Significance of Average

The term "average" has different meanings across various disciplines. In Jainism, it is a statistical measure of central tendency. In Ayurveda, it represents calculated mean values. In Mahayana, it signifies expedient means to help all beings. Health sciences utilize "average" to describe coping levels, mean age in studies, and the central tendency of health indicators. These diverse applications highlight the context-dependent nature of the term.1
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Synonyms: Mean, Median, Norm, Typical, Standard, Usual, Commonplace, Ordinary, Normal, Moderate, Middle, Common

The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.

Buddhist concept of 'Average'

Buddhism Books

In Buddhism, "Average" signifies an act of compassion. It is helping all beings without discrimination, regardless of their abilities, reflecting a commitment to universal aid and expedient means.

Significance in Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism):
Mahayana Books

From: Akshayamatinirdesha [english]

(1) When he stays with the weak, the average and the able, it is expedient means, which shows a commitment to helping living beings.[1]

Mahayana 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 sutras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajnaparamita sutras.

Hindu concept of 'Average'

Hinduism Books

In Hinduism, "Average" signifies the calculated mean values of parameters like time and weight, derived from multiple preparation batches, offering a summarized representation.

Significance in Ayurveda (science of life):
Ayurveda Books

From: Journal of Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicine

(1) This represents the calculated mean values of the different parameters like time taken and final weight, based on multiple batches of the preparation.[2]

Ayurveda is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Ayurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.

Jain concept of 'Average'

Jainism Books

In Jainism, "Average" likely represents a statistical measure of central tendency, grouped with "Vyantara" and "minimum," suggesting its use in understanding distributions or typical values.

Significance in Jainism (general):

From: Gommatsara by Acharya Nemichandra

(1) This is presented alongside 'Vyantara' and 'minimum', indicating a statistical measure representing the central tendency.[3]

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

The concept of Average in scientific sources

Science Books

Average in this text represents mean age, coping levels, and central tendency of health indicators within the study. It's used to analyze associations and describe sample characteristics.

Significance in Health Sciences:
Health Sciences Books

From: Journal of Public Health in Africa

(1) The average age was 31.2 ± 10.4 for cases and 33.6 ± 12.9 for controls, and the study analyzed this characteristic to understand its association with MDR-TB.[4] (2) This is the mean value of a variable across the sample, and it is used to describe the central tendency of various health indicators.[5] (3) This term is used in the context of the study and its findings, and it is related to coping levels, suggesting that those who coped at an average level may have had certain experiences.[6]

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