Shraddhabala, Śraddhābala, Shraddha-bala: 3 definitions
Introduction:
Shraddhabala 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.
The Sanskrit term Śraddhābala can be transliterated into English as Sraddhabala or Shraddhabala, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraŚraddhābala (श्रद्धाबल) refers to the “power of faith”, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 2).—Accordingly, “[Question.—Why do Buddhist sūtras begin with the word evam, ‘thus’?]—[...] Furthermore, the Buddha’s doctrine is profound (gambhīra) and distant; it requires a Buddha to understand it. Without being a Buddha, the believer can enter into the Buddha’s doctrine by the power of faith (śraddhābala). Thus, Brahmādevarāja invited the Buddha to turn the wheel of the doctrine (dharmacakra). [...]”.
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 SamadhiŚraddhābala (श्रद्धाबल) or “power of conviction” is associated with Mahābhairavā and Vajrajaṭila, according to 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. [...] Three concentric circles going outward, the body, speech and mind wheels (kāya-vāka-citta), in the order: mind (blue), speech (red), and body (white), with eight Ḍākinīs each in non-dual union with their Ḍākas, "male consorts".
Associated elements of Mahābhairavā and Vajrajaṭila:
Circle: vākacakra [=vākcakra?] (speech-wheel) (red);
Ḍākinī (female consort): Mahābhairavā;
Ḍāka (male consort): Vajrajaṭila;
Bīja: oṃ;
Body-part: breasts;
Pīṭha: Oḍra;
Bodily constituent: pitta (bile);
Bodhipakṣa (wings of enlightenment): śraddhābala (power of conviction).
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-samgrahaŚraddhābala (श्रद्धाबल) or simply Śraddhā refers to the “strength of faith” and represents one of the “five powers” (pañcabala) as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 47), 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., śraddhā-bala). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Shraddha, Bala.
Starts with: Shraddhabaladhana.
Full-text: Pitta, Odra, Vajrajatila, Mahabhairava, Shraddha, Om.
Relevant text
Search found 3 books and stories containing Shraddhabala, Shraddha-bala, Śraddhā-bala, Sraddha-bala, Śraddhābala, Sraddhabala; (plurals include: Shraddhabalas, balas, Śraddhābalas, Sraddhabalas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Dasabhumika Sutra (translation and study) (by Hwa Seon Yoon)
Stage 4: Arcismati Bhumi < [Chapter 2 - Study: Summary of the Ten Stages]
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Abhidharma auxiliaries (B): The elements constituting the thirty-seven auxiliaries < [Part 2 - The auxiliaries according to the Abhidharma]
Bhūmi 6: the ground of presence (abhimukhī) < [Chapter XX - (2nd series): Setting out on the Mahāyāna]
Abhidharma auxiliaries (A): Number of auxiliaries < [Part 2 - The auxiliaries according to the Abhidharma]
A Dictionary Of Chinese Buddhist Terms (by William Edward Soothill)