Prajña

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Prajña (Skt., ‘wisdom’, ‘consciousness’).
1. In Hinduism, the competence of ātman to realize itself for what it is, and thus to abide in this state as in a dreamless sleep.

2. In Buddhism (Pāli, pañña; Jap., hannya), prajña is the third heading of the three into which the eightfold path is divided (see AṢṬANGIKA-MĀRGA)—i.e. right thought and right view constitute wisdom. In Mahāyāna, prajña is the direct awareness of śūnyatā (emptiness of self) in the case of all appearance. See further PERFECTION OF WISDOM LITERATURE; NĀGĀRJUNA.