Analambana, Anālambanā, Anālambana: 5 definitions

Introduction:

Analambana 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.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Analambana in Mahayana glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Anālambana (अनालम्बन) refers to “that [loving-kindness] which has no object” and represents of the three types of Maitrī (“loving-kindness”), according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 32.—Accordingly, “as for the loving-kindness that has no object (anālambana), this is the one that only the Buddhas possess. Why? The mind of the Buddhas does not rest on the conditioned (saṃskṛta) or on the unconditioned (asaṃskṛta); it does not rest on the past (atīta), the future (anāgata) or the present (pratyutpanna). The Buddhas know that all objects (ālambana) are not real, are erroneous and deceptive: this is why their mind is without object (anālamabana). Beings do not know the true nature of things; they wander through the five destinies (pañcagati), their minds are attached to things, they make distinctions, take certain things and reject other things. And so the Buddhas use the wisdom (prajñā) of the true nature of things and make beings obtain it: this is the loving-kindness ‘without object’”.

Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Anālambana (अनालम्बन) refers to “that which is beyond objectification”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly as The Lord said: “Śāriputra, the Tathāgata Ekaratnavyūha, seating in the lion’s throne thus, explained the dharma-seal called Gaganapariśuddhi to these Bodhisattvas, which has thirty-two aspects of entrance. What is this Dharma-seal (dharmamudrā) called Gaganapariśuddhi which has thirty-two aspects of entrance? [...] 30) all dharmas are neutral (aniñjita) since they lack place of objective supports; 31) all dharmas lack place [of objective supports] since they are firmly rooted beyond objectification; 32) all dharmas are beyond objectification (anālambana) since they lack basis of all (anālaya); 33) all dharmas lack basis of all since they are free from basis of all; [...]”.

Mahayana book cover
context information

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.

Discover the meaning of analambana in the context of Mahayana from relevant books on Exotic India

General definition (in Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Analambana in Buddhism glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgraha

Anālambanā (अनालम्बना) refers to “without ground” and represents one of the three kinds of “great friendliness” (mahāmaitrī) as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 131). It can also be spelled as Anālambanā. The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., anālambanā). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Analambana in Sanskrit glossary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Anālambana (अनालम्बन):—[=an-ālambana] [from an-ālamba] mfn. unsupported

2) [v.s. ...] desponding.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Goldstücker Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Anālambana (अनालम्बन):—[bahuvrihi compound] m. f. n.

(-naḥ-nā-nam) 1) Without stay or support, unsupported.

2) Despondent, heart-broken. E. a priv. and ālambana.

context information

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.

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