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mudrā
mudrā (Skt. a seal)
1. A symbolic gesture of the hands or bodily posture communicating a specific meaning. From the earliest artistic representations onwards, Buddhas are always depicted with their hands in certain standard mudrās, the most important being the ‘wheel of the Dharma’ (dharma-cakra-mudrā), the first finger and thumb of each hand forming a circle; the earth-touching mudrā (bhūmi-sparśa-mudrā), the right hand touching the earth calling it to witness the Buddha's enlightenment (bodhi); and the gesture of protection or fearlessness (abhaya-mudrā), the right arm extended with palm facing forwards. The repertoire of hand mudrās in Buddhist iconography is extensive, and is a key to identifying the figures depicted. Mudrās become increasingly important in Mahāyāna and particularly in Vajrayāna Buddhism, where they are associated with a dense symbolism of signs and mystical sounds (mantras). 2. In Vajrayāna Buddhism, mudrā also denotes the imagery used in any meditation or visualization practice to imprint certain qualities upon or to modify the practitioner, just as a seal leaves an identical impression on clay or paper. In this sense, four kinds of mudrā are mentioned in connection with yoga-tantra——mahāmudrā, dharma-mudrā, samaya-mudrā and karma-mudrā. |
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DAMIEN KEOWN. "mudrā." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. DAMIEN KEOWN. "mudrā." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-mudr.html DAMIEN KEOWN. "mudrā." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-mudr.html |
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Mudra
Mudra (Skt., ‘seal’, ‘sign’). In both Hinduism and Buddhism, a sign of power, through the body, especially the hands.
In Hinduism, the mudras of ritual worship (pūjā) are an outward and visible sign of spiritual reality which they bring into being. Thus mudras frequently appear in Hindu sculpture (as they do in Jain and Buddhist), especially dhyāna (meditation, hands linked in front of body with palms upward), abhaya, cf. abhaya-vacana (fear-repelling, hand lifted, palm outward), and varada (hand held out, palm upward, bestowing bounty). The añjali mudra is the best-known to the outsider, since it is the ‘palms together’, at the level of the chest, greeting in India. As a mudra, it expresses the truth underlying all appearance. In Buddhism (Chin., yin-hsiang; Jap., in-zō; Korean, insang), a mudra is a particular configuration of the hands accompanying a mantra and associated with a visualization or other mental act. |
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JOHN BOWKER. "Mudra." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN BOWKER. "Mudra." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Mudra.html JOHN BOWKER. "Mudra." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Mudra.html |
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gesture
ges·ture / ˈjeschər/ • n. a movement of part of the body, esp. a hand or the head, to express an idea or meaning: Alex made a gesture of apology | so much is conveyed by gesture. ∎ an action performed to convey one's feelings or intentions: Maggie was touched by the kind gesture. ∎ an action performed for show in the knowledge that it will have no effect: I hope the amendment will not be just a gesture. • v. [intr.] make a gesture: she gestured meaningfully with the pistol. ∎ [tr.] express (something) with a gesture or gestures: he gestured his dissent at this. ∎ [tr.] direct or invite (someone) to move somewhere specified: he gestured her to a chair. DERIVATIVES: ges·tur·al adj. |
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"gesture." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "gesture." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-gesture.html "gesture." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-gesture.html |
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Gesture
181. Gesture
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"Gesture." -Ologies and -Isms. 1986. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Gesture." -Ologies and -Isms. 1986. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505200192.html "Gesture." -Ologies and -Isms. 1986. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505200192.html |
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GESTURE
GESTURE. A bodily movement, especially of the hands and arms, which conveys a meaning, such as the use of two fingers to convey ‘V for victory’ (in one orientation) or in British usage an insult (in a different orientation). Gestures are a normal feature of COMMUNICATION, are relatively few in number, and are used to express a fairly constrained range of meanings. They should be distinguished from the more systematic and comprehensive use of hand movements in deaf SIGN LANGUAGE. See RHETORIC.
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TOM McARTHUR. "GESTURE." Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. TOM McARTHUR. "GESTURE." Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O29-GESTURE.html TOM McARTHUR. "GESTURE." Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. 1998. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O29-GESTURE.html |
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gesture
gesture Part of George Herbert Mead's theory of the self. A gesture is the act of an organism which stimulates a response on the part of other organisms: a dog growling may provoke another dog to growl, and a ‘conversation of gestures’ ensues. Such responses are merely impulsive or instinctive for most animals; among humans, the process depends upon significant symbols and vocal gestures, which call up more complex reflective responses.
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GORDON MARSHALL. "gesture." A Dictionary of Sociology. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. GORDON MARSHALL. "gesture." A Dictionary of Sociology. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O88-gesture.html GORDON MARSHALL. "gesture." A Dictionary of Sociology. 1998. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O88-gesture.html |
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gesture
gesture A type of input to a computer where the meaning depends on the time-related positions input from the device. For example, using a dataglove the user might beckon with a finger to indicate a zoom in on the display.
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JOHN DAINTITH. "gesture." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN DAINTITH. "gesture." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O11-gesture.html JOHN DAINTITH. "gesture." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O11-gesture.html |
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gesture
gesture †bearing, carriage XV; †attitude, posture; movement of the body XVI. — medL. gestūra, f. gest-, pp. stem of gerere carry.
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T. F. HOAD. "gesture." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "gesture." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-gesture.html T. F. HOAD. "gesture." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-gesture.html |
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gesture
gesture
•catcher, dacha, focaccia, patcher, scratcher, snatcher, stature, thatcher
•facture, fracture, manufacture
•capture, enrapture, rapture
•flycatcher • oystercatcher
•archer, departure, kwacha, marcher, starcher, viscacha
•pasture
•etcher, fetcher, fletcher, lecher, sketcher, stretcher
•conjecture, lecture
•sepulture
•denture, misadventure, peradventure
•divesture, gesture, vesture
•texture • architecture • nature
•magistrature
•bleacher, creature, feature, headteacher, Katowice, Nietzsche, preacher, screecher, teacher
•schoolteacher
•ditcher, hitcher, pitcher, stitcher, twitcher
•Chibcha
•picture, stricture
•filcher • simcha
•cincture, tincture
•scripture
•admixture, commixture, fixture, intermixture, mixture
•expenditure • forfeiture
•discomfiture • garniture
•primogeniture, progeniture
•miniature • furniture • temperature
•portraiture • literature
•divestiture, vestiture
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Cite this article
"gesture." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "gesture." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-gesture.html "gesture." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-gesture.html |
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