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Illustrated Glossary of Pāli Terms [b]

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Info

The upper info is for display reasons for pages refering to words not included in this dictionary.

Detail on “Illustrated Glossary of Pāli Terms” see Index and Introduction.

Content

Index IGPT
a | ā | i | ī | u | ū | e | o | k | kh | g | gh | | c | ch | j | jh | ñ | | ṭh | | ḍh | | t | th | d | dh | n | p | ph | b | bh | m | y | r | l | v | s | h |

b

baddha

Renderings

Introduction

Baddha: bound [to individual existence]

We explain how baddha means ‘bound [to individual existence]’ via two passages.

Passage 1: baddho so mārabandhanena, bound [to individual existence] by Māra’s bond

Baddho so mārabandhanena occurs in this passage:

• There are visible objects known via the visual sense that are likeable, loveable, pleasing, agreeable, connected with sensuous pleasure, and charming. If a bhikkhu takes delight in them, welcomes them, persists in cleaving to them, this is called a bhikkhu who has entered Māra’s lair, who has come under Māra’s control, who is trapped in Māra’s snare, who is bound [to individual existence] by Māra’s bond. The Maleficent One can do with him as he wishes.

Santi bhikkhave cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā tañce bhikkhu abhinandati abhivadati ajjhosāya tiṭṭhati ayaṁ vuccati bhikkhave bhikkhu āvāsagato mārassa mārassa vasaṅgato paṭimukkassa mārapāso baddho so mārabandhanena yathākāmakaraṇīyo pāpimato. (SN iv 92)

Māra’s bond is mārabandhana (SN i 24; SN iv 92) or mārasaṁyoga (Snp 733). Māra’s bond means bondage [to individual existence], as this quote shows:

• Having overcome Māra’s tie [that ties one to renewed states of individual existence], they do not come to renewed states of individual existence.

Abhibhuyya mārasaṁyogaṁ nāgacchanti punabbhavan ti. (Snp 733)

Therefore baddho so mārabandhanena, means ‘bound [to individual existence] by Māra’s bond.’

Passage 2: mohena baddhā, bound [to individual existence] by undiscernment of reality

Mohena baddhā occurs in this passage:

• Attached to charming things; taking delight in what is agreeable; vile creatures bound [to individual existence] by undiscernment of reality, reinforce that bondage.

sārattā rajanīyesu piyarūpābhinandino
Mohena adhamā sattā baddhā vaḍḍhenti bandhanaṁ. (AN ii 72)

That baddhā means bound [to individual existence] is proven by its association with bandhanaṁ. That bandhana means bondage [to individual existence] can be shown in three ways:

1) It is sometimes explicit:

• Through understanding your teaching they severed the bondage to individual existence.

Yassa te dhammamaññāya acchiduṁ bhavabandhanaṁ. (SN i 35)

2) Sometimes the meaning is conveyed through its association with words like saṁyojana:

• Like the elephant that bursts all its fastenings and chains, they severed the ties and bonds [to individual existence] in the sensuous plane of existence, those ties of the Maleficent One so hard to overcome.

Te kāmasaṁyojanabandhanāni pāpimayogāni duraccayāni nāgoca sandānaguṇāni chetvā. (DN ii 274)

3) Sometimes, the context implies it. For example here, where its link to bhava is proven by its link to taṇhā:

• Craving you call bondage [to individual existence].

taṇhaṁ me brūsi bandhanan ti. (SN i 8)

• Craving that leads to renewed states of individual existence

Therefore mohena baddhā means ‘bound [to individual existence] by undiscernment of reality.’

Illustrations

baddho

baddho: (main article see: baddha)

Illustration: baddho, locked up

As if a man were locked up in prison, and later were released

Seyyathā pi mahārāja puriso bandhanāgāre baddho assa so aparena samayena tamhā bandhanāgārā mucceyya. (DN i 72)

baddhā

baddhā: (main article see: baddha)

Illustration: baddhā, bound

The Tāvatiṁsa devas, Yāmā devas, Tusita devas, Nimmānaratī devas, and Paranimmitavasavattī devas: they are still bound [to individual existence] in the sensuous plane of existence. They come again under Māra’s control.

Tāvatiṁsā ca yāmā ca tusitā cāpi devatā
Nimmānaratino devā ye devā vasavattino
Kāmabandhanabaddhā te enti māravasaṁ puna. (SN i 133)

Illustration: baddhā, bound

Those royal bull elephants, bound by strong thongs and bonds in the villages, towns, and capital cities, burst and break those bonds.

