Upadeshacarya, Upadeśācārya, Upadesha-acarya: 1 definition

Introduction:

Upadeshacarya 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 Upadeśācārya can be transliterated into English as Upadesacarya or Upadeshacarya, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Alternative spellings of this word include Upadeshacharya.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Upadeshacarya in Mahayana glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Upadeśācārya (उपदेशाचार्य) refers to “heretical masters”, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 45).—Accordingly, “[The family of the Bodhisattvas]—If someone produces a very profound mind of profound great compassion towards beings, he takes birth in the Bodhisattva family. In the same way when one is born into a royal family, no one dares to despise you; furthermore, you fear neither hunger nor thirst, cold nor heat, etc. It is the same for the one who enters into the assurance of Bodhisattva and is born into the family of the Bodhisattvas: because he is the child of the Buddha, Devas, Nāgas, Yakṣas, Satpuruṣas, etc., do not dare to scorn him but increase their veneration; he does not fear the bad destinies or the lower places among gods or men; he is not afraid that the Śrāvakas, Pratyekabuddhas or heretical masters (Upadeśācārya) will come to destroy his resolution”.

Mahayana book cover
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.

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