Kayasmrityupasthana, Kāyasmṛtyupasthāna, Kaya-smrityupasthana: 1 definition
Introduction:
Kayasmrityupasthana 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.
The Sanskrit term Kāyasmṛtyupasthāna can be transliterated into English as Kayasmrtyupasthana or Kayasmrityupasthana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraKāyasmṛtyupasthāna (कायस्मृत्युपस्थान) refers to “foundation of mindfulness on the body” and represents one of the four “foundations of mindfulness” (smṛtyupasthāna), forming part of the thirty-seven auxiliaries to enlightenment (bodhipākṣika), according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter XXXI.—Accordingly, “in order to destroy these four mistakes, the Buddha preached the four foundations of mindfulness:... to destroy the mistake about purity (śuciviparyāsa), he preaches the foundation of mindfulness on the body (kāya-smṛtyupasthāna)”.
Also, “the body is, in truth, not the self (ātman). Why? Because it is not independent (svatantra). It is like a man sick with an illness of wind (vāyuvyādhi), unable to raise or lower his head, unable to come or go; or like a man suffering from an obstruction in his throat, unable to speak. This is why we know that the body is not independent. If a man has something, he uses it as required. This is not the case for the body; as it escapes from all influence, we know that it is not ours. It is in this way that the Yogin meditates on the body, the impure (aśuci), impermanent (anitya), painful (duḥkha), empty (śūnya), selfless (anātman) body possessing innumerable defects of the same type. The various considerations on the body are called mindfulness of the body (kāya-smṛtyupasthāna)”.
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)
Partial matches: Smrityupasthana, Kaya.
Full-text: Simple Path, Dakini, Shuciviparyasa, Bharya, Rupadharma, Dharmanairatmya, Adhyatmakaya, Svakaya, Bahirdhakaya, Smrityupasthana, Viparyasa.
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Search found 2 books and stories containing Kayasmrityupasthana, Kaya-smrityupasthana, Kāya-smṛtyupasthāna, Kaya-smrtyupasthana, Kāyasmṛtyupasthāna, Kayasmrtyupasthana; (plurals include: Kayasmrityupasthanas, smrityupasthanas, smṛtyupasthānas, smrtyupasthanas, Kāyasmṛtyupasthānas, Kayasmrtyupasthanas). 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)
VI. Logical order of the ten concepts < [Chapter XXXVII - The Ten Concepts]
VIII. The concepts of death (maraṇa-saṃjñā) and impurity (aśuci-saṃjñā) < [Chapter XXXVII - The Ten Concepts]
VI. The place of the nine notions in the dharmas of the path < [Part 1 - The nine notions according to the Abhidharma]
Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra
Chapter XX - On Holy Actions (b) < [Section Three]