Samata, aka: Samatā; 9 Definition(s)
Introduction
Samata means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. 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 Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Samatā (समता, “smoothness”) refers to one of the ten merits (guṇa) of a dramatic play (kāvya), according to Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 17. They are characterised by their sweetness and depth of meaning. (Description): When alaṃkāras and guṇas match and illuminate one another it is called an instance of smoothness (samatā).
(Source): Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (śāstra) of performing arts, (nāṭya, e.g., theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing dramatic plays (nataka) and poetic works (kavya).
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
See Samanga 1 above.
(Source): Pali Kanon: Pali Proper NamesTheravāda 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).
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Samatā (समता, “equality”) refers to a set of “two equalities”, representing qualities acquired by the Bodhisattvas accompanying the Buddha at Rājagṛha on the Gṛdhrakūṭaparvata, according to the Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter X. There are two kinds of equalities (samatā):
- equality toward beings (sattvasamatā),
- equality toward dharmas (dharmasamatā).
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)
Samatā (समता) or Samatājñāna refers to “knowledge of equality” and represents one of the “five knowledges” (jñāna) as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 94). The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (eg., samatā). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.
(Source): Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgrahaLanguages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
samatā : (f.) equality; evenness; normal state.
(Source): BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English DictionarySamatā, (fr. sama3) equality, evenness, normal state Vin. I, 183; A. III, 375 sq.; Miln. 351. (Page 682)
(Source): Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary
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.
Marathi-English dictionary
sāmatā (सामता).—m A carpenter's tool, a sort of drill or augre.
(Source): DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarysāmatā (सामता).—m A sort of augre or carpenter's tool.
(Source): DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-EnglishMarathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit-English dictionary
Samatā (समता).—
1) Sameness, identity; समेत्य ते मन्त्रयितुं समतागतबुद्धयः (sametya te mantrayituṃ samatāgatabuddhayaḥ) Rām.2.2.2.
2) Likeness, similarity.
3) Equality; स्वजातेः समतां गतम् (svajāteḥ samatāṃ gatam) Pt.2.87.
4) Impartiality, fairness. समतां नी (samatāṃ nī) 'to treat as equal'; पश्चाद्दृश्येत यत्किंचित्तत्सर्वं समतां नयेत् (paścāddṛśyeta yatkiṃcittatsarvaṃ samatāṃ nayet) Ms.9.218.
5) Equanimity.
6) Perfectness.
7) Commonness.
8) Evenness.
See also (synonyms): samatva.
(Source): DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionarySanskrit, 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 27 related definition(s) that might help you understand this better. Below you will find the 15 most relevant articles:
| Samatajnana | Samatājñāna (समताज्ञान) or simply Samatā refers to the “knowledge of equalit” and represents th... | |
| Samatakshanti | Samatākṣānti (समताक्षान्ति) refers to the “patience of equanimity” according to the Mahāprajñāp... | |
| Sattvasamata | Sattvasamatā (सत्त्वसमता) refers to “equality toward beings” and represents a type of samatā (e... | |
| Sarvasamata | Sarvasamatā (सर्वसमता).—equality towards everything; स सर्वसमतामेत्य ब्रह्माभ्येति परं पदम् (sa... | |
| Dharmasamata | Dharmasamatā (धर्मसमता) refers to “equality toward dharmas” and represents a type of samatā (eq... | |
| Guna | Guṇa (गुण, “merits”) refers to “poetic merits” as opposed to doṣa (poetic faults), and are ten ... | |
| Bhava | Bhāva (भाव) refers to “feelings expressed in forms” and represents one of the six limbs (ṣaḍaṅg... | |
| Indriya | Indriya (इन्द्रिय, “faculties”) or Pañcendriya refers to one of the seven classes of the thirty... | |
| Jnana | Jñāna (ज्ञान) or Jñānapāda refers to the first of four sections (pāda) of the Pāñcarātra system... | |
| Ahimsa | Ahiṃsā (अहिंसा, “non-violence”) refers to a moral principles governing a Jain life according Ja... | |
| Shari | Śāri (शारि) is the daughter of Māṭhara: a Brāhmin from Rājagṛha according to the Mahāprajñāpāra... | |
| Indriya Jataka | Indriya, (nt.) (Vedic indriya adj. only in meaning “belonging to Indra”; nt. strength, might (... | |
| Kucela | Kucela (कुचेल).—Sudāman, better known as Kucela was a brahmin class-mate of Śrī Kṛṣṇa at the Āś... | |
| Indriya Sutta | Indriya, (nt.) (Vedic indriya adj. only in meaning “belonging to Indra”; nt. strength, might (... | |
| Samacitta | Samacitta (समचित्त) refers to a “mind of equanimity” or an “evenness of mind” according to the ... |
Relevant text
Search found 11 books and stories containing Samata or Samatā. 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)
Bodhisattva quality 3: the equalities (samatā) and the patiences (kṣānti) < [Chapter X - The Qualities of the Bodhisattvas]
Note (2): The Mahāyānist dharmatā < [Part 2 - Understanding dharmatā and its synonyms]
The Viśeṣacinti-brahma-paripṛcchā-sūtra < [Part 3 - Outshining the knowledge of all the Śrāvakas and Pratyekabuddhas]
Yoga Vasistha [English], Volume 1-4 (by Vihari-Lala Mitra)
Chapter CLXX - On the conduct of the sapient man < [Book VII - Nirvana prakarana part 2 (nirvana prakarana)]
Chapter CXCVII - Excellence of universal toleration < [Book VII - Nirvana prakarana part 2 (nirvana prakarana)]
Chapter XXXIX - The same quietness or quietude of the spirit < [Book IV - Sthiti prakarana (sthiti prakarana)]
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 6.44 < [Section VI - Procedure of going forth as a Wandering Mendicant]
The Mahavastu (great story) (by J. J. Jones)
Chapter I - Prologue < [Volume I]
A History of Indian Philosophy Volume 1 (by Surendranath Dasgupta)
Part 11 - Mahāyānism < [Chapter V - Buddhist Philosophy]
The Natyashastra (by Bharata-muni)