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dhāraṇī

A Dictionary of Buddhism | 2004 | | Copyright

dhāraṇī (Skt.). The term literally means ‘retention’ and refers to high levels of mindfulness (smṛti) and insight (prajñā) derived from spiritual practice. In early Mahāyāna Buddhism, four categories were distinguished: the retention of patience (kṣānti-dhāraṇī), the retention of mantra (mantra-dhāraṇī), the retention of words (pada-dhāraṇī), and the retention of meaning (artha-dhāraṇī). Mantra-dhāraṇīs were a mnemonic form of mantra designed to facilitate the retention of various teachings, often considered to be a summary version of long sūtras. Later, with the rise of tantric Buddhism, dhāraṇīs became indistinguishable from mantras in general though they are generally of greater length than ordinary mantras and can largely be understood as normal speech.

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

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

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

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Dhāraṇī

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

Dhāraṇī. In Hinduism, the earth Goddess; and (as also in Mahāyāna and Tantric Buddhist sources), a magical formula often composed of random syllables, the recitation of which is thought to produce supernatural effects or bestow magic powers.

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

JOHN BOWKER. "Dhāraṇī." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Dhra1.html

JOHN BOWKER. "Dhāraṇī." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Dhra1.html

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