Significance of Essence

Essence, across various philosophical traditions, signifies the fundamental nature or quality of things. In Tibetan Buddhism, it is the quality needed for potency. Vedanta sees it as the substance that pleases deities and results from sacrificial actions, leading to esteemed qualities. Mahayana emphasizes understanding this inherent nature to transcend attachment, while Theravada identifies essence as the inherent quality absent in physical and mental phenomena. This exploration highlights the shared focus on understanding the core nature of existence.1

Synonyms: Substance, Nature, Foundation, Quintessence, Spirit, Heart, Nucleus, Soul

In Dutch: Essence; In Finnish: Essence

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

Buddhist concept of 'Essence'

Buddhism Books

In Buddhism, Essence signifies the fundamental quality necessary for a thing's potency, distinct from transient corporeality and feelings, ultimately promoting understanding over attachment to the inherent nature of existence.

Significance of Essence in Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism):

Tibetan Buddhism Books

From: Tattvasangraha [with commentary]

(1) The fundamental nature or underlying quality of a thing, which must be established for it to have potency or be operable.^[1]

From: Guhyagarbha Tantra (with Commentary)

(1) The fundamental nature of the teachings, described as pure and complete, devoid of any alterations.^[2]

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 (vajrayana) are collected indepently.

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

Mahayana Books

From: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

(1) The inherent nature of things, which leads to understanding rather than attachment.^[3]

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.

Significance of Essence in Buddhism (general):

From: The Great Chariot

(1) The core quality or nature that is established through the practice and understanding of the three limbs.^[4]

Significance of Essence in Theravada (major branch of Buddhism):

Theravada Books

From: Catusacca Dipani

(1) In this context, essence refers to the fundamental nature or inherent quality that is missing in corporeality, feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness.^[5]

Theravada is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

Hindu concept of 'Essence'

Hinduism Books

In Hinduism, Essence represents the fundamental nature of all things, satisfying deities through perception. It also symbolizes the refined results of sacrifices, leading to esteemed qualities such as fame and nourishment.

Significance of Essence in Vedanta (school of philosophy):

Vedanta Books

From: Chandogya Upanishad (Shankara Bhashya)

(1) The fundamental nature or substance of all things, which brings satisfaction to the deities upon perception.^[6] (2) The refined outcome of sacrificial actions that manifests as various esteemed qualities like fame or food.^[7]

From: Chandogya Upanishad (english Translation)

(1) Referring to the core nature or intrinsic quality that constitutes the basis of reality.^[8]

From: Vivekachudamani

(1) Pertains to the true nature of the supreme Brahman, which is unchanging and pure, existing in its own right.^[9]

Vedanta refers to a school of orthodox Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. There are a number of sub-schools of Vedanta, however all of them expound on the basic teaching of the ultimate reality (brahman) and liberation (moksha) of the individual soul (atman).

Significance of Essence in Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar):

Vyakarana Books

From: Vakyapadiya of Bhartrihari

(1) Represents the inherent nature or intrinsic quality of a thing; signifies that the fundamental characteristics remain constant.^[10]

Vyakarana refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.

Last Updated: 15 January, 2025