Prayogamarga, Prayogamārga, Prayoga-marga: 1 definition

Introduction:

Prayogamarga 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.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Prayogamarga in Mahayana glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Prayogamārga (प्रयोगमार्ग) refers to the “preparatory path” and represents one of the various paths of the Śrāvakas mentioned in appendix 1 of the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XXX).—The saṃbhāramārga, “path of accumulation of merit” and the prayogamārga, “preparatory path”, are characterized by the naivaśaikṣanāśaikṣa, such as: acquisition of the roots of good (kuśalamūla), acquisition of noble lineages (āryavaṃśa), meditation on the disgusting (aśubhabhāvanā) and mindfulness of breathing (ānāpāna-smṛti), foundations of mindfulness (smṛtyupasthāna), and finally, acquisition of the four roots of good leading to penetration. These last constitute the preparatory path par excellence; they are studied in Kośa, VI, p. 163 seq.

In the course of the preparatory path (prayogamārga), the Śrāvaka, trained in the practice of the smṛtyupasthāna, cultivates the four wholesome roots favorable to penetration into the four noble Truths; these are:

  1. the heats (ūṣmagata),
  2. the summits (mūrdhan),
  3. the acquiescences (kṣānti)
  4. and the supreme worldly dharmas (laukikāgradharma).

The old canonical texts make no mention of them, but the Sarvāstivādin Abhidharma attaches great importance to them.

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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