Introduction

Bodhipakshika 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 Bodhipākṣika can be transliterated into English as Bodhipaksika or Bodhipakshika, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Bodhipākṣika (बोधिपाक्षिक) refers to thirty-seven “auxiliaries” to enlightenment, according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 31.—Why are they called bodhipākṣika? The two knowledges of the saint, the knowledge of the cessation of the impurities and the knowledge that they will not arise again are given the name of Bodhi because they consist of the complete understanding of the four Truths. If a dharma is favorable to this complete understanding, it is given the name of bodhipākṣika.

The thirty-seven bodhipākṣika (auxiliaries to enlightenment) are defined as:

1. the four foundations of mindfulness (smṛtyupasthāna),
2. the four right efforts (samyakpradhāna),
3. the four bases of magical power (ṛddhipāda),
4. the five faculties (indriya),
5. the five strengths (bala),
6. the seven members of enlightenment (saṃbodhyaṅga),
7. the eight members of the Path (mārgaṅga).

These thirty-seven auxiliaries (bodhipākṣika) have ten things (dravya) as roots (mūla). What are these ten?

1. Faith (śraddhā),
2. morality (śīla),
3. thought (saṃkalpa),
4. exertion (vīrya),
5. mindfulness (smṛti),
6. concentration (samādhi),
7. wisdom (prajñā),
8. relaxation (praśrabdhi),
9. joy, (prīti),
10. equanimity (upekṣā).

According to chapter 32: “the thirty-seven auxiliaries (bodhipākṣika) are the path (mārga) leading to nirvāṇa. When one follows this path, one reaches the city of nirvāṇa (nirvāṇagara)”.

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Bodhipakṣika (बोधिपक्षिक).—adj., = next and °pākṣika, q.v.: saptatriṃśatsu °keṣu dharmeṣu Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 458.1; °ka-dharma- saṃpannāḥ Mahāvastu ii.290.6; (dharmāṇāṃ) °kānāṃ (so, dental n, text) Bodhisattvabhūmi 227.10.

--- OR ---

Bodhipākṣika (बोधिपाक्षिक).—adj. (= Pali °pakkhika; compare °pakṣika, °pakṣya, °pakṣa) = bodhipakṣya, q.v.; usually with dharma, the (37) conditions favorable to enlightenment (same 37 in Pali): listed as 4 smṛtyupasthāna, 4 samyakpra- hāṇa, 4 ṛddhipāda, 5 indriya (q.v., 1), 5 bala, 7 bodhy- aṅga, and the 8-fold noble path (mārga), Dharmasaṃgraha 43; list, without the name, Divyāvadāna 208.7—9; °ka-dharma- Daśabhūmikasūtra 53.22; Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra 213.7; also Abhidharmakośa LaV—P. vi.290 (otherwise Index to this text shows only form °pakṣya, vi.282); in Lalitavistara 424.12 read, with v.l., sarva-bodhipākṣika-(text °kā)- dharma-ratna-pratipūrṇatvāt; not with dharma, but °ka- mahāpuruṣa-lakṣaṇeṣu Śikṣāsamuccaya 283.11.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Bodhipakṣika (बोधिपक्षिक):—[=bodhi-pakṣika] [from bodhi > budh] mfn. belonging to perfect intelligence (with dharma, m. = pakṣa-dh, [Dharmasaṃgraha 43]).

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. 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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Pakshika, Bodhi.

Full-text (+53): Priti, Prashrabdhi, Samadhindriya, Viryendriya, Smritindriya, Prajnendriya, Shraddhendriya, Pancendriya, Samkalpa, Sambodhyanga, Shraddha, Upeksha, Smriti, Prajna, Pancabala, Nirvananagara, Virya, Samyagvak, Samyaksmriti, Saptabodhyanga.

Relevant text

Search found 3 books and stories containing Bodhipakshika, Bodhipākṣika, Bodhi-pakshika, Bodhi-pākṣika, Bodhi-paksika, Bodhipaksika, Bodhipakṣika, Bodhi-pakṣika; (plurals include: Bodhipakshikas, Bodhipākṣikas, pakshikas, pākṣikas, paksikas, Bodhipaksikas, Bodhipakṣikas, pakṣikas). 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)

I. Lists of auxiliaries (bodhipākṣika or bodhipakkhiya) < [Note on the Thirty-seven Auxiliaries to Enlightenment]

Preliminary note on the Eight Classes of Supplementary Dharmas < [Chapter XXXII-XXXIV - The eight classes of supplementary dharmas]

IV. The auxiliairies in the mahāyāna < [Note on the Thirty-seven Auxiliaries to Enlightenment]

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Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra (by Charles Luk)

Chapter 1 - The Buddha Land

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A Dictionary Of Chinese Buddhist Terms (by William Edward Soothill)

Part 20 - Twenty Strokes

Part 4 - Four Strokes

Part 2 - Two Strokes

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