Yepi te bhikkhave rañño nāgā gāmanigamarājadhānīsu daḷhehi varattehi bandhanehi baddhā tepi tāni bandhanāni sañchinditvā sampadāḷetvā. (AN ii 33)

Illustration: baddho, tied up

The unbroken colt, Sandha, when tied up at the feeding trough mopes ‘Fodder! Fodder!’

Assakhaluṅko hi sandha doṇiyā baddho yavasaṁ yavasanti jhāyati. (AN v 323)

abaddho

abaddho: (main article see: baddha)

Illustration: abaddho, unconfined

An unconfined deer in the forest goes where it wishes for pasture

Migo araññamhi yathā abaddho yenicchakaṁ gacchati gocarāya. (Snp 39)

Illustration: baddho, held captive

Being held captive, he does not eat a morsel.

Baddho kabalaṁ na bhuñjati. (Dhp 324)

Illustration: baddho, held captive

By taking delight in bodily form one is held captive by Māra. By not taking delight in it one is freed from the Maleficent One.

Rūpaṁ kho bhante abhinandamāno baddho mārassa anabhinandamāno mutto pāpimato. (SN iii 75)

Illustration: baddho, held captive

By grasping bodily form one is held captive by Māra. By not grasping, one is freed from the Maleficent One.

Rūpaṁ kho bhante upādiyamāno baddho mārassa anupādiyamāno mutto pāpimato. (SN iii 74)

Illustration: baddho, not held captive

Bhikkhus, one for whom attachment, hatred, and undiscernment of reality has been abandoned is said to be not held captive by Māra. He is free of Māra’s snare. The Maleficent One cannot do with him as he wishes.

Yassa kassaci bhikkhave rāgo pahīno doso pahīno moho pahīno ayaṁ vuccati bhikkhave abaddho mārassa omukkassa mārapāso. Na yathākāmakaraṇīyo pāpimato ti. (Iti 56)

Illustration: baddhā, emotionally bound

Those fettered by desire, emotionally bound to the pleasures of individual existence, are not easily liberated, and indeed are not liberated except in relation to such ties.

Icchānidānā bhavasātabaddhā te duppamuñcā na hi aññamokkhā. (Snp 773)

Illustration: baddho, emotionally bound

There are among humans no sensuous pleasures that are lasting. Here there are attractive things. When one is emotionally bound to these…

Na santi kāmā manujesu niccā santīdha kamanīyāni yesu baddho

Negligently applied [to the practice] in their midst, one does not reach the state of non-returning to the realm of death.

Yesu pamatto apunāgamanaṁ anāgantā puriso maccudheyyā ti. (SN i 22)

baddhānaṁ

baddhānaṁ: (main article see: baddha)

Illustration: baddhānaṁ, bound [to individual existence]

Yearning [for an answer], I approach with a question on behalf of the many here who are bound [to individual existence].

Bahūnamidha baddhānaṁ atthi pañhena āgamaṁ. (Snp 957)

bandhana

Renderings

Introduction

Imprisonment

Bandhana means prison or imprisonment.

• He is confined to the prison of hell, or the prison of the animal realm.

nirayabandhane vā bajjhati tiracchānayonibandhane vā. (AN iii 352)

• As long as the five hindrances are unabandoned, a bhikkhu sees himself as… in prison (bandhanāgāraṁ).

Evameva kho mahārāja bhikkhu… yathā bandhanāgāraṁ… evaṁ ime pañca nīvaraṇe appahīne attani samanupassati.

… But when the five hindrances are abandoned, a bhikkhu sees himself as… released from imprisonment.

Seyyathā pi mahārāja… yathā bandhanā mokkhaṁ… ime pañca nīvaraṇe pahīne attani samanupassati. (DN i 73)

Bond or bondage

Bandhana can mean bond or bondage:

• That bond is not strong, say the wise, that is made of iron, wood, or rope.

Na taṁ daḷhaṁ bandhanamāhu dhīrā yadāyasaṁ dārujaṁ babbajañca.

… Passionate attachment to jewellery and earrings, and affection for children and wives, are the strong bonds, say the wise.

Sārattarattā maṇikuṇḍalesu
Puttesu dāresu ca yā apekkhā.
Etaṁ daḷhaṁ bandhanamāhu dhīrā. (SN i 77)

Bonds [of lay life]

Bandhana sometimes needs parenthesising in accordance with this quote:

• Having cut the bonds of lay life, the hero should live the religious life as solitarily as a rhinoceros horn.

