Akimcanyayatana, Akimcanya-ayatana, Ākiṃcanyāyatana, Akincanna-ayatana, Ākiñcaññāyatana, Akincannayatana: 10 definitions
Introduction:
Akimcanyayatana means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Akimchanyayatana.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
s. jhāna (7).
Theravāda 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).
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Ākiṃcanyāyatana (आकिंचन्यायतन) referst to the “sphere of nothing at all” and represents one of the four Ārūpyasamāpatti (“formless absorptions”), according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 32. Of the four formless (ārūpya) absorptions, one, namely, the naivasaṃjñānā-saṃjñā-āyatana, is always impure (sāsrava). For the other three, one can single out: the ākāśānantya-āyatana is sometimes impure (sāsrava) and sometimes pure (anāsrava). If it is impure, this ākāśāyatana contains four impure aggregates (sāsrava-skandha); if it is pure, it contains four pure aggregates. It is the same for the vijñānānantya-āyatana and the ākiṃcanya-āyatana.
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)
Ākiṃcanyāyatana or Ākiñcaññāyatana (Tib: ci yang med; Jpn: 無所有処 musho u sho) "Sphere of Nothingness" (literally "lacking anything"). In this sphere formless beings dwell contemplating upon the thought that "there is no thing". This is considered a form of perception, though a very subtle one. This was the sphere reached by Ārāḍa Kālāma (Pāli: Āḷāra Kālāma), the first of the Buddha's two teachers; he considered it to be equivalent to enlightenment. Total life span on this realm in human years - 60,000 Maha Kalpa. This is realm is place 5,580,000 Yodun above the Plane of Infinite Consciousness(Viknknanaknchayathana).
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Ākiṃcanyāyatana (आकिंचन्यायतन).—(= Pali ākiṃcaññāy°), nt., stage of nothingness; as 3d stage of the arūpāvacara gods, Mahāvyutpatti 3112; Daśabhūmikasūtra 34.14; as 3d of the ārūpya samāpatti, Mahāvyutpatti 1494; as condition of the 6th vimokṣa, Mahāvyutpatti 1516; as 7th of the sattvāvāsa, Mahāvyutpatti 2295; Ārāḍa Kālāma (Kālāpa) taught the goal of association with this stage, Lalitavistara 238.16 = Mahāvastu ii.118.3 °tana- (Mahāvastu corrupt, Senart āśaṅkitavya, q.v.) -sahavratāyai dharmaṃ deśayati.
1) Ākiṃcanyāyatana (आकिंचन्यायतन):—[from ākiṃcanya] n. ‘abode of absolute want of any existence’, ‘non-existence’, Name of a world with Buddhists, [Lalita-vistara]
2) [=ākiṃca-nyāyatana] [from ākiṃcanyāyatana > ākiṃcanya] m. [plural] Name of a class of gods, [Monier-Williams’ Buddhism 213 ](also °tanopaga, [Dharmasaṃgraha 129]).
Ākiṃcanyāyatana (in Sanskrit) can be associated with the following Chinese terms:
1) 無所有處 [wú suǒ yǒu chù]: “sphere of nothingness”.
Note: ākiṃcanyāyatana can be alternatively written as: ākiṃcanya-āyatana.
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Pali-English dictionary
Ākiñcaññāyatana refers to: realm or sphere of nothingness (cp. ākāsa°) D.I, 35, 184; II, 156; III, 224, 253, 262 sq.; M.I, 41, 165; II, 254, 263; III, 28, 44, S.IV, 217; A.I, 268; IV, 40, 401; Ps.I, 36; Nett 26, 39; Vism.333. See also jhāna & vimokkha. (Page 94)
Note: ākiñcaññāyatana is a Pali compound consisting of the words ākiñcañña and āyatana.
ākiñcaññāyatana (အာကိဉ္စညာယတန) [(ti) (တိ)]—
[ākiñcañña+āyatana]
[အာကိဉ္စည+အာယတန]
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Akimcanya, Akincanna, Ayatana.
Starts with: Akimcanyayatanacakravartin.
Full-text (+27): Pathamakincannayatana, Akincannayatanapatisamyutta, Akincannayatanasamyojana, Akincannayatanupapatti, Akincannayatanamaya, Akincannayatanabhavana, Akincannayatanasamvattanika, Akincannayatananissita, Akincannayatanabhava, Akincannayatana-kusala, Akincannayatanadhimutta, Akincannayatanajanaka, Akincannayatanacitta, Akincannayatanupaga, Akincannayatanaparama, Akincannayatanakiriya, Akincannayatanasanni, Wu suo you chu, Akincannayatanalabhi, Akincannayatanasahagata.
Relevant text
Search found 15 books and stories containing Akimcanyayatana, Akimca-nyayatana, Ākiṃca-nyāyatana, Akimcanya-ayatana, Ākiṃcanya-āyatana, Ākiṃcanyāyatana, Akincanna-ayatana, Ākiñcañña-āyatana, Ākiñcaññāyatana, Akincannayatana, Akiñcaññāyatana; (plurals include: Akimcanyayatanas, nyayatanas, nyāyatanas, ayatanas, āyatanas, Ākiṃcanyāyatanas, Ākiñcaññāyatanas, Akincannayatanas, Akiñcaññāyatanas). 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)
Appendix 1 - Distribution of gods in the three worlds < [Chapter XXXII-XXXIV - The eight classes of supplementary dharmas]
The formless absorptions (ārūpyasamāpatti) according to the Abhidharma < [Class 4: The four formless absorptions]
III. Fruits of the immeasurables (apramāṇa) < [Class 3: The four immeasurables]
Introduction to Dhammasangani (by U Ko Lay)
Non-material Sphere < [Division I - Cittuppada Kanda]
A Manual of Abhidhamma (by Nārada Thera)
Formless-Sphere Consciousness < [Chapter I - Different Types of Consciousness]
Summary of Objects < [Chapter III - Miscellaneous Section]
Maha Buddhavamsa—The Great Chronicle of Buddhas (by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw)
Chapter 5 - Learning from and Discussing with Āḷāra and Udaka < [Volume 2.1]
Part 3 - The Buddha proceeding to Migadaya < [Chapter 9 - The Buddha Reflecting Deeply on the Profundity of the Dhamma]
The Story of Kāḷadevila the Hermit < [Chapter 1 - The Jewel of the Buddha]
Dasabhumika Sutra (translation and study) (by Hwa Seon Yoon)
Part 2.1 - Dhyana Paramita (the perfection of One-pointedness) < [Chapter 3 - Study: Paramitas or Perfections]
A Discourse on Paticcasamuppada (by Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw)
Chapter 13 - The Fame Of The Buddha < [Part 10]
Chapter 4 - Ignorance And Illusion < [Part 2]