Buddhism

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions A Dictionary of Buddhism Further reading

Smṛti

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

Smṛti (Skt., ‘recollection’). In Hinduism, the second part of ‘scripture’, less than śruti, but possessing authority. Smṛti, passed on orally by tradition, gains validity by being derived from śruti. It extends to a wide range of works, including Vedāṅgas, Smārta Sūtras, Purāṇas, Itihāsa, including Mahābhārata and Rāmāyaṇa, Nīti-śastras.

In Buddhism, smṛti is the Skt. equivalent of sati, ‘mindfulness’: it is the meditational practice which observes closely and continuously what is going on in the interior life of the practitioner, especially the four mindfulnesses, the body (kaya), sensation (vedanā), mind (citta), and the Buddha's way (dharma).

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

JOHN BOWKER. "Smṛti." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN BOWKER. "Smṛti." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Smti.html

JOHN BOWKER. "Smṛti." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Smti.html

Learn more about citation styles

smṛti

A Dictionary of Buddhism | 2004 | | Copyright

smṛti (Skt.; Pāli, sati). Mindfulness or awareness. An alert state of mind that should be cultivated constantly as the foundation for understanding and insight (prajñā). Many meditational practices exist to help develop mindfulness, notably the four Foundations of Mindfulness (smṛti-upasthāna). Smṛti features in many formulations of virtues: it is the third of the Five Powers (bala), the first of the Factors of Awakening (bodhyaṅga), and the seventh of the eight factors of the Eightfold Path.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

DAMIEN KEOWN. "smṛti." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

DAMIEN KEOWN. "smṛti." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-smti.html

DAMIEN KEOWN. "smṛti." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-smti.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Zavicaj smrti. Magazine article from: World Literature Today; 1/1/1995
	On Atmatusti as a Source of Dharma Magazine article from: The Journal of the American Oriental Society; 7/1/2007
	A Brief History of Dharmasastra. Magazine article from: The Journal of the American Oriental Society; 10/1/2001