Chetvāna vīro gihībandhanāni eko care khaggavisāṇakappo. (Snp 44)

For example:

• [But when] freed [from the bonds of lay life], he runs back to that same bondage.

mutto bandhanameva dhāvati. (Dhp 344)

Commentary: gharāvāsabandhanato mutto.

Bondage to individual existence: explicit

When bandhana means bondage to individual existence, sometimes this is explicit:

• Through understanding your teaching they severed the bondage to individual existence.

Yassa te dhammamaññāya acchiduṁ bhavabandhanaṁ. (SN i 35)

Bondage [to individual existence]: through association

Sometimes the meaning is conveyed through its association with words like saṁyojana:

• Like the elephant that bursts all its fastenings and chains, they severed the ties and bonds [to individual existence] in the sensuous plane of existence, those ties of the Maleficent One so hard to overcome.

Te kāmasaṁyojanabandhanāni pāpimayogāni duraccayāni nāgoca sandānaguṇāni chetvā. (DN ii 274)

Bondage [to individual existence]: through context

Sometimes the context implies it. For example where its link to bhava is proven by its link to taṇhā:

• Craving you call bondage [to individual existence].

taṇhaṁ me brūsi bandhanan ti. (SN i 8)

By comparison:

• Craving that leads to renewed states of individual existence

Māra’s bond/tie [to renewed states of individual existence]

Māra’s bond is mārabandhana (SN i 24). Māra’s tie is mārasaṁyoga (Snp 733). Māra’s bond/tie means bondage [to individual existence].

• Having overcome Māra’s tie [that ties one to renewed states of individual existence], they do not come to renewed states of individual existence.

Abhibhuyya mārasaṁyogaṁ nāgacchanti punabbhavan ti. (Snp 733)

Māra’s bond means thinking in personal terms:

• By thinking in personal terms one is held captive by Māra. By not thinking in personal terms one is freed from the Maleficent One.

maññamāno kho bhikkhave baddho Mārassa amaññamāno mutto pāpimato. (SN iv 202)

Illustrations: bondage [to individual existence]

bandhanaṁ

bandhanaṁ: (main article see: bandhana)

Illustration: bandhanaṁ, bondage [to individual existence]

Vile creatures bound [to individual existence] by undiscernment of reality, reinforce that bondage.

Mohena adhamā sattā baddhā vaḍḍhenti bandhanaṁ (AN ii 72)

bandhanan

bandhanan: (main article see: bandhana)

Illustration: bandhanan, bondage [to individual existence]

In the [terminology of the] Noble One’s training system these five varieties of sensuous pleasure are called shackles and bondage [to individual existence].

pañcime kāmaguṇā ariyassa vinaye andū ti pi vuccanti bandhanan ti pi vuccanti. (DN i 245)

Comment:

When attachment to sensuous pleasure is powerful and unsubdued in him, it is a tie to individual existence in the low plane of existence.

tassa so kāmarāgo thāmagato appaṭivinīto orambhāgiyaṁ saṁyojanaṁ. (MN i 433)

bandhanā

bandhanā: (main article see: bandhana)

Illustration: bandhanā, bondage [to individual existence]

Freed [from individual existence], I free [others] from bondage [to individual existence]

mutto mocemi bandhanā. (AN iv 340)

Illustration: bandhanā, bondage [to individual existence]

That wise person free of bondage [to individual existence]

Taṁ dhīraṁ bandhanā muttaṁ. (Uda 77)

bandhana

bandhana: (main article see: bandhana)

Illustration: bandhana, bondage [to individual existence]

The craving of a person of distracted thoughts, who is full of attachment and contemplates the loveliness [of the female body] will only develop. Such a person reinforces his bondage [to individual existence].

Vitakkapamathitassa jantuno tibbarāgassa subhānupassino
Bhiyyo taṇhā pavaḍḍhati esa kho daḷhaṁ karoti bandhanaṁ. (Dhp 349)

Illustrations: bond

Illustration: bandhana, bond [to individual existence]

Seers, rid of spiritual defilement, with renewed states of individual existence destroyed, having severed the ties and bonds [to individual existence].

Saṁyojanabandhanacchidā anīghā khīṇapunabbhavā isī. (SN i 191; Tha 1234)

bandhanāni

bandhanāni: (main article see: bandhana)

Illustration: bandhanāni, bonds [to individual existence]

Having freed himself of all ties and bonds [to individual existence], he is attached to nothing.

