Four continents: 3 definitions
Introduction:
Four continents 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.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
The Four Continents (in traditional Indian cosmo-geography) are known in Tibetan as gling bzhi.—Accordingly, [while discussing the history of philosophical systems in the land of Shambhala]: As to the layout of the land: Its shape is circular; it has the shape of an eight-petaled lotus inside an encircling border of snow mountains. [...] In the center of that land is an area like the Four Continents divided by snow mountains, and in the center of that is Kalāpa city. To the south of that, in the Malaya garden, is the great three-dimensional Kālacakra mandala constructed by the Dharma king Sucandra; to the east is Upamānsara Lake; to the west is Puṇḍarīka Lake; and to the north is the great palace that was the residence of Dharma kings and Kalkins.
The Four Continents are:
- the eastern continent of Pūrvavideha,
- the southern continent of Jambudvīpa,
- the western continent of Aparagodanīya, and
- the northern continent of Uttarakuru.
The Four continents (Tibetan: gling bzhi) refer to the “Four Island-continents” (Sanskrit: dvīpa; Tibetan: gling) which surround Mount Meru according to the cosmology of the Abhidharma.
They are:
- Purvavideha in the East, which is semi-circular and white in colour;
- Jambudvipa in the South, which is trapezoidal and blue (this is the continent we human beings live in);
- Aparagodaniya in the West, which is circular and ruby red; and
- Uttarakuru in the North, which is square and green.
Each of the four continents is flanked by two subcontinents (Sanskrit: kṣudradvīpāni; Tibetan: gling phran) of the same shape (see eight subcontinents). Apart from the Chamara subcontinent of Jambudvipa, which is inhabited by Rakshasa demons, all the other island-continents are inhabited by human beings of different characteristics, life styles and life-spans. Each continent also has a specific attribute.
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.
General definition (in Buddhism)
Four Continents:—A technical term in Buddhism corresponding to the Sanskrit dvīpa defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 120):
- Pūrvavideha in the east,
- Jambudvīpa in the centre,
- Aparagodānī in the west,
- Uttarakurudvīpa in the north.
The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., ‘four continents’). The work is attributed to Nagarguna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: The, The, Island, Te.
Full-text (+99): gling bzhi, Caturdvipa, gling, gling phran, Kshudradvipa, Purvavideha, Jambudvipa, Si tian shang xia, Aparagodaniya, Caturdvipaka, Bei zhou, Bei ju lu zhou, Catuddipaka, Caturdvipakacakravartin, Ju lu zhou, Wa da luo ju lu, Uttarakuru, Sumeru, Nan yan fu ti, Uttarakurudvipa.
Relevant text
Search found 49 books and stories containing Four continents, Four island-continents, The four continents; (plurals include: Four continentses, continentses, The four continentses). 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)
Act 10.7: The universes and Buddhas of the ten directions < [Chapter XV - The Arrival of the Bodhisattvas of the Ten Directions]
2. Actions producing the thirty-two marks (dvātriṃśallakṣaṇa) < [Part 4 - The Bodhisattva in the Abhidharma system]
Appendix 2 - The story of king Mūrdhaja (Māndhātar) < [Chapter XXVI - Exertion]
Vimalakirti Sutra (by John R. McRae)
Chapter VI - Inconceivable < [Fascicle Two]
Chapter I - Buddha Land < [Fascicle One]
Lotus Sutra (by Tsugunari Kubo)
Karandavyuha Sutra (by Mithun Howladar)
Chapter 3 - Ṣaḍakṣarī-mahāvidyā-māhātmya-varṇana < [Part Two]
Chapter 12 - Yakṣādi-samāśvāsana < [Part One]
Chapter 11 - Bali-samāśvāsana < [Part One]
The Great Chariot (by Longchenpa)
Part 2 - To attain even being Bhrama and so forth is impermanent < [B. The extended explanation]
C. The dedication of merit < [Chapter IX - Unifying the Developing Stage and the Perfecting Stage]
J. The dedication of merit < [Chapter VII - The Four immeasurables]
Vinaya Pitaka (3): Khandhaka (by I. B. Horner)
The story of Visākhā < [8. Robes (Cīvara)]