Samyagajiva, Samyag-ajiva, Samyagājīva: 5 definitions
Introduction:
Samyagajiva 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 SastraSamyagājīva (सम्यगाजीव, “right livelihood”) refers to the fifth of the Āryāṣṭāṅgamārga, or “eight members of the noble path”, according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter XXXI. Accordingly, “the fifth member (samyagājīva).—By means of a pure wisdom (anāsravaprajñā), to reject and eliminate the five bad ways of livelihood is right livelihood (samyagājīva)”.
Right livelihood (samyagājīva) according to Mahāyāna: “all foods (bhojana), all means of subsistence are right (samyak) and are not bad (mithyā). Established in a knowledge free of futile proliferation, the Bodhisattva does not choose right livelihood (samyagājīva) and does not reject wrong livelihood (mithyājīva). He does not depend on either the right law or the wrong law, but he remains always in pure knowledge. Penetrating thus into right living which is equality (samatā), he does not see life and does not see non-life. To practice this true wisdom (bhūtaprajñā) is what is called right livelihood (samyagājīva) [in the Bodhisattva]”.
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.
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara Samadhi1) Samyagājīva (सम्यगाजीव) or “right livelihood” is associated with Ulūkāśyā: the Northern Ḍākinī of the Cakrasaṃvara-maṇḍala or Saṃvaramaṇḍala of Abhayākaragupta’s Niṣpannayogāvalī, p. 45 and n. 145; (Cf. Cakrasaṃvaratantra, Gray, David B., 2007).—The Cakrasaṃvara mandala has a total of sixty-two deities. [...] Eight outer Ḍākinīs who make up the guardians of the directional gates and quarters of the cardinal directions.
2) Samyagājīva (सम्यगाजीव) or “right livelihood” refers to one of the eight limbs of the Āryāṣṭāṅgamārga ("The Eightfold Path"), which itself refers to Mārga or “path which leads to the end of suffering” (i.e., one of the “four noble truths”).
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgrahaSamyagājīva (सम्यगाजीव, “right livelihood”) refers to the fifth of the “noble eightfold path” (āryāṣṭāṅgamārga) as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 50), itself forming part of the “thirty-seven things on the side of awakening” (bodhipākṣika-dharma). The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., samyag-ājīva). 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 DictionarySamyagājīva (सम्यगाजीव):—[=samyag-ājīva] [from samyag > samy-añc] m. r° living.
[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: Samyanc, Ajiva.
Starts with: Samyakajivam.
Full-text: Aryashtangamarga, Ashtamargas, Shilaskandha, Samyag-marga, Danaphala, Ulukasya, Kayacarya, Manasikara, Samyagdrishti, Anasravashila, Ashtangika, Samyagvak, Marga, Shila.
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Samyagajiva, Samyag-ājīva, Samyanc-ajiva, Samyag-ajiva, Samyagājīva, Samyañc-ājīva; (plurals include: Samyagajivas, ājīvas, ajivas, Samyagājīvas). 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)
E.7. The Eight Members of the Path (āryāṣṭāṅgamārga) < [Abhidharma auxiliaries (E): Detailed study of the auxiliaries]
IV.3. The position of morality among the Path members < [IV. Recollection of the moralities (śīlānusmṛti)]
E.8. Distribution of the Auxiliaries in the Stages < [Abhidharma auxiliaries (E): Detailed study of the auxiliaries]
The Buddhist Path to Enlightenment (study) (by Dr Kala Acharya)
2(b). The Noble Eightfold Path (Ariya-aṭṭhaṅgika-magga) < [Chapter 3 - Seven Factors of Enlightenment and Noble Eightfold Path]
2.5. Right Livelihood (Sammā-ājīva or Samyag-ājīva) < [Chapter 3 - Seven Factors of Enlightenment and Noble Eightfold Path]
The Fo-Sho-Hing-Tsan-King (A Life of Buddha) (by Samuel Beal)
Varga 15. Turning The Law-Wheel < [Kiouen III]
A Dictionary Of Chinese Buddhist Terms (by William Edward Soothill)