Arhat
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions
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1997
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© The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions 1997, originally published by Oxford University Press 1997. (Hide copyright information)
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Arhat (
arhati, ‘be worthy of’; Pāli
arahat). In Buddhism, one who is worthy of reverence because he has attained the penultimate state of perfection (Chin.,
alohan, lohan; Jap.,
arakan; Korean,
arahan,
nahan). The term was originally applied to all ascetics, but it came to be applied to those who are no longer bound to
punabbhava (‘again-becoming’) and have become completely detached from the Triple World of sense, form, and formlessness. Since, in
Theravāda, there can be only one
Buddha in each world cycle, the condition of arhat is the highest to which one can aspire in this cycle (since the Buddha has already appeared).
They possess four faculties of discernment and exegesis not possessed by ordinary mortals, and five kinds of transcendent knowledge, so that they are characterized by supreme wisdom, and are known as
prajñāvimukta. They can hear and understand all sounds in the universe, know the thoughts of others, and remember previous existences. At death, they attain
nirvāna completely.
Mahāyāna Buddhism, in contrast, regards the notion, especially the limited goal, of arhat as selfish. The development of the
bodhisattva, who might attain the goal but returns to help others, is held to be the logical application of the example of the Buddha and of his teaching.
Among Jains, the arhat is one who is worthy of absolute reverence. In effect, these are the
tīrthaṅkaras.
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Fasting frees us from attachment.(Lent 2005)
Magazine article from: National Catholic Reporter; 2/18/2005; ; 700+ words
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Magazine article from: Health Science; 1/1/2002; ; 700+ words
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Preoperative fasting: knowledge and perceptions.
Magazine article from: AORN Journal; 10/1/2007; ; 700+ words
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Newspaper article from: Dayton Daily News; 10/25/2003; ; 700+ words
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Magazine article from: Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients; 4/1/2003; 700+ words
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Fasting an exacting trial of human endurance
Newspaper article from: New Straits Times; 11/18/2002; ; 700+ words
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Magazine article from: Catholic Insight; 3/1/2009; 700+ words
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Fasting offers food for the soul Idea of sacrifice making a comeback.
Newspaper article from: The Florida Times Union; 10/3/1999; 700+ words
; ...Roman Catholics practiced penitential fasting, too, refraining from meat on Fridays...days, however, conventional wisdom says fasting, in today's consumerist society, is...youths went without food for 30 hours. And fasting seems to be gaining a new foothold within...
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Fasting for fitness, MALAYSIAN BUSINESS
Newspaper article from: Malaysian Business; 11/1/2001; 700+ words
; Malaysian Business 11-01-2001 FASTING, which is usually a pertinent aspect...approval from the medical fraternity. Fasting has been utilized for multifarious reasons...spiritual cleansing, the Christians observe fasting during the Lenten season, and the Hindus...
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Fasting can cure ailments
Newspaper article from: New Straits Times; 12/28/2000; ; 700+ words
; ...Thomas New Straits Times 12-28-2000 Fasting can cure ailments Byline: Florence Thomas...Section: Health Column: Yoga for you FASTING helps to keep the body in a good state...fruits should be taken on that day. This fasting is done to preserve health. A fast can...
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Fasting
Encyclopedia entry from: Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd ed.
Fasting Definition Fasting is voluntarily not eating food for varying lengths of time. Fasting is used as a medical therapy for many conditions. It is also a spiritual practice in many religions. Purpose Fasting can be used for nearly every chronic...
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fasting
Book article from: The Oxford Companion to the Body
fasting In fasting, individuals or whole communities abstain from food and drink, usually for a specific reason and a specific amount of time. Fasting differs from dieting or avoidance of certain foods, in that it implies...
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Fasting and Abstinence
Encyclopedia entry from: Encyclopedia of Food and Culture
FASTING AND ABSTINENCE This entry includes four subentries:
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Religion and Dietary Practices
Book article from: Nutrition and Well-Being A to Z
...same groups today. Practices such as fasting (going without food and/or drink for...ingestion of foods or drinks, the practice of fasting, or severely restricting intake of food...by many religions today. The Role of Fasting Many religions incorporate some element...
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Lent
Encyclopedia entry from: Encyclopedia of Food and Culture
...is over. This was a period of spring fasting known in Old English as Lencten-Fasten...name for this once mandatory period of fasting is the Quadragesimal Fast, or the fast...Days, in imitation of the forty days of fasting performed by Jesus in the wilderness...
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