Kushalakarma, Kuśalakarma, Kushala-karma: 3 definitions

Introduction:

Kushalakarma 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 Kuśalakarma can be transliterated into English as Kusalakarma or Kushalakarma, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Kushalakarma in Mahayana glossary
Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Kuśalakarma (कुशलकर्म) refers to “good actions”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly: “[...] Immediately after those two sons (Siṃha and Siṃhavikrāntagāmin) were born, in one voice they spoke the following verses to their father, the kind Puṇyālaṃkāra: ‘(165) Virtue and non-virtue previously performed will never be gone, offerings to the Tathāgata will never be gone, resolution for the thought of awakening will never be gone, and the attainments of the most excellent learning will never be gone. (166) Generosity, morality, vow will never be gone, the determination to be patient will never be gone, the application of vigour for the sake of gratefulness and making good actions (kuśalakarma) will never be gone. [...]’”.

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.

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General definition (in Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Kushalakarma in Buddhism glossary
Source: Triveni: Journal (Buddhism)

Kusala-karma refers to “wholesome conduct”, according to (K. Subba Rao’s review of) The Buddhist Concept of Hell by By Daigan and Matsunaga (Philosophical Library).—Accordingly, [...] Repeated births are visualised as happening due to differentiation of subject and object without fully comprehending the interdependence and inter-relatedness of all existents which in Buddhistic vocabulary is ‘Pratitya Samutpada.’ Once this revelation dawns in the mind of man, he attains Nirvana. To rise to such a spiritual height one should practise ‘Kusala Karma’ (wholesome conduct) completely rid of egocentric delusions and clinging to worldly things. But for the layman, the indoctrination of the philosophical significance of ego, wholesome conduct, worlds of pollution and purification is well-nigh impossible. So the hell-device is brought in with its vivid tortures corresponding to good or bad actions performed to encourage virtue in them and make them overcome ‘birth and death’ and get the desired enlightenment or ‘enter the stream’.

Languages of India and abroad

Kannada-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Kushalakarma in Kannada glossary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Kuśalakarma (ಕುಶಲಕರ್ಮ):—[noun] work done or articles made by manual skills.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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See also (Relevant definitions)

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