Vipashyin, Vipaṣyin: 9 definitions
Introduction:
Vipashyin 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 Vipaṣyin can be transliterated into English as Vipasyin or Vipashyin, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
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In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Vipaśyin (विपश्यिन्) or “views of all kinds” is the name of a Buddha according to the according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter VII).—“During the ninety-one kalpas from the Buddha P’i p’o che (Vipaṣyin) to the Buddha Kia chö (Kāśyapa), the Bodhisattva Śākyamuni accomplished the actions producing the thirty-two marks and, when he had accumulated (upacita) them, his six virtues (pāramitā) were perfected (paripūrṇa)”.
Vipaśyin was Buddha during the 91st kalpa, according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XV).—Accordingly, “One thing that is difficult to find is a Buddha Bhagavat. It takes innumerable koṭi of kalpas to find one. In 91 kalpas, there have been only three Buddhas. [...] Before the good kalpa (bhadrakalpa), during the 91st kalpa, there was a Buddha called Vipaśyin, “views of all kinds”; [...]”.
According to the Mahāvadānasūtra, Buddha Vipaśyin had an “assistant” (upasthāyaka) named Aśoka.—Each Buddha had his assistant (upasthāyaka), a monk specially attached to his person, entrusted with fanning him, carrying his robe and bowl for alms-round, introducing visitors. The Sanskrit Mahāvadānasūtra has drawn up a list of the assistants who served the last seven Buddhas: [...] Aśoka for Vipaśyin [...]
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)
Vipaśyin (विपश्यिन्) is the name of a Tathāgata (Buddha) mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Vipaśyin).
Vipaśyin (विपश्यिन्) (or Vipaśyī) refers to one of the seven mortal Buddhas (mānuṣī) whose names appear last in the list of thirty-two Buddhas in Mahāyāna Buddhism.—The last seven Tathāgatas are well-known, and are designated by the Mahāyānist as Mānuṣī or “Mortal Buddhas”. When represented, the last seven Mortal Buddhas appear all alike; they are of one colour and one form, usually sitting cross-legged,with the right hand disposed in the Bhūmisparśa-mudrā (earth-touching attitute), which is the mudrā peculiar to Akṣobhya. [...] In paintings, the Mortal Buddhas [viz., Vipaśyin] have usually a yellow or golden complexion. [...] Sometimes they are represented as standing, in which case the appear under a distinguishing Bodhi Tree and with a distinguishing mudrā.
Vipaśyin is associated with the (Mortal) Buddhaśakti named Vipasyantī, and together they bring into existence the (Mortal) Bodhisattva named Mahāmati.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Vipaśyin (विपश्यिन्).—(compare prec. two; miswritten Vipaścin Divyāvadāna 141.16; (Ārya-)Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa 397.11; = Pali vipassi(n), both mgs.), (1) adj., having insight (into, in composition): sarvāvaraṇabuddha- samudra-°nā bodhisattvasamādhinā Gaṇḍavyūha 37.6; sarvāvara- ṇavigatena °nā kauśalyena 60.7; (2) name of a past Buddha, as in Pali the sixth before Śākyamuni, and so often as ‘first of seven Buddhas’, see s.v. tathāgata; otherwise named as a former Buddha: Mahāvastu i.2.5; 294.19; iii.240.6; 241.16; 243.14; 244.4; 245.18 ff.; 247.10; 249.1; Gaṇḍavyūha 206.12; stories of incidents which occurred during his Buddhahood, Mahāvastu ii.271.7 ff.; Divyāvadāna 141.16; 227.21 ff.; 282.19 ff.; Avadāna-śataka i.137.7 ff.; 349.3 ff.; ii.70.11; 96.3; 109.3; Kāraṇḍavvūha 14.12.
Vipaśyin (विपश्यिन्).—m. (-śyī) A Baudd'ha saint, the first of the seven principal Baudd'has. E. vipaśya and ini aff.
Vipaśyin (विपश्यिन्):—[=vi-paśyin] [from vi-paś] m. Name of a Buddha (sometimes mentioned as the first of the 7 Tathāgatas or principal Buddhas, the other six being Śikhin, Viśva-bhū, Kraku-cchanda, Kanaka-muni, Kāśyapa, and Śākya-siṃha), [Dharmasaṃgraha 6] (cf. [Monier-Williams’ Buddhism 136]).
Vipaśyin (विपश्यिन्):—[vi-paśyin] (śyī) 5. m. A Bauddha sage.
Vipaśyin (विपश्यिन्):—(wie eben) m. Nomen proprium eines Buddha [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 236.] [WILSON, Sel. Works I, 290. II, 5. 8. 13. fg. 22.] [Burnouf 222. 317.] [Lot. de Lassen’s Anthologie b. l. 503.] [WASSILJEW 187.] — Vgl. vipaścit
2) b.)
Vipaśyin (in Sanskrit) can be associated with the following Chinese terms:
1) 底沙 [dǐ shā]: “Vipaśyin” [name of a Buddha].
2) 毘婆尸 [pí pó shī]: “Vipassin”; “Vipaśyin” [name of a Buddha].
3) 維衛 [wéi wèi]: “Vipaśyin” [name of a Buddha].
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)
Full-text (+49): Pi bo shi, Pi po shi, Wei wei fu, Pi po shi fu, Wei wei, Vakula, Pi lu shi fu, Qi fu, Pi po shi fu jing, Duy ve phat, Vipashcin, Pan tou, Vipassin, Bandhumant, Sakyamuni, Vi bat thi, Shikhin, Sugandhamukha, Zhong zhong guan, Wei bo shi.
Relevant text
Search found 19 books and stories containing Vipashyin, Vi-pashyin, Vi-paśyin, Vi-pasyin, Vipaṣyin, Vipasyin, Vipaśyin; (plurals include: Vipashyins, pashyins, paśyins, pasyins, Vipaṣyins, Vipasyins, Vipaśyins). 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)
2. Actions producing the thirty-two marks (dvātriṃśallakṣaṇa) < [Part 4 - The Bodhisattva in the Abhidharma system]
Appendix 10 - The vows and actions of bhikṣu Nanda in previous lives < [Chapter VIII - The Bodhisattvas]
I. Apparent longevity of the buddhas < [Part 16 - Obtaining the immense longevity and immense radiance of the Buddhas]
Shurangama Sutra (with commentary) (English) (by Hsuan Hua)
Maintaining the Ground Bodhisattva: the earth element < [Chapter 2 - Twenty-five Means to Enlightenment]
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva (Fundamental Vows Sutra)
Mahavastu (great story) (by J. J. Jones)
Chapter XXIX - Anaṅgaṇa Jātaka < [Volume II]
Chapter XXI - Former Buddhas < [Volume III]
Chapter I - Prologue < [Volume I]
Vaishnava Myths in the Puranas (by Kum. Geeta P. Kurandwad)
The Myth of Buddhas < [Chapter 2 - Varieties of Myths]
Karandavyuha Sutra (by Mithun Howladar)
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