Svecchata, Svecchāta, Sva-icchata: 1 definition

Introduction:

Svecchata 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.

Alternative spellings of this word include Svechchhata.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Svecchata in Mahayana glossary
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (mahayana)

Svecchāta (स्वेच्छात) refers to “one’s own volition”, according to Somānanda’s Śivadṛṣṭi verse 3.42cd–47.—Accordingly, “Given that he [i.e., Śiva] exists of his own volition (svecchāta) in the form of (all) the entities (that make up the universe), how is existence dependent on another than himself? If, for example, you say it [i.e., the purported dependence] is one similar to (the example of curds, whose genesis depends on the) milk (of which they are comprised), it [i.e., the universe] would be insentient, dependent on another. The fault (attributed to our system) that must be corrected—being pure, being diminished, or the like—is precisely the result of this (wrong) point of view. [...]”.

Mahayana book cover
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.

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