Ashtangika, Ashta-angika, Aṣṭāṅgika: 2 definitions

Introduction:

Ashtangika 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.

The Sanskrit term Aṣṭāṅgika can be transliterated into English as Astangika or Ashtangika, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

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In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

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

Āṣṭāṅgika (आष्टाङ्गिक) or Aṣṭāṅgikamārga refers to type of the eight-fold noble Path, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 19).

When generosity is practiced, the mind realizes a type of eight-fold noble Path (āṣṭāṅgika-mārga):

  1. by believing in the fruit of generosity (dānaphala), right view (saṃyagdṛṣṭi) is obtained;
  2. because the thinking (manasikāra) inherent in this right view is not disturbed, right concept (samyaksaṃkalpa) is obtained;
  3. because physical activities are purified (kāyacaryā), right action is obtained (samyakkarmmanta);
  4. [?]
  5. because reward (vipāka) is not sought after, right livelihood (samyagājīva) is obtained;
  6. because one gives with diligence, right effort (samyagvyāyāma) is obtained;
  7. because one is not scattered in thinking about generosity, right attention (samyaksmṛti) is obtained;
  8. because the settling of the mind (cittasthiti) is not disturbed, right concentration (samyaksamādhi) is obtained.

In the same way, when generosity is practiced, something similar to the thirty-seven good dharmas (kuśaladharma) are produced in the mind.

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.

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Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Ashtangika in Sanskrit glossary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Aṣṭāṅgika (अष्टाङ्गिक).—adj. (= Pali aṭṭhaṅgika), of 8 members, said of the way (mārga) to the release from misery (more commonly aṣṭāṅga): Lalitavistara 183.7; 414.13; Mahāvastu iii.456.21; Udānavarga xii.4 (these all verses); Dharmasaṃgraha 50 (here the 8 stages are listed).

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.

Discover the meaning of ashtangika or astangika in the context of Sanskrit from relevant books on Exotic India

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