Mamsacakshus, Māṃsacakṣus, Mamsa-cakshus: 4 definitions
Introduction:
Mamsacakshus means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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 Māṃsacakṣus can be transliterated into English as Mamsacaksus or Mamsacakshus, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Mamsachakshus.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraMāṃsacakṣus (मांसचक्षुस्) refers to the “fleshly eye” and represents one of the five visual powers (cakṣus) attributed to the Buddha according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XIV). If one wishes to see beings, there are only two eyes one can use, the fleshly eye (māṃsacakṣus) and the divine eye (divyacakṣus) but since the fleshly eye’s range is insufficient and encounters obstacles, the Buddha uses the divine eye (divyacakṣus) to contemplate the universe.
According to chapter 50, “the fleshly eye (māṃsacakṣus) sees what is close up, does not see what is far off; sees what is in front, does not see what is behind; sees what is external, does not see what is internal; sees during the day-time, does not see at night-time; sees what is on top, does not see what is underneath”.
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-samgrahaMāṃsacakṣus (मांसचक्षुस्) or simply Māṃsa refers to the ”fleshly eye“ and represents one the “five eyes” (cakṣus) as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 65). The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., māṃsa-cakṣus). 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 DictionaryMāṃsacakṣus (मांसचक्षुस्):—[=māṃsa-cakṣus] [from māṃsa > māṃs] n. ‘the fleshy eye’ [Vajracchedikā] (with Buddhists one of the 5 sorts of vision, [Dharmasaṃgraha 65]).
[Sanskrit to German]
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: Cakshus, Mamsa.
Full-text: Pancacakshus, Five Eyes, Cakshus, Mamsa, Divyacakshus.
Relevant text
Search found 2 books and stories containing Mamsacakshus, Māṃsacakṣus, Mamsa-cakshus, Māṃsa-cakṣus, Mamsacaksus, Mamsa-caksus; (plurals include: Mamsacakshuses, Māṃsacakṣuses, cakshuses, cakṣuses, Mamsacaksuses, caksuses). 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)
Description of the ‘five eyes’ (cakṣus) < [Part 6 - Obtaining the five ‘eyes’]
Appendix 1 - Notes on the five cakṣus or visual powers of the Buddha < [Chapter XIV - Emission of rays]
Act 1.2: The Buddha smiles a first time with his whole body < [Chapter XIV - Emission of rays]
A Dictionary Of Chinese Buddhist Terms (by William Edward Soothill)