Si chan tian, Sì chán tiān: 4 definitions
Introduction:
Si chan tian 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
Chinese Buddhism
四禪天 [si chan tian]—The four dhyāna heavens, 四靜慮 [si jing lu] (四靜慮天 [si jing lu tian]), i. e. the division of the eighteen brahmalokas into four dhyānas: the disciple attains to one of these heavens according to the dhyāna he observes: (1) 初禪天 [chu chan tian] The first region, 'as large as one whole universe' comprises the three heavens, Brahma-pāriṣadya, Brahma-purohita, and Mahābrahma, 梵輔 [fan fu], 梵衆 [fan zhong], and 大梵天 [da fan tian]; the inhabitants are without gustatory or olfactory organs, not needing food, but possess the other four of the six organs. (2) 二禪天 [er chan tian] The second region, equal to 'a small chiliocosmos' 小千界 [xiao qian jie], comprises the three heavens, according to Eitel, 'Parīttābha, Apramāṇābha, and Ābhāsvara, ' i. e. 少光 [shao guang] minor light, 無量光 [wu liang guang] infinite light, and 極光淨 [ji guang jing] utmost light purity; the inhabitants have ceased to require the five physical organs, possessing only the organ of mind. (3) 三禪天 [san chan tian] The third region, equal to 'a middling chiliocosmos '中千界 [zhong qian jie], comprises three heavens; Eitel gives them as Parīttaśubha, Apramāṇaśubha, and Śubhakṛtsna, i. e. 少淨 [shao jing] minor purity, 無量淨 [wu liang jing] infinite purity, and 徧淨 [bian jing] universal purity; the inhabitants still have the organ of mind and are receptive of great joy. (4) 四禪天 [si chan tian] The fourth region, equal to a great chiliocosmos, 大千界 [da qian jie], comprises the remaining nine brahmalokas, namely, Puṇyaprasava, Anabhraka, Bṛhatphala, Asañjñisattva, Avṛha, Atapa, Sudṛśa, Sudarśana, and Akaniṣṭha (Eitel). The Chinese titles are 福生 [fu sheng] felicitous birth, 無雲 [wu yun] cloudless, 廣果 [guang guo] large fruitage, 無煩 [wu fan] no vexations, atapa is 無熱 [wu re] no heat, sudṛśa is 善見 [shan jian] beautiful to see, sudarśana is 善現 [shan xian] beautiful appearing, two others are 色究竟 [se jiu jing] the end of form, and 無想天 [wu xiang tian] the heaven above thought, but it is difficult to trace avṛha and akaniṣṭha; the inhabitants of this fourth region still have mind. The number of the dhyāna heavens differs; the Sarvāstivādins say 16, the 經 [jing] or Sutra school 17, and the Sthavirāḥ school 18. Eitel points out that the first dhyāna has one world with one moon, one mem, four continents, and six devalokas; the second dhyāna has 1, 000 times the worlds of the first; the third has 1, 000 times the worlds of the second; the fourth dhyāna has 1, 000 times those of the third. Within a kalpa of destruction 壞劫 [huai jie] the first is destroyed fifty-six times by fire, the second seven by water, the third once by wind, the fourth 'corresponding to a state of absolute indifference' remains 'untouched' by all the other evolutions; when 'fate (天命 [tian ming]) comes to an end then the fourth dhyāna may come to an end too, but not sooner'.
