Saddha, aka: Saddhā, Ṣaḍdhā, Shaddha; 12 Definition(s)

Introduction

Saddha 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 Ṣaḍdhā can be transliterated into English as Saddha or Shaddha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Conviction, faith. A confidence in the Buddha that gives one the willingness to put his teachings into practice. Conviction becomes unshakeable upon the attainment of stream entry (see sotapanna).(Source): Access to Insight: A Glossary of Pali and Buddhist Terms

1. Saddha. An upasika of Savatthi. Thinking that to allow a monk to have intercourse with her would be the highest gift, she accosted a monk and offered herself. The offer was, however, refused. Vin.iii.39.

2. Saddha. One of Sakkas daughters. See the Sudhabhojana Jataka.

1. Saddha Sutta. A group of Satullapakayika Devas visit the Buddha and one of them speaks in praise of saddha. S.i.25.

2. Saddha Sutta. On the five advantages resulting from faith. A.iii.42.

3. Saddha Sutta. The perfect monk is he who has faith, virtue learning, is master of the dhamma, enters into the jhanas, etc. A.iv.314.

4. Saddha Sutta. Eight qualities which make a monk perfect. A.iv.315.

5. Saddha Sutta. Ten qualities which give perfection to a monk. A.v.10f.

6. Saddha (or Apana) Sutta. The Buddha, staying at Apana, asks Sariputta if a monk who is utterly devoted to the Tathagata, and has perfect faith in him, can have any doubt or wavering as to the Tathagata or his teaching Sariputta answers in the negative and proceeds to explain. S.v.225f.

-- or --

See Sandha.

(Source): Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

F Faith. Belief in the law of kamma. Confidence towards dhamma.

(Source): Dhamma Dana: Pali English Glossary

s. saddhā (“confidence”).

(Source): Pali Kanon: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines

Saddhā (“faith”).

(Source): Pali Kanon: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines

faith, confidence.

A Buddhist is said to have faith if "he believes in the Perfect One's (the Buddha's) Enlightenment" (M 53; A.V, 2), or in the Three Jewels (s. ti-ratana), by taking his refuge in them (s. ti-sarana). His faith, however, should be "reasoned and rooted in understanding" (ākāravatā saddhā dassanamūlika; M. 47), and he is asked to investigate and test the object of his faith (M. 47, 95). A Buddhist's faith is not in conflict with the spirit of inquiry, and "doubt about dubitable things" (A. II, 65; S. XLII, 13) is admitted and inquiry into them is encouraged. The 'faculty of faith' (saddhindriya) should be balanced with that of wisdom (paññindriya; s. indriya-samatta). It is said: "A monk who has understanding, establishes his faith in accordance with that understanding" (S. XLVIII, 45). Through wisdom and understanding, faith becomes an inner certainty and firm conviction based on one's own experience.

Faith is called the seed (Sn. v. 77) of all wholesome states because, according to commentarial explanations, it inspires the mind with confidence (okappana, pasāda) and determination (adhimokkha), for 'launching out' (pakkhandhana; s. M. 122) to cross the flood of samsāra.

Unshakable faith is attained on reaching the first stage of holiness, 'stream-entry' (sotāpatti, s. ariyapuggala), when the fetter of sceptical doubt (vicikicchā; s. samyojana) is eliminated. Unshakable confidence (avecca-pasāda) in the Three Jewels is one of the characteristic qualities of the Stream-winner (sotāpannassa angāni, q.v.).

Faith is a mental concomitant, present in all karmically wholesome, and its corresponding neutral, consciousness (s. Tab. II). It is one of the 4 streams of merit (puññadhārā, q.v.), one of the 5 spiritual faculties (indriya, q.v.), spiritual powers (bala, q.v.), elements of exertion (padhāniyanga, q.v.) and one of the 7 treasures (dhana, q.v.).

See Faith in the Buddha's Teaching, by Soma Thera (WHEEL 262). "Does Saddhā mean Faith?'' by Ñānamoli Thera (in WHEEL 52/53).

(Source): Pali Kanon: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines

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).

Abhidhamma

Part of the Sobhana Cetasikas.

Saddha makes citta believes in the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sangha, Paticcasamuppada and the Noble Eightfold Path and the practice. This belief is not a blind faith but there is a strong reason for this. There is evidence for total belief. It is like conmfidence. When saddha arises citta and all other cetasikas become clean, active, alert and calm.

(Source): Journey to Nibbana: Patthana Dhama

abundance of confidence;

(Source): Dhamma Study: Cetasikas

context information

Abhidhamma (अभिधम्म) usually refers to the last section (piṭaka) of the Pali canon and includes schematic classifications of scholastic literature dealing with Theravāda Buddhism. Primary topics include psychology, philosophy, methodology and metaphysics which are rendered into exhaustive enumerations and commentaries.

Pali

saddha : (adj.) believing; faithful; devoted. || saddhā (f.) faith; devotion.

