Form: 6 definitions

Introduction
Image gallery
In Hinduism
1. Yoga
2. Vedanta
In Buddhism
1. Tibetan Buddhism
Languages
1. Nepali
See also
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Introduction:

Form means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Christianity. 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 Hinduism

Yoga (school of philosophy)

Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason Birch

Form can be denoted by the Sanskrit terms Ākāra, according to the Amanaska Yoga treatise which deals absorption, yogic powers and liberation.—The Amanaska referred to (or qualified) Samādhi with several terms, which are all negative; [e.g., anākāra—it has no form;] [...] The fact that such terminology is found in the Amanaska indicates that descriptions of Śiva and the void-like meditative states in Mantramargic Śaivism, were the basis of the descriptions of Samādhi and Paratattva (the highest reality) in this treatise. The Amanaska Yoga was consistent with the Pātañjala Yogaśāstra’s definition of Yoga, yet it described Samādhi in terms different to those of Pātañjalayoga; such as “that which has no form” (anākāra).

context information

Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).

Vedanta (school of philosophy)

Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): (Advaita Vedanta)

(That which has) Form is denoted by the Sanskrit term Rūpaka (as opposed to Arūpaka), according to the Māṇḍūkyopaniṣatkārikā 3.35cd-36.—Accordingly, while discussing Brahma (without attributes): “That very [mind, free of thought and restrained,] is fearless Brahma, [which is] the light of gnosis [pervading] everywhere. [It is] unborn, devoid of sleep and dreaming, unnamed, formless (arūpaka), manifested [all] at once and omniscient. [This statement] is not figurative in any way”.

context information

Vedanta (वेदान्त, vedānta) refers to a school of orthodox Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. There are a number of sub-schools of Vedanta, however all of them expound on the basic teaching of the ultimate reality (brahman) and liberation (moksha) of the individual soul (atman).

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Google Books: The Crystal Mirror of Philosophical Systems

1) Form refers to one of to the “Four Yogas of Vajrabhairava” which are known in Tibetan as rdo rje 'jigs byed kyi rnal 'byor bzhi.—Accordingly, [while describing the transmission of secret mantra], [regarding the Sé and Mé Tantra system]: The members of the lineage (with uninterrupted Dharma transmissions) appear to be the only ones who gained high realizations of the generation and completion stages. [...] They gave expositions on what were known as the eight great guidelines [e.g., the stages of the four Yogas of Vajrabhairava (e.g., Form)][...].

2) Form refers to one of the “Five Aggregates” (i.e., “that which comprises the ‘person’”) which are known in Tibetan as phung po lnga.—Accordingly, [while describing the Svātantrika Madhyamaka philosophical school], [regarding the mode of imputation based on the aggregates]: [...] Some Saṃmatīyas say that all Five Aggregates [e.g., form] are the self. Although schools from the Svātantrikas on down claim that the person is a mere imputation based on the aggregates, they think that if the aggregates are the basis of the imputation of a person, the aggregates necessarily are the person; and they believe that the aggregates are imputed as being the person. [...]

3) Form refers to one of the “Five Sense-objects” (in Sāṃkhya) which are known in Tibetan as: de tsam lnga.—Sāṃkhyas assert definitively that all objects of knowledge are enumerated into twenty-five: (1) the principal, (2) the great, (3) the I-principle, (4–8) the five sense objects,94 (9–13) the five elements [e.g., forms], (14–24) the eleven sense faculties, and (25) the person, which is self, consciousness, and the knower. Of those, the person [9] is asserted as conscious, while the remaining twenty-four — as aggregate composites — are insentient matter.

context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

Languages of India and abroad

Nepali dictionary

Source: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionary

Form is another spelling for फर्म [pharma].—n. firm;

context information

Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.

Relevant text

Search found 673 books and stories containing Form, Forms, The form; (plurals include: Forms, Formses, The forms). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Verse 2.2.111 < [Chapter 2 - Jñāna (knowledge)]

Verse 2.1.74 < [Chapter 1 - Vairāgya (renunciation)]

Verse 1.7.56-57 < [Chapter 7 - Pūrṇa (pinnacle of excellent devotees)]

+ 351 more chapters / show preview

Text 17 (of the Paksata-prakarana on Tattvacintama-nididhiti) < [Section 2 - The Paksata: Sanskrit Texts, English Translation, and Notes]

Text 26 (of the Paksata-prakarana on Tattvacintama-nididhiti) < [Section 2 - The Paksata: Sanskrit Texts, English Translation, and Notes]

Text 16 (of the Paksata-prakarana on Tattvacintama-nididhiti) < [Section 2 - The Paksata: Sanskrit Texts, English Translation, and Notes]

+ 21 more chapters / show preview

Chapter 15 - The form of the Supreme Lord < [Section 2 - Pūrvabhāga]

Chapter 16 - The principle of Śiva < [Section 2 - Pūrvabhāga]

Chapter 11 - The superhuman magnificence of Śiva < [Section 2 - Pūrvabhāga]

+ 129 more chapters / show preview