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Prajña

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions | 1997 | | Copyright

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.

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JOHN BOWKER. "Prajña." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN BOWKER. "Prajña." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Praja.html

JOHN BOWKER. "Prajña." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Praja.html

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Prajñā

A Dictionary of Buddhism | 2004 | | Copyright

Prajñā. Name of an important Indian monk. Originally from north-west India he was later resident in China at Ch'ang-an during the mid-9th century ce where he translated the Gaṇḍavyūha Sūtra. He is also known to have met and befriended Kūkai, the founder of the Japanese Shingon school.

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DAMIEN KEOWN. "Prajñā." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

DAMIEN KEOWN. "Prajñā." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-Praj.html

DAMIEN KEOWN. "Prajñā." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-Praj.html

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prajñā

A Dictionary of Buddhism | 2004 | | Copyright

prajñā (Skt.). Important concept in Buddhist epistemology, often translated as ‘wisdom’ but closer in meaning to insight, discriminating knowledge, or intuitive apprehension. It is the faculty which apprehends the truth of Buddhist teachings. In the Abhidharma it is classified as one of the mental functions (caitta), and is defined as the analytical discrimination of phenomena (dharma-pravicaya). Although all beings possess prajñā, it is usually underdeveloped and needs to be cultivated through the practice of insight meditation (vipaśyanā) or similar forms of mental training.

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DAMIEN KEOWN. "prajñā." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

DAMIEN KEOWN. "prajñā." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-praj.html

DAMIEN KEOWN. "prajñā." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-praj.html

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