In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Mahāmaitrī (महामैत्री) refers to “great loving kindness”, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 2).—Accordingly, “People of sensitive and upright mind can easily obtain salvation. If these people do not hear the doctrine preached, they fall into grave difficulties. It is like the lotus (utpala) in the water: some are born, some ripen, some remain within the water without emerging. If they do not have sunlight (sūryaprabhā), they do not expand (vikasanti). The Buddha is like [the sunlight]: sent forth by his great loving kindness and great compassion (mahāmaitrī-karuṇā), that he might have pity for beings and preach the doctrine”.

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

Mahāmaitrī (महामैत्री) refers to “great friendliness”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly as The Lord said: “O Śāriputra, from innumerable aeons ago (asaṃkhyeya-kalpa), the Bodhisatvas in the Mahāvyūha universe have been in accordance with the [perfection of] giving as adorned with generosity, [...] have practiced the protection of all living beings as adorned with great friendliness (mahāmaitrī), have practiced never giving up any being as adorned with great compassion (mahākaruṇa), have never ceased to make joy, happiness, and great delight of all living beings as adorned with great happiness (mahāmudita), and have been punctilious in the practice without interruption, which has made all living beings not to be conceited or depressed as adorned with great equanimity (mahopekṣa) [...]”.

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

Mahāmaitrī (महामैत्री) refers to the “three kinds of great friendliness” as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 131):

1. satyālambanā (grounded in truth),
2. dharmālambanā (grounded in dharma),
3. anālambanā (without ground).

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

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

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

Mahāmaitrī (महामैत्री):—[=mahā-maitrī] [from mahā-maitra > mahā > mah] f. great friendship, great attachment, great compassion, [Buddhist literature] (cf. [Dharmasaṃgraha 131])

[Sanskrit to German]

Mahamaitri in German

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Maitri, Maha.

Starts with: Mahamaitrimahakarunamukhoddyotana, Mahamaitrimahakarunamukhodyotana, Mahamaitrisamadhi.

Full-text: Mahamaitrisamadhi, Mahakaruna, Prema, Satyalambana, Dharmalambana, Analambana, Smitamukha, Maitri, Karuna, Mudita, Upeksha, Mahamudita, Mahopeksha, Spharana, Mahasattva.

Relevant text

Search found 3 books and stories containing Mahamaitri, Maha-maitri, Mahā-maitrī, Mahāmaitrī; (plurals include: Mahamaitris, maitris, maitrīs, Mahāmaitrīs). 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)

Chapter XLII - The Great Loving-kindness and the Great Compassion of the Buddhas

Chapter XXXIX - The Ten Powers of the Buddha according to the Abhidharma

I. Great Loving-kindness (mahāmaitrī) and Great Compassion (mahākaruṇā) < [Chapter XLII - The Great Loving-kindness and the Great Compassion of the Buddhas]

+ 37 more chapters / show preview

Dasabhumika Sutra (translation and study) (by Hwa Seon Yoon)

Stage 8: Acala Bhumi < [Chapter 2 - Study: Summary of the Ten Stages]

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Blue Annals (deb-ther sngon-po) (by George N. Roerich)

Chapter 1 - The Kashmirian Scholar Śākyaśrī < [Book 15 - Monastic Systems]

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