In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Vijñānānantyāyatana (विज्ञानानन्त्यायतन) referst to the “sphere of infinity of consciousness” and represents one of the four Ārūpyasamāpatti (“formless absorptions”), according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 32. Of the four formless (ārūpya) absorptions, one, namely, the naivasaṃjñānā-saṃjñā-āyatana, is always impure (sāsrava). For the other three, one can single out: the ākāśānantya-āyatana is sometimes impure (sāsrava) and sometimes pure (anāsrava). If it is impure, this ākāśāyatana contains four impure aggregates (sāsrava-skandha); if it is pure, it contains four pure aggregates. It is the same for the vijñānānantya-āyatana and the ākiṃcanya-āyatana.

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.

General definition (in Buddhism)

Source: WikiPedia: Buddhism

Vijñānānantyāyatana or Viññāṇānañcāyatana or Viññāṇañcāyatana (Tib: rnam shes mtha' yas; Jpn: 識無辺処 shiki mu hen jo) "Sphere of Infinite Consciousness". In this sphere formless beings dwell meditating on their consciousness (vijñāna) as infinitely pervasive. Total life span on this realm in human years - 40,000 Maha Kalpa. This is realm is place 5,580,000 Yodun above the Plane of Infinite Space(Akasanknayathanaya)

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

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

Vijñānānantyāyatana (विज्ञानानन्त्यायतन).—(= Pali viññāṇānañcāy°), (1) nt. stage of infinity of consciousness: as 2d of the stages of arūpāvacara gods, Mahāvyutpatti 3111; Daśabhūmikasūtra 34.13; as 2d of four arūpya samāpatti, Mahāvyutpatti 1493; Karmavibhaṅga (and Karmavibhaṅgopadeśa) 47.21; as con- dition of the 5th vimokṣa, Mahāvyutpatti 1515; as condition of the 8th abhibhvāyatana, Mahāvyutpatti 1527; as 6th sattvāvāsa, Mahāvyutpatti 2294; abbreviated in a [compound] to vijñāna, Bodhisattvabhūmi 49.17—18, see naivasaṃjñānāsaṃjñā°; (2) m. pl., = next: Suvarṇabhāsottamasūtra 86.11.

[Sanskrit to German]

Vijnananantyayatana 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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Ayatana.

Starts with: Vijnananantyayatanacakravartin, Vijnananantyayatanachakravartin.

Full-text: Arupyasamapatti, Arupyadhatu, Akimcanyayatana, Akashanantyayatana, Naivasamjnanasamjnayatana, Vijnananantyayatanacakravartin, Anupurvasamapatti, Vijnana, Deva.

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Search found 2 books and stories containing Vijnananantyayatana, Vijñānānantyāyatana, Vijnananantya-ayatana, Vijñānānantya-āyatana; (plurals include: Vijnananantyayatanas, Vijñānānantyāyatanas, ayatanas, āyatanas). 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)

Appendix 1 - Distribution of gods in the three worlds < [Chapter XXXII-XXXIV - The eight classes of supplementary dharmas]

Preliminary note and synonyms of anupūrvasamāpatti < [Class 8: The nine successive absorptions]

Objects and distribution of the vimokṣas, abhibhus and kṛtsnas < [Class (5) liberations, (6) masteries and (7) totalities]

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A Dictionary Of Chinese Buddhist Terms (by William Edward Soothill)

Part 12 - Twelve Strokes

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