Mithyajiva, Mithyājīva, Mithya-jiva: 2 definitions
Introduction:
Mithyajiva 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.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraMithyājīva (मिथ्याजीव) refers to the “five bad ways (mithyā) of livelihood (jīva)”, according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter XXXI.
The five bad ways of livelihood (mithyājīva) are:—
- Out of love for profit (lāhalobha), to manifest all kinds of wonders (āścarya) by cheating (kuhāna).
- Out of love for profit, to boast about one’s own qualities (svaguṇalapanā).
- Out of love for profit, to predict good luck (svasti) or bad luck (asvasti) to people.
- Out of love for profit, to proclaim loudly (uccais) one’s own power (prabhāva) in order to frighten people and make them respect oneself.
- Out of love for profit, to speak of offerings already obtained (labdhapūjā) in order to encourage other people to give in their turn.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryMithyājīva (मिथ्याजीव).—m. (= Pali micchājīva), wrong way of getting a living; for a monk, there are five such: Bodhisattvabhūmi 168.23, listed 21—22 as kuhanā etc., also listed Mahāvyutpatti 2493—2497, see s.v. kuhana (or °nā); the others are lapana (°nā), naiṣpeṣikatā (°tva), naimittikatā (°tva), and lābhena lābha-niścikīrṣā (°ṣutā), or °niṣpādanā.
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: Jiva, Mithya.
Starts with: Mithyajivatu.
Full-text: Naishpeshikata, Naimittikata, Lapana, Kuhana, Nishcikirsha, Samyagvak, Samyagajiva.
Relevant text
Search found 2 books and stories containing Mithyajiva, Mithyājīva, Mithya-jiva, Mithyā-jīva; (plurals include: Mithyajivas, Mithyājīvas, jivas, jīvas). 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)
The five bad ways of livelihood (mithyājīva) < [Abhidharma auxiliaries (E): Detailed study of the auxiliaries]
E.7. The Eight Members of the Path (āryāṣṭāṅgamārga) < [Abhidharma auxiliaries (E): Detailed study of the auxiliaries]
The eight hot hells < [The world of transmigration]
Abhidharmakośa (by Leo M. Pruden)