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lakṣaṇa

A Dictionary of Buddhism | 2004 | | Copyright

lakṣaṇa (Skt., mark). Term used mainly in Buddhist scholasticism (Abhidharma) to denote the specific identifying attribute or defining characteristic of an entity. As an example, all phemomena (dharma) are said to bear the three ‘marks’ of impermanence (anitya), suffering (duḥkha), and no-self (anātman). In Abhidharma tabulations, various defining characteristics were identified for different phenomena, such as heat as the defining characteristic of fire, or hardness as that of earth. In some Mahāyāna sources the lakṣana of a thing came to be defined as that mental concept (vikalpa) by which one knows, defines, and understands an object which has a particular perceptual form (nimitta), such as being of a particular colour, and so forth.

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

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

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

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Lakṣaṇa

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

Lakṣaṇa (Skt., ‘marks’). Marks on a body, auspicious for Hindus if they appear on the right (for a man) or the left (for a woman): see also ASHES. The term has also been used for the five characteristics of a complete purāṇa: (i) creation of a cosmos; (ii) its dissolution and renewal; (iii) the origin and descent of gods and heroes; (iv) the work of the Manus (lawgivers); (v) the work of their descendants.

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

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

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

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