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]
四禪天 [si chan tian]—The Four Dhyana Heavens — [Realm Name] Newly referred to as the Four Samapatti Heavens (四靜慮天 [si jing lu tian]), these are the four heavens in the Form Realm (色界 [se jie]) born from cultivating the four kinds of dhyana samadhi (禪定 [chan ding]). They are distinguished by feelings (受 [shou]) and observation and investigation (觀覺 [guan jue]) (newly called investigation and analysis (尋伺 [xun ci])):
1. First Dhyana Heaven (初禪天 [chu chan tian]): Above the first dhyana, there is no need for coarse food (分段食 [fen duan shi]), hence there are no consciousnesses of nose and tongue (鼻舌二識 [bi she er shi]). Only among the four consciousnesses of eye, ear, body, and mind (眼耳身意四識 [yan er shen yi si shi]) is there a joyful feeling (喜受 [xi shou]) corresponding to mind consciousness (意識 [yi shi]), and a pleasurable feeling (樂受 [le shou]) corresponding to the three (eye, ear, body) consciousnesses, and both investigation and analysis (覺觀 [jue guan]) are present. In this realm, the Sarvastivada school (薩婆多部 [sa po duo bu]) establishes two heavens: Brahma-parisadya (梵眾 [fan zhong]) and Brahma-purohita (梵輔 [fan fu]). The Sautrantika school (經部 [jing bu]) and the Sthaviravada school (上座部 [shang zuo bu]) add Maha-brahma Heaven (大梵天 [da fan tian]) to make three heavens (the Sarvastivada school includes this within Brahma-purohita Heaven), therefore, the First Dhyana Heaven has three heavens.
2. Second Dhyana Heaven (二禪天 [er chan tian]): Above the second dhyana, there are also no three consciousnesses of eye, ear, and body (眼耳身之三識 [yan er shen zhi san shi]); there is only mind consciousness. Consequently, there are only the two feelings of joy and equanimity (喜捨二受 [xi she er shou]) corresponding to mind consciousness. As there are no five consciousnesses like eye-consciousness, there is no pleasurable feeling. Furthermore, the mind consciousness's delight is coarse and great, hence it is a joyful feeling rather than a pleasurable feeling. However, there is no investigation and analysis. This realm has three heavens: Parittābha (少光 [shao guang]), Apramāṇābha (無量光 [wu liang guang]), and Ābhāsvara (極光淨 [ji guang jing]) (Light-Sound).
3. Third Dhyana Heaven (三禪天 [san chan tian]): Here too, there is only mind consciousness. There are the two feelings of pleasure and equanimity (樂捨二受 [le she er shou]) corresponding to it. In this realm, the aspect of mind consciousness's delight is extremely pure and subtle, hence it is established as a pleasurable feeling. This realm also has three heavens: Parittaśubha (少淨 [shao jing]), Apramāṇaśubha (無量淨 [wu liang jing]), and Śubhakṛtsna (徧淨 [bian jing]).
4. Fourth Dhyana Heaven: This also has only mind consciousness, with only the feeling of equanimity (捨受 [she shou]) corresponding to it. In this realm, the Sarvastivada and Sautrantika schools establish eight heavens: Anabhraka (無雲 [wu yun]), Puṇyaprasava (福生 [fu sheng]), Bṛhatphala (廣果 [guang guo]), Avṛha (無煩 [wu fan]), Atapa (無熱 [wu re]), Sudṛśa (善見 [shan jian]), Sudārśana (善現 [shan xian]), and Akaniṣṭha (色究竟 [se jiu jing]). The Sthaviravada school adds the Heaven of No Thought (無想天 [wu xiang tian]) to this, making nine heavens (the Sarvastivada and Sautrantika schools include it within Bṛhatphala). Therefore, the Sarvastivada school has sixteen heavens, the Sautrantika school has seventeen heavens, the Sthaviravada school has eighteen heavens, and Mahayana Yogacara (大乘唯識 [da cheng wei shi]) agrees with the Sthaviravada school's meaning, also having eighteen heavens.
