Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön | 2001 | 941,039 words
This page describes “preliminary note on the six superknowledges (abhijna, abhinna)” 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.
Preliminary note on the six superknowledges (abhijñā, abhiññā)
The superknowledges (Sanskrit, abhijñā; Pāli, abhiññā; Chinese, t’ong or chen-t’ong; Tibetan, mṅon par śes pa) are six in number and are usually presented in the following order:
- Ṛddhividhijñāna (Pāli, iddhividha) or ṛddhiviṣayajñāna, the knowledge of magical processes.
- Divyaśrotra (dibbasota), divine hearing.
- Cetaḥparyāyajñāna, also called paracittajñāna, the knowledge of another’s mind.
- Pūrvanivāsānusmṛtijñāna, (pubbe nivāsānussatiñāṇa), the memory of [one’s] former abodes (or existences).
- Cyutupapādajñāna (sattānaṃ cutūpapātañāṇa), the knowledge of the death and rebirth of beings, also called divyacakṣus (dibbacakkhu), the divine eye.
- Āsravakṣayajñāna (āsavakkhayañāṇa), the knowledge of the destruction of the impurities.