Adhyatmashunyata, Adhyātmaśūnyatā, Adhyatma-shunyata: 2 definitions
Introduction:
Adhyatmashunyata 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.
The Sanskrit term Adhyātmaśūnyatā can be transliterated into English as Adhyatmasunyata or Adhyatmashunyata, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraAdhyātmaśūnyatā (अध्यात्मशून्यता) or simply Adhyātma refers to the “emptiness of internal dharmas”, representing one of the sixteen or eighteen emptinesses (śūnyatā), according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter XLVIII. Accordingly, “what is the emptiness of internal dharmas (adhyātmaśūnyatā )? Internal dharmas are the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body and mind. Now the eye is empty of eye because it is neither eternal nor transitory. Why? Because such is its essence. The ear, nose, tongue, body and mind are empty of ear, nose, tongue, body and mind respectively because they are neither eternal nor transitory. Why? Because such is their essence. That is called: emptiness of internal dharmas (adhyātma-śūnyatā)”.
Inner emptiness (adhyātmaśūnayatā).—Inner dharmas (adhyātmadharma) are empty of inner dharmas. Inner dharmas are the six internal bases of consciousness (ṣaḍ adhyātmāyatana): eye (cakṣus), ear (śrotra), nose (ghraṇa), tongue (jihvā), body (kāya) and mind (manas). The eye is empty (śūnya): in it there is no ‘me’ (ātman) or ‘mine’ (ātmīya), and there is no dharma ‘eye’. It is the same for the ear, nose, tongue, body and mind.
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.
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgrahaAdhyātmaśūnyatā (अध्यात्मशून्यता) or simply adhyātma refers to “internal emptiness” one of the “twenty emptinesses” (śūnyatā) as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 41). The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., adhyātma-śūnyatā). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Shunyata, Adhyatma.
Full-text: Shunyata, Adhyatma, Shunyatashunyata, Shodashashunyata.
Relevant text
Search found 2 books and stories containing Adhyatmashunyata, Adhyātmaśūnyatā, Adhyatma-shunyata, Adhyātma-śūnyatā, Adhyatmasunyata, Adhyatma-sunyata; (plurals include: Adhyatmashunyatas, Adhyātmaśūnyatās, shunyatas, śūnyatās, Adhyatmasunyatas, sunyatas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
IV. The emptinesses (śūnyatā) in the great Prajñāpāramitā-sūtras < [Note on emptiness (śūnyatā)]
Chapter XLVIII - The Eighteen Emptinesses
Emptinesses 16 to 18 < [Chapter XLVIII - The Eighteen Emptinesses]
Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra
Chapter XXII - On Pure Actions (b) < [Section Four]