Kshayajnana, Kṣayajñāna, Kshaya-jnana: 3 definitions

Introduction:

Kshayajnana 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 Kṣayajñāna can be transliterated into English as Ksayajnana or Kshayajnana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Kshayajnana in Mahayana glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

1) Kṣayajñāna (क्षयज्ञान) refers to the “knowledge of cessation” according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter VII).—“What qualities must he have to attain in order to be called Buddha? Answer. He is called Buddha when he has acquired the knowledge of cessation (kṣaya-jñāna) and the knowledge of non-arising (anutpāda-jñāna)”.

Note: These two knowledges comprise bodhi: by means of the first, one knows in truth that the task has been accomplished; by means of the second, one knows that there is nothing further to be accomplished (Kośa VI, VII). But it should not be forgotten that there are three kinds of bodhi and that only the Buddha possesses anuttara-samyaksaṃbodhi.

2) Kṣayajñāna (क्षयज्ञान) or Āsravakṣayajñāna refers to the “knowledge of the path of cessation” and represents one of the eleven “eleven knowledges” (jñāna), according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 38. Accordingly, “the knowledge of the cessation of the impurities (kṣayajñāna = āsravakṣayajñāna) is the pure knowledge produced by thinking: ‘suffering is completely known by me; the origin has been abandoned by me; cessation has been realized by me; the path has been practiced by me’; it is a wisdom (prajñā), a seeing (darśana), a knowing (vidyā), an understanding (buddhi)”.

Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Kṣayajñāna (क्षयज्ञान) refers to the “knowledge of cessation”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “Then, in order to clarify this point further, the Lord went on to speak these verses: ‘(52) The knowledge of cessation (kṣayajñāna) is imperishable (akṣaya) and pure patience since the mind is cultivated without any attachment to any object. Patience becomes the highest thought like open space when its outside and inside are pure and it fixed anywhere’”.

Mahayana book cover
context information

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.

Discover the meaning of kshayajnana or ksayajnana in the context of Mahayana from relevant books on Exotic India

General definition (in Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Kshayajnana in Buddhism glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgraha

Kṣayajñāna (क्षयज्ञान) or simply Kṣaya refers to the “knowledge of destruction” and represents the ninth of the “ten knowledges” (jñāna) as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 93). The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., kṣaya-jñāna). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.

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