Smrityupasthana, Smṛtyupasthāna, Smriti-upasthana: 6 definitions

Introduction
In Buddhism
1. Mahayana
India history
Languages
1. Sanskrit
See also

Introduction:

Smrityupasthana means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. 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 Smṛtyupasthāna can be transliterated into English as Smrtyupasthana or Smrityupasthana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Smṛtyupasthāna (स्मृत्युपस्थान) refers to the “foundations of mindfulness” and represents one of the seven classes of the thirty-seven auxiliaries to enlightenment (bodhipākṣika), according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter XXXI.—Accordingly, “the dharmas where mindfulness (smṛti) is focused (upatiṣṭhati) on the objects of knowledge (prajñālambana) are called “foundations of mindfulness” (smṛtyupasthāna)”.

Also, “thus, when the Yogin goes to the teacher (Ācārya) and hears the teaching on the path (mārgadharma) from him, first he uses his mindfulness (smṛti) to retain (dhāraṇa) this teaching: that moment is called ‘foundation of mindfulness’ (smṛtyupasthāna)”.

In order to destroy these four mistakes, the Buddha preached the four foundations of mindfulness:

to destroy the mistake about purity (śuciviparyāsa), he preaches the foundation of mindfulness on the body (kāya-smṛtyupasthāna);
to destroy the mistake on happiness (sukhaviparyāsa), he preaches the foundation of mindfulness on feelings (vedanā-smṛtyupasthāna);
to destroy the mistake on permanence (nityaviparyāsa), he preaches mindfulness on the mind (citta-smṛtyupasthāna);
to destroy the mistake on the self (ātmaviparyāsa), he preaches the foundation of mindfulness on dharmas (dharma-smṛtyupasthāna).

It is for this reason that he preached four, no more and no less.

Further, the four foundations of mindfulness (smṛtyupasthāna) are of three kinds:

mindfulness in itself (svabhāva-smṛtyupasthāna);
mindfulness by connection (saṃsarga-smṛtyupasthāna);
mindfulness as object (ālambana-smṛtyupasthāna).

Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Smṛtyupasthāna (स्मृत्युपस्थान) refers to the “application of awareness”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “[...] Again, since he understands the essence of all dharmas, the recollection of the great insight is the arising of any viewpoint beyond any mental effort. Since in this way recollection is pure, the knowledge of the application of awareness (smṛtyupasthāna-jñāna) is called the recollection of the Buddha which is taught by the Lord”.

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.

India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Smṛty-upasthāna.—cf. satipaṭṭhāna (EI 5), Buddhist; four in number. Note: smṛty-upasthāna is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Smṛtyupasthāna (स्मृत्युपस्थान).—nt. (= Pali satipaṭṭhāna, which, as Childers says, represents sati-(u)pa° by MIndic saṃdhi), application of mentality, of awareness (applications de mé- moire, LaV-P. Abhidharmakośa vi.153; see the following pages); Tibetan dran pa (= smṛti) ñe bar bzhag pa (application); Chin. place or location of smṛti; normally there are (1) four such (same in Pali): listed Mahāvyutpatti 952—956 as kāya-, vedanā-, citta-, dharma-(conditions of existence)-smṛ°; so, with full discussion of each item, Śikṣāsamuccaya 228.9 ff. (the four terms 228.11; 232.6; 233.15; 236.5); the true nature of each term must be carefully reflected on; a fuller terminology, paralleled in Pali (kāyānupassanā- etc.), is kāye kāyānu- paśyanā-smṛ° Bodhisattvabhūmi 259.21 (compare 25 evam avaśiṣṭāni smṛ° °nāni); so, with °nudarśa- (v.l. °nudarśī, n. sg. of °śin, showing confusion with the Kāśyapa Parivarta formula, below) instead of °nupaśyanā- Dharmasaṃgraha 44; a slightly different formula (compare Pali e.g. Dīghanikāya (Pali) ii.290.12 ff.), kāye kāyānupaśyī viharati na ca kāye kāyānupaśyanāyām ātmyadṛṣṭyāṃ patati Kāśyapa Parivarta 95.2, and similarly with the other three in ff.; these four are listed first among the 37 bodhipākṣika (q.v., or the like) dharma, Dharmasaṃgraha 43; Lalitavistara 8.5; 181.17 (here at end of list of bodhipakṣa-dharma is erroneously added ārya- satya, but several mss. correctly omit satya); 426.7; Divyāvadāna 208.7; not in such a list, Śikṣāsamuccaya 105.13; (2) also three, more exactly āveṇika (q.v.) smṛ° of a Buddha: trīṇy āveṇikāni smṛ° Mahāvyutpatti 187, listed 188—190 as śuśrūṣamāṇeṣu (aśuśrū°, śuśrūṣamāṇāśuśrū°) samacittatā, i.e. Buddha is neither elated nor depressed when his audience is responsive, unresponsive, or partly both, compare Bodhisattvabhūmi 403.10 ff., 15; men- tioned but not listed Divyāvadāna 182.20; Avadāna-śataka i.7.5; and, without the word āveṇika, tribhiḥ smṛ° Divyāvadāna 126.13 (that word is lacking also Bodhisattvabhūmi 403.10 ff.); smṛ° mentioned among āveṇika-buddha-dharma Bodhisattvabhūmi 230.14; (3) according to Abhidharmakośa LaV-P. vi.159 smṛ° is triple, svabhāva- (en soi; this is defined simply as = prajñā), saṃsarga- (par connexion), and ālambana- (en qualité d'objet); the two latter defined 160; this distinction I have not noted elsewhere.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Smṛtyupasthāna (स्मृत्युपस्थान):—[=smṛty-upasthāna] [from smṛty > smṛ] n. earnest thought, [Divyāvadāna]

[Sanskrit to German]

Smrityupasthana in German

context information

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.

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Search found 10 books and stories containing Smrityupasthana, Smṛtyupasthāna, Smriti-upasthana, Smṛti-upasthāna, Smrtyupasthana, Smrti-upasthana, Smrity-upasthana, Smṛty-upasthāna, Smrty-upasthana; (plurals include: Smrityupasthanas, Smṛtyupasthānas, upasthanas, upasthānas, Smrtyupasthanas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

The second Bhanavara (Introduction) < [Chapter 3 - Subject Matter of the Second Bhanavara]

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