(Source): BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

1) Saddhā, (f.) (cp. Vedic śraddhā: see saddahati) faith (on term cp. Geiger, Saṃyutta trslⁿ II. 45²) D. I, 63; III, 164 sq.; S. I, 172=Sn. 76; S. V, 196; Dh. 144; A. I, 150, 210; III, 4 sq. , 352; IV, 23; V, 96; Dhs. 12; Miln. 34 sq.; Tikp 61, 166, 277, 282.—Instr. saddhāya (used as adv.) in faith, by faith in (Acc. or Gen.) Vin. II, 289 (āyasmantānaṃ); J. V, 176 (pabbajita); PvA. 49 (kammaphalaṃ s.); or shortened to saddhā (-pabbajita) M. I, 123; A. I, 24; J. I, 130. The same phrase as saddhāya pabbajita at S. I, 120 is expl^d as “saddahitvā” by Bdhgh (see K. S. I. 321), thus taking it as ger.

2) Saddha, ² (cp. Epic Sk. & Sūtra literature śrāddha, fr. śrad-dhā) a funeral rite in honour of departed relatives connected with meals and gifts to the brahmins D. I, 97; A. I, 166; V, 269, 273; DA. I, 267; saddhaṃ pamuñcati to give up offerings, to abandon Brahmanism Vin. I, 7; D. II, 39; Sn. 1146. The word is n. according to Abhp and A. V, 269—273; Loc. °e, D. I, 97; J. II, 360; kaṃ saddhaṃ (Acc. in a gāthā), seems to be f.; Com. ib. 360 has saddhā-bhattaṃ, a funeral repast (v. l. saddha-°). Thus it seems to be confused with saddhā. (Page 675)

3) Saddha, ¹ (adj.) (orig. adj. of saddha², but felt to be adj. of saddhā; cp. BSk. śrāddha AvŚ I. 83, 383)

3.a) believing faithful D. I, 171; S. I, 43; II, 159 sq.; A. I, 150; II, 164, 227 sq.; III, 3 sq. , 34, 182; IV, 38, 145, 314 sq.; V, 10 sq. , 124 sq.; Sn. 188, 371; Dh. 8; Pv. I, 10⁴; IV, 1⁸⁶; DhA. II, 82.

3.b) credulous Sn. 853; Dh. 97. (Page 675)

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

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.

General definition (in Buddhism)

Faith is an important constituent element of the teachings of the Shakyamuni for all traditions of the Buddhadharma, though the kind and nature of faith changes in the different schools. According to received tradition, the Buddhavacana, some of the first words which the Buddha voiced after resolving to teach Dharma where:

The Pali suttas (scriptures) list faith as one of the Seven Treasures (dhanas), one of the five "spiritual faculties" (indriyas), one of the four "streams of merit", and one of the "spiritual powers" (balas).

(Source): WikiPedia: Buddhism

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Ṣaḍdhā (षड्धा).—See षोढा (ṣoḍhā).

(Source): DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. 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.

Relevant definitions

Search found 94 related definition(s) that might help you understand this better. Below you will find the 15 most relevant articles:

Relevant text

Search found 46 books and stories containing Saddha, Saddhā, Ṣaḍdhā or Shaddha. You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Abhidhamma in Daily Life (by Ashin Janakabhivamsa) (by Ashin Janakabhivamsa)

Factor 1 - Saddha (faith) < [Chapter 3 - On kusala cetasikas (wholesome mental factors)]

Chapter 5 - Carita (nature, character or habitual conduct)

Domain 11 - Conclusion < [Chapter 6 - Ten domains of meritorious actions (ten punna kiriyavatthu)]

+ 7 more chapters / show preview

Vipassana Meditation (by Chanmyay Sayadaw)

Part 1 - Devotional Aspect < [Chapter 3 - Seven Benefits Of Mindfulness Meditation]

Chapter 6 - Nine Ways To Sharpen The Mental Faculties

Part 1 - Balancing The Mental Faculties < [Chapter 6 - Nine Ways To Sharpen The Mental Faculties]

+ 1 more chapters / show preview

Practicing Insight on Your Own (by Acharn Thawee Baladhammo)

The Method Of Adjusting The 5 Indriya Evenly < [Chapter 4]

Part 3 - Obstacles Of The Third Stage. < [Chapter 3]

The Characteristics Of Forgetting

+ 2 more chapters / show preview

Vipassana Meditation Course (by Chanmyay Sayadaw)

Part 4 - The Five Mental Faculties < [Chapter 8 - Daily Activities]

Part 5 - Balance < [Chapter 8 - Daily Activities]

Part 3 - The Five Mental Factors < [Chapter 4 - Excercises In Mindfulness]

+ 1 more chapters / show preview

Cetasikas (by Nina van Gorkom)

Chapter 25 - Confidence < [Part IV - Beautiful Cetasikas]

Appendix 8 - Appendix To Chapter 31 < [Appendix And Glossary]

Chapter 31 - Six Pairs Of Beautiful Cetasikas < [Part IV - Beautiful Cetasikas]

+ 6 more chapters / show preview

A Manual of Abhidhamma (by Nārada Thera)

Factors of Enlightenment < [Chapter VII - Abhidhamma Categories]

52 Kinds of Mental States < [Chapter II - Mental States]

Summary of Objects < [Chapter III - Miscellaneous Section]

+ 2 more chapters / show preview

 

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