四禪天—【界名】新云四靜慮天，修四種禪定所生之色界四天處也。分別之以受與觀覺（新曰尋伺）：一、初禪天，初禪已上，不須分段食，故無鼻舌二識，唯就眼耳身意四識有喜受，而與意識相應，有樂受而與三識相應，且有覺觀之二者。此地薩婆多部立梵眾梵輔之二天，經部與上座部，加大梵天為三天（薩婆多以之於梵輔天中攝），故初禪天有三天。二、二禪天，二禪已上，亦無眼耳身之三識，僅有意識之一，因而惟有喜捨二受，與意識相應，無眼等五識，故無樂受，又意識之怡悅麤大，故是喜受而非樂受。但無覺觀二者，此地有少光，無量光，極光淨（光音）之三天。三、三禪天，是亦僅有意識。有樂捨二受與上相應。此地意識怡悅之相，至極淨妙，故立為樂受。此地亦有少淨，無量淨，徧淨之三天。四、四禪天，此亦僅有意識，唯有捨受與之相應。此地薩，經二部立無雲，福生，廣果，無煩，無熱，善見，善現，色究竟之八天，上座部於此加無想天為九天（薩經二部攝之於廣果中），故薩婆多部有十六天，經部有十七天，上座部有十八天，大乘唯識與上座部之義同為十八天。
[jiè míng] xīn yún sì jìng lǜ tiān, xiū sì zhǒng chán dìng suǒ shēng zhī sè jiè sì tiān chù yě. fēn bié zhī yǐ shòu yǔ guān jué (xīn yuē xún cì): yī,, chū chán tiān, chū chán yǐ shàng, bù xū fēn duàn shí, gù wú bí shé èr shí, wéi jiù yǎn ěr shēn yì sì shí yǒu xǐ shòu, ér yǔ yì shí xiāng yīng, yǒu lè shòu ér yǔ sān shí xiāng yīng, qiě yǒu jué guān zhī èr zhě. cǐ de sà pó duō bù lì fàn zhòng fàn fǔ zhī èr tiān, jīng bù yǔ shàng zuò bù, jiā dà fàn tiān wèi sān tiān (sà pó duō yǐ zhī yú fàn fǔ tiān zhōng shè), gù chū chán tiān yǒu sān tiān. èr,, èr chán tiān, èr chán yǐ shàng, yì wú yǎn ěr shēn zhī sān shí, jǐn yǒu yì shí zhī yī, yīn ér wéi yǒu xǐ shě èr shòu, yǔ yì shí xiāng yīng, wú yǎn děng wǔ shí, gù wú lè shòu, yòu yì shí zhī yí yuè cū dà, gù shì xǐ shòu ér fēi lè shòu. dàn wú jué guān èr zhě, cǐ de yǒu shǎo guāng, wú liàng guāng, jí guāng jìng (guāng yīn) zhī sān tiān. sān,, sān chán tiān, shì yì jǐn yǒu yì shí. yǒu lè shě èr shòu yǔ shàng xiāng yīng. cǐ de yì shí yí yuè zhī xiāng, zhì jí jìng miào, gù lì wèi lè shòu. cǐ de yì yǒu shǎo jìng, wú liàng jìng, biàn jìng zhī sān tiān. sì,, sì chán tiān, cǐ yì jǐn yǒu yì shí, wéi yǒu shě shòu yǔ zhī xiāng yīng. cǐ de sà, jīng èr bù lì wú yún, fú shēng, guǎng guǒ, wú fán, wú rè, shàn jiàn, shàn xiàn, sè jiū jìng zhī bā tiān, shàng zuò bù yú cǐ jiā wú xiǎng tiān wèi jiǔ tiān (sà jīng èr bù shè zhī yú guǎng guǒ zhōng), gù sà pó duō bù yǒu shí liù tiān, jīng bù yǒu shí qī tiān, shàng zuò bù yǒu shí bā tiān, dà chéng wéi shí yǔ shàng zuò bù zhī yì tóng wèi shí bā tiān.
