Kushalamula, Kusalamūla, Kushala-mula: 8 definitions

Introduction
In Buddhism
India history
Languages
1. Sanskrit
2. Pali
See also

Introduction:

Kushalamula means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. 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

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines

the 'wholesome roots' or 'roots of wholesome action', are

greedlessness (alobha),
hatelessness (adosa), and
non-delusion (amoha; s. mūla).

They are identical with kusala-hetu (s . paccaya, 1).

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Kuśalamūla (कुशलमूल) refers to the “roots of good”, according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter XLVI.—Accordingly, there are three roots of good:

absence of desire (alobha);
absence of hatred (adveśa);
absence of delusion (amoha).

All the good dharmas derive their birth (utpāda) and their increase (vṛddhi) from the three roots of good, just as plants, trees, grasses and bushes derive their arising and growth from their roots. This is why they are called ‘roots of good’.

The good dharmas (kuśaladharma) are of two kinds:

the thirty-seven auxiliaries of enlightenment (bodhipākṣika) that lead to nirvāṇa;
the dharmas producing happiness (sukha) in the course of rebirths (punarbhava).

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

Kuśalamūla (कुशलमूल) refers to the “roots of good”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “The great vehicle (mahāyāna) is made with four wheels (cakra), namely with the means of attraction, the spokes (ara) are well fitted as the roots of good (kuśalamūla)) have been transformed (pariṇāmita) with intention (āśaya), it is well made with a deep nave as there is the immense knowledge of dependent origination, it is well kept together by the axle (akṣa) in order to bear the burdens of all living beings, [...]”.

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.

General definition (in Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgraha

Kuśalamūla (कुशलमूल) refers to the “three roots of wholesomeness” as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 138):

adveṣa (lack of hatred),
alobha (lack of greed),
amoha (lack of delusion).

The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., kuśala-mūla). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.

India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Kuśala-mūla.—(CII 2-1; ML), ‘the root of merit’; used to indicate ‘a pious deed’. Note: kuśala-mūla is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Kuśalamūla (कुशलमूल).—nt., usually pl. (= Pali kus°), root(s) of merit; Pali has three, alobha, adosa, amoha; the same, with adveṣa = Pali adosa, in Mahāvyutpatti 1936—8; Dharmasaṃgraha 138; two other kinds named separately Mahāvyutpatti 1208—9, abhisa- mayāntikaṃ ku°, and kṣayajñānalābhikaṃ ku°; a different list of three in Dharmasaṃgraha 15, bodhicittotpāda, āśayaviśuddhi, ahaṃkāra-mamakāra-parityāga; Mahāvyutpatti 7417 avaropita- kuśalamūla, one who has planted (see avaropayati) roots of merit; very many other occurrences, e.g. Lalitavistara 429.14; Mahāvastu (see kuśala-puṇya) i.134.3; 142.11; Divyāvadāna 23.18; 65.10; 95.25; Avadāna-śataka i.4.2, et passim; often referred to in praṇidhāna as basis for making the ‘earnest wish’.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Kuśalamūla (कुशलमूल):—[=kuśala-mūla] [from kuśala] n. a stock of merit, [Sukhāvatī-vyūha i ]

context information

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.

Pali-English dictionary

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Kusalamūla refers to: the basis or root of goodness or merit; there are three: alobha, adosa, amoha M. I, 47, 489=A. I, 203=Nett 183; D. III, 214; Dhs. 32, 313, 981; Vbh. 169 sq. , 210; Nett 126. Cp. °paccaya Vbh. 169; °ropanā Nett 50;

Note: kusalamūla is a Pali compound consisting of the words kusala and mūla.

context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

Relevant text

Search found 6 books and stories containing Kushalamula, Kuśala-mūla, Kusala-mula, Kusala-mūla, Kuśalamūla, Kusalamula, Kusalamūla, Kushala-mula; (plurals include: Kushalamulas, mūlas, mulas, Kuśalamūlas, Kusalamulas, Kusalamūlas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

I. One single root to be planted in the Field of the Buddhas (buddhakṣetra) < [Part 4 - Planting inexhaustible roots of good]

Part 4 - Planting inexhaustible roots of good < [Chapter XLVI - Venerating with the Roots of Good]

II. Metonymical meaning of kuśalamūla (‘roots of good’) < [Part 1 - Honoring all the Buddhas]

+ 43 more chapters / show preview

24th Imperishable, Knowledge of The Meaning

36th Imperishable, The Presence of Recollection Concerned with Thought.

show preview

Chapter IV(a) - The story of Abhiya < [Volume I]

Chapter XXX - The second Avalokita-sūtra < [Volume II]

show preview

Chapter XXV - On Pure Actions (e) < [Section Five]

Chapter XXVI - On the Action of the Child < [Section Five]