Jnanaprasthana, Jñānaprasthāna: 5 definitions
Introduction:
Jnanaprasthana 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.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraJñānaprasthāna (ज्ञानप्रस्थान) is the name of a text authored by Kātyāyana, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 3).—Accordingly, “[...] Finally a Brahmin monk named Kātyāyana, wise and of keen faculties (tīkṣnendriya), completely recited the three Baskets (tripiṭaka), the inner and outer texts (ādhyātmika-bahya-sūtra). Wishing to explain the words of the Buddha, he compiled the jñānaprasthāna-aṣṭa-grantha. The first chapter (skandhaka) deals with the supreme worldly Dharmas (laukikāgradharma). Subsequently, his disciples made from it a vibhāṣā for people of ages to come who could not completely understand the Aṣṭagrantha (or Jñānaprasthāna)”.
Note: According to some sources, the Vibhāṣā was compiled in the course of a council held under Kaniṣka in the monastery of Kuvana near Jālandhara or at the vihāra of Kuṇḍalavana in Kaśmir. [...] In any case, if a Vibhāṣā was composed under Kaniṣka to serve as commentary for the Jñānaprasthāna of Kātyāyana, it is certainly different from the Mahāvibhāṣā in 200 rolls which has come down to us in the Chinese translation of Hiuan tsang (T 1545). The latter, in effect, tells a story of a eunuch and bulls that came, it says, “in the past”, under Kaniṣka.
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 dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryJñānaprasthāna (ज्ञानप्रस्थान).—nt., name of a work: Mahāvyutpatti 1419.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryJñānaprasthāna (ज्ञानप्रस्थान):—[=jñāna-prasthāna] [from jñāna > jñā] n. ‘method of knowledge’, Name of a Buddh. [work]
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). 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: Jnana, Prasthana.
Starts with: Jnanaprasthana-shastra.
Ends with: Abhidharmajnanaprasthana.
Full-text (+4): Jnanaprasthana-shastra, Mahavibhasha, Ashtagrantha, Shatpada, Samgitiparyaya, Dharmaskandha, Prajnaptishastra, Dhatukaya, Vijnanakaya, Vaibhashika, Vibhasha, Katyayana, Prakaranagrantha, Tipitaka, Tikshnendriya, Bahyasutra, Adhyatmikasutra, Prakaranapada, Skandhaka, Shatpadabhidharma.
Relevant text
Search found 2 books and stories containing Jnanaprasthana, Jñānaprasthāna, Jnana-prasthana, Jñāna-prasthāna; (plurals include: Jnanaprasthanas, Jñānaprasthānas, prasthanas, prasthānas). 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 3 - The traditions regarding Kātyāyana < [Chapter III - General Explanation of Evam Maya Śruta]
Appendix 3 - The theory of the laukikāgradharma < [Chapter XXX - The Characteristics of Prajñā]
Conditions note (1): The system in the canonical sūtras < [Part 1 - Understanding the Conditions (pratyaya)]
A Dictionary Of Chinese Buddhist Terms (by William Edward Soothill)