūnyahetu-ātmaka); there is no conceptualization of cause and so on as selves. That [letter he refers to] the selflessness of phenomenal existences by nature, [or the state of] being empty [Emptiness] brings the meditative union [...]”.

Tibetan Buddhism book cover
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.

Discover the meaning of shunyahetu or sunyahetu in the context of Tibetan Buddhism from relevant books on Exotic India

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