[jie ming] xin yun si jing lu tian, xiu si zhong chan ding suo sheng zhi se jie si tian chu ye. fen bie zhi yi shou yu guan jue (xin yue xun ci): yi,, chu chan tian, chu chan yi shang, bu xu fen duan shi, gu wu bi she er shi, wei jiu yan er shen yi si shi you xi shou, er yu yi shi xiang ying, you le shou er yu san shi xiang ying, qie you jue guan zhi er zhe. ci de sa po duo bu li fan zhong fan fu zhi er tian, jing bu yu shang zuo bu, jia da fan tian wei san tian (sa po duo yi zhi yu fan fu tian zhong she), gu chu chan tian you san tian. er,, er chan tian, er chan yi shang, yi wu yan er shen zhi san shi, jin you yi shi zhi yi, yin er wei you xi she er shou, yu yi shi xiang ying, wu yan deng wu shi, gu wu le shou, you yi shi zhi yi yue cu da, gu shi xi shou er fei le shou. dan wu jue guan er zhe, ci de you shao guang, wu liang guang, ji guang jing (guang yin) zhi san tian. san,, san chan tian, shi yi jin you yi shi. you le she er shou yu shang xiang ying. ci de yi shi yi yue zhi xiang, zhi ji jing miao, gu li wei le shou. ci de yi you shao jing, wu liang jing, bian jing zhi san tian. si,, si chan tian, ci yi jin you yi shi, wei you she shou yu zhi xiang ying. ci de sa, jing er bu li wu yun, fu sheng, guang guo, wu fan, wu re, shan jian, shan xian, se jiu jing zhi ba tian, shang zuo bu yu ci jia wu xiang tian wei jiu tian (sa jing er bu she zhi yu guang guo zhong), gu sa po duo bu you shi liu tian, jing bu you shi qi tian, shang zuo bu you shi ba tian, da cheng wei shi yu shang zuo bu zhi yi tong wei shi ba tian.
四禪天 t = 四禅天 s = sì chán tiān p refers to [proper noun] “Fourth Dhyāna Heaven”; Domain: Buddhism 佛教 [fu jiao]; Notes: See 第四禪天 [di si chan tian] (SH '四禪 [si chan]', p. 179) .
Chinese Buddhism (漢傳佛教, hanchuan fojiao) is the form of Buddhism that developed in China, blending Mahayana teachings with Daoist and Confucian thought. Its texts are mainly in Classical Chinese, based on translations from Sanskrit. Major schools include Chan (Zen), Pure Land, Tiantai, and Huayan. Chinese Buddhism has greatly influenced East Asian religion and culture.
Languages of India and abroad
Chinese-English dictionary
四禪天 [sì chán tiān] refers to: “four meditation heavens”.
四禪天 is further associated with the following language/terms:
[Related Chinese terms] 四定.
[Sanskrit] catur-dhyāna-bhūmi.
[Vietnamese] tứ thiền thiên.
[Korean] 사선천 / sa seoncheon.
[Japanese] シゼンテン / shi zenten.
Chinese language.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Chan tian, Tian, Ci, Chan, Can, Shi.
Full-text (+27): Ba tian, Di si chan tian, Si jing lu, Se jie si chan tian, Chu chan tian, Shi ba sheng chu, Fu sheng tian, San jie, Si chan, Zhen feng, She nian qing jing de, Jing lu, Se you, Se jie, Tu thien thien, Bu huai si chan, Di san chan, Si jing lu tian, Liu yu si chan, Di er chan.
Relevant text
Search found 3 books and stories containing Si chan tian, Sì chán tiān, Sì chántiān, Si chantian, Sìchántiān, Sichantian, 四禪天; (plurals include: Si chan tians, Sì chán tiāns, Sì chántiāns, Si chantians, Sìchántiāns, Sichantians, 四禪天s). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Taisho: Chinese Buddhist Canon
The Jatakamala (Scroll 13) < [Part 160 - The Jatakamala (Garland of Birth-Stories)]
A Dictionary Of Chinese Buddhist Terms (by William Edward Soothill)
Sword and Lotus < [Volume 14, Issue 6 (2023)]
Chinese Chan Buddhism and the Agrarian Aesthetic in the Garden < [Volume 14, Issue 5 (2023)]