Vimokshamukha, Vimokṣamukha, Vimoksha-mukha: 5 definitions
Introduction:
Vimokshamukha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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 Vimokṣamukha can be transliterated into English as Vimoksamukha or Vimokshamukha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Vimokṣamukha (विमोक्षमुख) refers to the “three gates of deliverance”, according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 40.—Accordingly: The Buddha utters the lion’s roar. He is like the king of the lions (siṃharāja). [...] The Buddha-lion is very similar. [...] The three gates of deliverance (vimokṣamukha) are the fore-part of his body with firm flesh. The three wonders are his long spine. The perfection of the sciences and practices is his invisible belly. Patience is his narrow waist. The practice of solitude is his long tail. The four foundations of magical power are his well-planted paws. The five faculties of the aśaikṣa are his sharp claws. [...]
Vimokṣamukha (विमोक्षमुख) refers to the “(three) gates of liberation”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “How then, son of good family, does the Bodhisattva who has attained memory never forget? Son of good family, the Bodhisattva attains memory (dhāraṇī) by purifying his memory. What then is the purification of memory? Son of good family, there are thirty-two purifications of memory. What are the thirty-two? [...] (25) entering into what is to be done; (26) no fear reflecting on thoughts concerning the three gates of liberation (tri-vimokṣamukha); (27) never cutting off the [fourfold] sources of holiness by possessing the qualities of purity; (28) no despondency to uphold the true religion; [...]”.
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)
Vimokṣamukha (विमोक्षमुख) refers to the “(four) liberation faces”, according to the Nāmamantrārthāvalokinī by Vilāsavajra, which is a commentary on the Nāmasaṃgīti.—Accordingly, [while describing Mahāvairocana]—“And then [the Sādhaka should visualise] Mahāvairocana on the principal seat, generated by means of the syllable āḥ. [Why has he four faces?] Since consciousness—which is of the nature of the Dharma-Sphere since, by its nature, it lacks such forms as the grasped [i.e., the subject-object duality]—is four-faced. [This is] because the four liberation faces [/doors] (catur-vimokṣamukha)—emptiness and the rest—are the cause of the origination of all meditative concentrations, [and this in turn is] because their ground is the Dharma-Sphere. [...]”.
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)
Vimokṣamukha (विमोक्षमुख).—A reoccurring case is the “three gates to deliverance” (san jie tuo men 三解脫門; vimokṣa-mukha), three essentials steps along the path in which the meditator has insight into “emptiness” (śunyatā) “signlessness” (animitta), and “desirelessness” (apraṇihita).
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Vimokṣamukha (in Sanskrit) can be associated with the following Chinese terms:
1) 解脫門 [jiě tuō mén]: “gate of liberation”.
Note: vimokṣamukha can be alternatively written as: vimokṣa-mukha.
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 (+0): Vimoksha, Mukha.
Starts with (+0): Vimokshamukhatraya.
Full-text (+0): Shunyatavimokshamukha, Vimokshamukhatraya, Wu xiang jie tuo men, Wu yuan jie tuo men, Apranihita, San tuo men, Jie tuo men, Kong jie tuo men, San jie tuo men, Sarvatragaminipratipad, Vimoksha, Gambhiradharma.
Relevant text
Search found 5 books and stories containing Vimokshamukha, Vimokṣamukha, Vimoksha-mukha, Vimokṣa-mukha, Vimoksa-mukha, Vimoksamukha; (plurals include: Vimokshamukhas, Vimokṣamukhas, mukhas, Vimoksamukhas). 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)
Preliminary note on the three meditative stabilizations (samādhi) < [Class 1: The three meditative stabilizations]
I. Position of Bodhisattva (bodhisattvaniyāma) < [IX. Entering into the assurance of Bodhisattva]
II. ‘Inexhaustible’ root < [Part 4 - Planting inexhaustible roots of good]
Dasabhumika Sutra (translation and study) (by Hwa Seon Yoon)
Stage 10: Dharmamegha Bhumi < [Chapter 2 - Study: Summary of the Ten Stages]
Abhidharmakośa (by Leo M. Pruden)
Tibetan Manuscripts on Mandala and Mudra in Copenhagen Library < [Volume 23 (1958)]