Abhibhayatana, Abhibhāyatana: 4 definitions

Introduction:

Abhibhayatana 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.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Abhibhayatana in Theravada glossary
Source: Pali Kanon: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines

the 8 'stages of mastery', are powers to be obtained by means of the kasina-exercises (s. kasina). In the Com. to M.77, where āyatana is explained by 'means' (kārana) it is said: "The abhibhāyatana through their counteracting may master (suppress) the adverse states, and by means of higher knowledge they may master the objects of mind." They are means for transcending the sensuous sphere.

The stereotype text often met with in the Suttas (e.g. D.11, D.33; M.77; A.VIII.65; A.X.29) is as follows:

(1) "Perceiving (blue..., red..., yellow..., white) forms on one's own body, one sees forms externally small ones, beautiful or ugly; and in mastering these one understands: 'I know, I understand.' This is the first stage of mastery.

(2) "Perceiving forms on one's own body, one sees forms externally, large ones .... This is the second stage of mastery.

(3) "Not perceiving forms on one's own body, one sees forms externally, small ones .... This is the third stage of mastery.

(4) "Not perceiving forms on one's own body, one sees forms externally, large ones .... This is the fourth stage of mastery.

(5) "Not perceiving forms on one's own body, one sees forms externally, blue forms, forms of blue colour, blue appearance, blue lustre, and mastering these one understands: 'I know, I understand. This is the fifth stage of mastery."

(6-8) The same is repeated with yellow, red and white forms.

As preparatory kasina-object for the 1st and 2nd exercise one should choose on one's own body a small or a large spot, beautiful or ugly, and thereon one should concentrate one's full undivided attention, so that this object after a while reappears as mental reflex or image (nimitta) and, as it were, as something external. Such an exercise, though appearing quite mechanical, if properly carried out will bring about a high degree of mental concentration and entrance into the 4 absorptions (jhāna). In the 3rd and 4th exercises the monk by an external kasina-object gains the mental reflexes and absorptions. As objects of the remaining exercises, perfectly clear and radiant colours should be chosen, flowers, cloth, etc.

A kasina-object of small size is said to be suitable for a mentally unsteady nature, one of a large size for a dull nature, a beautiful object for an angry nature, an ugly one for a lustful nature.

In Vis.M. V it is said: "By means of the earth-kasina one succeeds in reaching the stage of mastery with regard to small and large objects .... By means of the blue-kasina one succeeds in causing blue forms to appear, in producing darkness, in reaching the stage of mastery with regard to beautiful and ugly colours, in reaching 'deliverance through the beautiful', etc." (cf. vimokkha II, 3). The same is also said with regard to the other colour kasinas.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

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Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Abhibhayatana in Pali glossary
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Abhibhāyatana, (nt.) (abhibhū + āyatana) position of a master or lord, station of mastery. The traditional account of these gives 8 stations or stages of mastery over the senses (see Dial. II.118; Exp. I.252), detailed identically at all the foll. passages, viz. D.II, 110; III, 260 (& 287); M.II, 13; A.I, 40; IV, 305, 348; V, 61. Mentioned only at S.IV, 77 (6 stations); Ps.I, 5; Nd2 466 (as an accomplishment of the Bhagavant); Dhs.247. (Page 67)

Pali book cover
context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

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Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Abhibhayatana in Sanskrit glossary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Abhibhāyatana (अभिभायतन):—n. ‘abode of superiority’, Name of the eight sources of superiority with Buddhists, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Goldstücker Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Abhibhāyatana (अभिभायतन):—[tatpurusha compound] n.

(-nam) (In Buddhistic doctrine.) ‘The basis of mastership or superiority’; abhibhāyatanāni or the (eight) bases of superiority are the (eight) mental accomplishments or superior powers of a man who by having internally the idea of form, perceives externally

1) limited or

2) illimited forms, either with agreeable or disagreeable colours, by having internally the idea of absence of form perceives externally

3) limited or

4) illimited forms, either, too, with agreeable or disagreeable colours, and by having internally the idea of absence of form perceives externally

5) dark-blue forms with dark-blue colours, aspect or appearance,

6) yellow forms with yellow colours, aspect or appearance,

7) red forms with red colours, aspect or appearance, and

8) white forms with white colours, aspect or appearance. See Burnouf’s Lotus de la bonne loi; append. Xv. E. abhibhā 2. and āyatana; (Burnouf 1. c. considers the word as a Pāli form representing the Saṃskṛt abhibhvāyatana, i. e. abhibhu or abhibhū and āyatana, and renders it accordingly ‘the place or region of the conqueror’; but as abhibhā = abhibhūti or abhibhava may also have the active meaning, it seems better to adopt the given E. and to take the word as a pure Saṃskṛt compound, meaning ‘that on which victory rests’, and similar in formation to the Buddh. rūpāyatana or ākāśānantyāyatana).

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.

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