Smritindriya, Smṛtīndriya, Smriti-indriya: 3 definitions

Introduction
In Buddhism
See also

Introduction:

Smritindriya 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 Smṛtīndriya can be transliterated into English as Smrtindriya or Smritindriya, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Smṛtīndriya (स्मृतीन्द्रिय) refers to the “faculty of mindfulness” and represents one of the five faculties (pañcendriya) forming part of the thirty-seven auxiliaries to enlightenment (bodhipākṣika), according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter XXXI.—Accordingly, “he constantly thinks about the Bodhi of the Buddhas and does not think about anything else: this is called the ‘faculty of mindfulness’ (smṛtīndriya)”.

Also, “when he thinks about the Path and the dharmas adjuvant to the Path and does not think of anything else, that is the faculty of memory (smṛtīndriya)”.

context information

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 Samadhi

Smṛtīndriya (स्मृतीन्द्रिय) or “faculty of mindfulness” is associated with Laṅkeśvarī and Vajraprabha, 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 Laṅkeśvarī and Vajraprabha:

Circle: kāyacakra (mind-wheel) (blue);
Ḍākinī (female consort): Laṅkeśvarī;
Ḍāka (male consort): Vajraprabha;
Bīja: deṃ;
Body-part: eyes;
Pīṭha: Devīkoṭa;
Bodily constituent: bukka (kidneys);
Bodhipakṣa (wings of enlightenment): smṛtīndriya (faculty of mindfulness).

context information

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-samgraha

Smṛtīndriya (स्मृतीन्द्रिय) or simply Smṛti refers to the “faculty of mindfulness” and represents one of the “five faculties” (pañcendriya) 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., smṛti-indriya). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.

Relevant text

Search found 3 books and stories containing Smritindriya, Smṛtīndriya, Smriti-indriya, Smṛti-indriya, Smrti-indriya, Smrtindriya; (plurals include: Smritindriyas, Smṛtīndriyas, indriyas, Smrtindriyas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

E.4. The Five Faculties (pañcendriya) < [Abhidharma auxiliaries (E): Detailed study of the auxiliaries]

Mahāyāna auxiliaries (D): The five faculties < [Part 3 - The auxiliaries according to the Mahāyāna]

Abhidharma auxiliaries (B): The elements constituting the thirty-seven auxiliaries < [Part 2 - The auxiliaries according to the Abhidharma]

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Part 4 - Karma, Manas and the Categories < [Chapter XII - The Philosophy of the Yogavāsiṣṭha]

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Part 2 - Two Strokes

Part 8 - Eight Strokes