Desana, Desanā, Deshana, Deśanā: 9 definitions
Introduction
Desana means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. 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 Deśanā can be transliterated into English as Desana or Deshana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Namesor Bhavana Sutta - On the psychic power, its basis, and the practice which leads to its cultivation (S.v.276). The sutta corresponds, word for word, with a passage in Asvaghosas Sutralankara.
Source: Dhamma Dana: Pali English GlossaryTo perform desana, to a bhikkhu, is a means to purify his faults (apart from some parajikas and sanghadisesas) that he has committed on purpose or not.
To that sake, he "unveils" these faults by uttering a formula before in the presence of another bhikkhu who will, on his turn, will also unveil his own. Usually, the bhikkhus do it once a day. It is very essential to do desana just before the reading of the patimokkha so that all the bhikkhus do cultivate a pure sila at this very stage.
See also: The desana
Source: Pali Kanon: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrinesdesanā, ‘Conventional’ (expression or truth).
Source: Pali Kanon: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines'exposition' of the doctrine, may be either an exposition true in the highest sense (paramattha-desanā); or it may not be true in the highest, but only in the conventional sense (vohāra-desanā).
See paramattha.
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).
India history and geogprahy
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryDeśanā.—Prakrit desanā (EI 21), exposition of the Buddhist doctrine. Note: deśanā is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarydesanā : (f.) discourse, sermon, preaching.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryDesanā, (f.) (Sk. deśanā) 1. discourse, instruction, lesson S.V, 83, 108; J.III, 84; Pug.28; Nett 38; Vism.523 sq. (regarding Paṭiccasamuppāda); PvA.1, 2, 9, 11; Sdhp.213. 2. frequent in dhamma° moral instruction, exposition of the Dhamma, preaching, sermon Vin.I, 16; A.I, 53; II, 182; IV, 337 sq.; It.33; J.I, 106 etc. (a° gāminī āpatti), a Pārājika or Saṅghādisesa offence Vin.II, 3, 87; V, 187. Cp. Vin. Texts II.33.—3. (legal) acknowledgment Miln.344.—Cp. ā°.
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.
Sanskrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryDeśanā (देशना).—f. Direction, injunction, laying down; सर्वास्वेव वैकृतीषु देशनासु प्राकृतं धर्मजातमपेक्ष्यते वाक्यशेषत्वेन (sarvāsveva vaikṛtīṣu deśanāsu prākṛtaṃ dharmajātamapekṣyate vākyaśeṣatvena) | ŚB. on MS.1.1.1.
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Deśanā (देशना).—[diś-ṇic yuc] Direction, instruction.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryDeśana (देशन).—nt. (= °nā 2, q.v.), confession; see atyaya-d°.
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Deśanā (देशना) or Deśanatā.—(1) preaching, In dharma-d° Bbh 82.18; (2) confession: Bhad 12.
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Deśanā (देशना).—(= Pali des°; to Sanskrit or BHS deśayati plus anā), (1) preaching, in this sense Sanskrit, hardly specifically Buddh., but see °nā-pāṭha, dharma-d°, (°nā-)matsarin; also, deśanā dharmasya Mv i.42.10; 53.5; °nā naranāgānāṃ (= Buddhānāṃ) Mv i.168.4; deśanā-naya, the way of verbal instruction, in Laṅk 148.10 ff., 172.6, distinct from and inferior to siddhānta-(pratyavasthāna-)naya, the finally approved way, which is that of immediate personal realization, see Suzuki, Studies, 409 (where other citations of this depreciative use of deśanā in Laṅk); LaVallée Poussin, HJAS 3.137 ff.; (2) confession (so Pali, e.g. Jāt. v.379.22 desanaṃ paṭigaṇhanto; not in PTSD, Childers): °nā-parivarta Suv 20.1, Confession, title of Chap. 3; °nā- gāthāḥ 21.8; pāpa-d° Dharmas 14; °nādyaṃ tu pāpāder Sādh 72.13, et alibi; see also atyaya-d°; (3) see s.v. gaṇḍī (-deśanā).
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)
Starts with: Desanapariyosane, Desanavasane, Desanavilasa, Deshanapatha, Deshanata, Deshanavikolana.
Ends with: Adeshana, Anudeshana, Atthadesana, Atyayadeshana, Dakshinadeshana, Dhammadesana, Dhammatthadesana, Dharma-deshana, Nirdeshana, Papadeshana, Pradeshana, Pratideshana, Pratyadeshana, Upadeshana, Varnadeshana, Viddesana, Vohara Desana.
Full-text (+31): Dhammadesana, Dharma-deshana, Relative Truth, Deshanata, Pacittiya, Atthadesana, Matsarin, Desanavilasa, Vohara Desana, Desanapariyosane, Dakshinadeshana, Atman, Suvarnabhasottama, Desanavasane, Jananiya, Nippariyaya, Dharmadeshaka, Deshanavikolana, Deshavilokana, Vilasa.
Relevant text
Search found 25 books and stories containing Desana, Desanā, Deshana, Deśanā, Deśana; (plurals include: Desanas, Desanās, Deshanas, Deśanās, Deśanas). 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)
Abhidharma auxiliaries (A): Number of auxiliaries < [Part 2 - The auxiliaries according to the Abhidharma]
Part 1 - Necessity for meditation < [Chapter XXVIII - The Virtue of Meditation (dhyāna)]
I. The pratisaṃvids according to the Abhidharma < [Part 3 - The four unhindered knowledges]
Buddha Desana (by Sayadaw U Pannadipa)
Chapter 5 - The Distinguished Characteristics Of Buddhism < [Part I - The Buddha Desana]
Chapter 6 - A Psycho-ethical Philosophy < [Part I - The Buddha Desana]
Chapter 1 - The Teaching Of The Buddha < [Part I - The Buddha Desana]
Abhidhamma in Daily Life (by Ashin Janakabhivamsa) (by Ashin Janakabhivamsa)
Domain 9 - Dhamma desana (preaching dhamma) < [Chapter 6 - Ten domains of meritorious actions (ten punna kiriyavatthu)]
The Tattvasangraha [with commentary] (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 1847 < [Chapter 21 - Examination of the doctrine of ‘Traikālya’]
Verse 3641-3644 < [Chapter 26 - Examination of the ‘Person of Super-normal Vision’]
Verse 3570-3574 < [Chapter 26 - Examination of the ‘Person of Super-normal Vision’]
Patience (by Ajahn Sumedho)
The Great Chronicle of Buddhas (by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw)
Buddha attributes (8): Buddha < [Chapter 42 - The Dhamma Ratanā]
Aṭṭhanga Uposatha Sīla (The Eight-Precept Observance) < [Chapter 6 - On Pāramitā]
Part 24 - The Eight Stages of Release, Vimokkha < [Chapter 40 - The Buddha Declared the Seven Factors of Non-Decline for Rulers]