Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön | 2001 | 941,039 words

This page describes “preliminary note and synonyms of anupurvasamapatti” as written by Nagarjuna in his Maha-prajnaparamita-sastra (lit. “the treatise on the great virtue of wisdom”) in the 2nd century. This book, written in five volumes, represents an encyclopedia on Buddhism as well as a commentary on the Pancavimsatisahasrika Prajnaparamita.

Go directly to: Concepts.

Preliminary note and synonyms of anupūrvasamāpatti

Designated by the name anupūrvavihāra (Dīgha, III, p. 265; Anguttara, IV, p. 410), anupūrva-samāpatti (Divya, p. 95), anupūrva-vihāra-samāpatti (Saṃyutta, II, p. 216; Anguttara, IV, p. 410; Pañcaviṃśati, p. 19; Śatasāhasrikā, p. 58, 1445; Vibhaṅga, p. 343; Mahāvyut., no. 1498), anupūrva-samādhi-samāpatti (Dharmasaṃgraha, §82), the nine successive absorptions are the four dhyānas of the rūpadhātu, the four samāpattis of the ārūpya, plus the saṃjñāveditanirodhasamāpatti.

To define them, the Pāli and Sanskrit texts (df. Dīgha, III, p. 265–266; Anguttara, IV, p. 410–414; Śatsāhasrikā, p. 1445–1446) repeat the words of the old Dhyānasūtra, the text of which has been given above, p. 1024F. Dīgha, III, p. 266, and Anguttara, IV, p. 410–414, explain that these nine absorptions are acquired by nine successive cessations (nirodha) eliminating in turn: 1) bad desires (kāma), 2) investigation and analysis (vitarkavicāra), 3) joy (prīti), 4) inhalation and exhalation (āśvāsapraśvāsa) or indifference and happiness (upekṣāsukha), 5) the concept of substance (rūpasaṃjñā), 6) the notion of infinite space (ākāśānanatāyatana), 7) the concept of infinite consciousness (vijñānānantyāyatana), 8) the concept of nothing at all (ākiṃcanyāyatana), 9) the concept of neither identification nor non-identification (naivasaṃjñānāsaṃjñāyatana) and finally, all concept (saṃjñā) and sensation (vedanā).

Other Mahayana Concepts:

[back to top]

Discover the significance of concepts within the article: ‘Preliminary note and synonyms of anupurvasamapatti’. Further sources in the context of Mahayana might help you critically compare this page with similair documents:

Rupadhatu, Four absorptions, Sensation, Inhalation and exhalation, Four dhyana.
Let's grow together!

I humbly request your help to keep doing what I do best: provide the world with unbiased sources, definitions and images. Your donation direclty influences the quality and quantity of knowledge, wisdom and spiritual insight the world is exposed to.

Let's make the world a better place together!

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: