Ceylon: 1 definition
Introduction:
Ceylon 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.
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In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Ceylon (in Chinese: Che-tzeu) is the name of an ancient kingdom associated with Dhaniṣṭhā or Dhaniṣṭhanakṣatra, as mentioned in chapter 18 of the Candragarbha: the 55th section of the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra, a large compilation of Sūtras (texts) in Mahāyāna Buddhism partly available in Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese.—Chapter 18 deals with geographical astrology and, in conversation with Brahmarāja and others, Buddha explains how he entrusts the Nakṣatras [e.g., Dhaniṣṭhā] with a group of kingdoms [e.g., Ceylon] for the sake of protection and prosperity.
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+2): Ceylon blackberry, Ceylon borage, Ceylon bowstring-hemp, Ceylon calumba root, Ceylon cedar, Ceylon cinnamon, Ceylon indigo, Ceylon ironwood, Ceylon jasmine, Ceylon leadwort, Ceylon leucas, Ceylon merremia, Ceylon oak, Ceylon olive, Ceylon piassava, Ceylon raspberry, Ceylon rose, Ceylon rosewood, Ceylon satinwood, Ceylon screwpine.
Full-text (+2343): Lanka, Simhala, Tamradvipa, Setubandha, Anuradhapura, Paradhvaja, Simhalaka, Rohana, Mahagrama, Kalaganga, Tamraparniya, Sihala, Kalyani, Mahavihara, Saimhala, Ravana, Ramasetu, Cetiyapabbata, Ilam, Trikuta.
Relevant text
Search found 193 books and stories containing Ceylon; (plurals include: Ceylons). 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 9 - The first Madhyamika authors (Nāgārjuna, Āryadeva, Rāhulabhadra) < [Chapter XXXVI - The eight recollections (anusmṛti or anussati)]
Appendix 3 - The spread of the Prajñā in the four cardinal directions < [Chapter I - Explanation of Arguments]
Dipavamsa (study) (by Sibani Barman)
Mahatma Gandhi in Ceylon < [January – March, 1978]
Coomaraswamy, Ananda Kentish < [July – September 1977]
Indian Culture in South-East Asian Countries < [July – September 1973]
Sri Lanka at the Crossroads of History (by Zoltán Biedermann)
Border crossings and religious conversion in the ‘Portuguese period’ < [Chapter 7 - The politics of Lankan exile in the Portuguese Empire]
Textual narratives and the linking of archaeology to ethnicity < [Chapter 1 - Archaeology and cosmopolitanism in Sri Lanka]
Patronage and ancient Sri Lanka < [Chapter 1 - Archaeology and cosmopolitanism in Sri Lanka]
Three Tamil proclamations issued under Dutch rule in Ceylon < [Volume 36 (1974)]
The pronoun and adverbial systems in Ceylon Tamil: A grammatical study < [Volume 38 (1977)]
Recent work on the Vedic ritual texts in the German Democratic Republic < [Volume 36 (1974)]
Religious Cooperation between Thailand and Sri Lanka in the 19th Century < [Volume 15, Issue 7 (2024)]
Ecclesiastical Adaptation and Reformation < [Volume 16, Issue 4 (2025)]
Buddhist Civilisational Populism in Sri Lanka < [Volume 14, Issue 2 (2023)]
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