In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

There are also threefold paths (to go directly to nirvāṇa):

A) Three kinds of bad paths (akuśala-mārga):

A.1) The three kinds of hells (nāraka-mārga – path of the damned) are

1. the hot hells,
2. the cold hells and
3. the dark hells.

A.2) The three kinds of animals (tiryaṅ-mārga – path of the animals) are

1. those that live on the earth,
2. those that live in the water and
3. those that live in he air.

A.3) The three kinds of pretas (path of the pretas) are

1. the emaciated pretas,
2. the pretas that eat filth and
3. the divine pretas.

B) Three kinds of good paths (kuśala-mārga):

B.1) There are three kinds of humans (manuṣya-mārga – path of humans):

1. those who commit wrong-doings (āpatti),
2. those who earn merit (puṇya) and
3. those who seek nirvāṇa,

There are three other kinds of humans:

1. those who taste the objects of desire (kāma) and do wrong;
2. those who taste the objects of desire and do not do any wrong;
3. those who do not taste the objects of desire and do not do any wrong.

B.2) There are three kinds of gods (devamārga – path of the gods):

1. gods of the desire realm (kāmadeva),
2. gods of the realm of subtle form (rūpadeva) and
3. gods of the formless realm (ārūpyadeva).

B.3) There are three kinds of paths of nirvāṇa: the path of the śrāvakas, the path of the pratyekabuddhas, and the path of the Buddhas.

B.3.a) The path of the śrāvakas is of three kinds:

1. the path of those who practice (śaikṣa-mārga),
2. the path of those who no longer practice (aśaikṣa-mārga) and
3. the path of those who are neither the one nor the other (naivaśaikṣanāśaikṣa-mārga).

B.3.b) It is the same for the path of the pratyekabuddhas.

B.3.c) The path of the Buddhas is of three kinds:

1. the path of the perfections (pāramitā-mārga),
2. the path of skillful means (upāya-mārga) and
3. the path of the pure lands (viśuddhakṣetra-mārga).

The Buddhas have three other paths:

1. the path of the first production of the mind of awakening (prathamacittotpāda-mārga),
2. the path of the practice of benefit (kuśalacaryā-mārga) and
3. the path of converting beings (sattvaparipācana-mārga).

There are three other threefold paths: the path of morality (śīlamārga), the path of meditative stabilization (samādhimārga) and the path of wisdom (prajñāmārga). There are innumerable threefold paths of this kind.

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Path.

Full-text: Deshadhvan, Mahaprajapati, Nandapala, Ghatikara, Nihshankita, Jyotipala, Jyotishpala, Vishakha, Purushadamyasarathi, Kuja, Cittanubodhashastra.

Relevant text

Search found 4 books and stories containing Threefold-path; (plurals include: paths). 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)

I. Knowledge of the paths < [VI. Acquiring the knowledges of the paths and the aspects of the paths]

Act 10.1: Samantaraśmi arrives with gifts before Śākyamuni < [Chapter XV - The Arrival of the Bodhisattvas of the Ten Directions]

Act 5.1: The Buddha shakes the trisāhasramahāsāhasralokadhātu in six ways < [Chapter XIV - Emission of rays]

+ 6 more chapters / show preview

Thirty minor Upanishads (by K. Narayanasvami Aiyar)

Narada Parivrajaka Upanishad of Atharvaveda, Chapter IX

show preview

The Brahma Purana (by G. P. Bhatt)

Chapter 70 - Doubts raised by sages

show preview

Triveni Journal

Reviews < [January - March 1977]

show preview