Sabbasaṁyoge visajja bandhanāni sabbattha na sajjati. (Snp 522)

bandhanehi

bandhanehi: (main article see: bandhana)

Illustration: bandhanehi, bonds

Those royal bull elephants, bound by strong thongs and bonds in the villages, towns, and capital cities, burst and break those bonds.

Yepi te bhikkhave rañño nāgā gāmanigamarājadhānīsu daḷhehi varattehi bandhanehi baddhā tepi tāni bandhanāni sañchinditvā sampadāḷetvā. (AN ii 33)

Illustration: bandhanā, bond

Thus, indeed, there rightly comes to be deliverance from the bond, that is, from the bond of uninsightfulness into reality.

Evaṁ kira sammā bandhanā vippamokkho hoti yadidaṁ avijjābandhanā. (MN ii 44)

Illustration: bandhanaṁ, bond

It is as if a man having destroyed one bond should make himself another.

Seyyathā pi nāma purāṇaṁ bandhanaṁ chinditvā aññaṁ navaṁ bandhanaṁ kareyya? . (DN i 226)

Illustrations: Māra’s bond [that binds one to renewed states of individual existence]

mārabandhanā

mārabandhanā: (main article see: bandhana)

Illustration: mārabandhanā, Māra’s bond [that binds one to renewed states of individual existence]

Those who meditate, are released from Māra’s bond [that binds one to renewed states of individual existence].

pamuccanti jhāyino mārabandhanā. (SN i 24)

mārassa bandhanaṁ

mārassa bandhanaṁ: (main article see: bandhana)

Illustration: mārassa bandhanaṁ, Māra’s bond [that binds one to renewed states of individual existence]

Having cut Māra’s bond [that binds one to renewed states of individual existence]

chetvā mārassa bandhanaṁ. (Tha 298)

bandhanehi

bandhanehi: (main article see: bandhana)

Illustration: bandhanehi, bonds; bandhanaṁ, bondage; mārabandhanaṁ, Māra’s bond [that binds one to renewed states of individual existence]

When Vepacitti, Lord of the Asuras, thought ‘The devas are righteous, the asuras are unrighteous…’ he was freed from bonds around his limbs and neck…

yadā kho bhikkhave vepacittissa asurindassa evaṁ hoti dhammikā kho devā adhammikā asurā… atha kaṇṭhapañcamehi bandhanehi muttaṁ…

But when he thought: ‘The asuras are righteous, the devas are unrighteous…’ he was bound by bonds around his limbs and neck…

Yadā ca kho bhikkhave vepacittissa asurindassa evaṁ hoti dhammikā kho asurā adhammikā devā… atha kaṇṭapañcamehi bandhanehi baddhaṁ

So subtle was the bondage of Vepacitti, but even subtler is Māra’s bond [that binds one to renewed states of individual existence].

evam sukhumam kho bhikkhave vepacittibandhanaṁ tato sukhumataraṁ mārabandhanaṁ

By thinking in personal terms one is held captive by Māra. By not thinking in personal terms one is freed from the Maleficent One.

maññamāno kho bhikkhave baddho Mārassa amaññamāno mutto pāpimato. (SN iv 202)

Illustrations: minor meanings

Illustration: bandhanā, stalk

A withered leaf removed from its stalk could not become green again.

paṇḍupalāso bandhanā pamutto abhabbo haritattāya. (Vin.1.96)

kāyabandhana

kāyabandhana: (main article see: bandhana)

Illustration: kāyabandhana, waistband

The borders of the waistband wore out.

Kāyabandhanassa anto jirati. (Vin.2.136)

brahmacariya

Renderings

Introduction

Brahmacariya: religious life

The religious life (brahmacariya) is practised by all the Buddha’s disciples, whether ordained or not, whether celibate or not. Thus:

1) Sakka, surrounded by nymphs called Moggallāna his sabrahmacārī:

Sabrahmacārī me eso āyasmā mahāmoggallāno ti. (MN i 255)

2) Māra invited the Buddha to return to lay life, and called it brahmacariyaṁ:

• ‘By living the religious life, by making offerings to the sacrificial fire, much merit will be heaped up by you.

Carato ca te brahmacariyaṁ aggihuttañca juhato
Pahūtaṁ cīyate puññaṁ kiṁ padhānena kāhasi. (Snp 428)

Brahmacariya: celibate life

The celibate life (brahmacariya) is practised by all ordained disciples, and by some lay disciples. For arahants celibacy means avoiding all forms of sexuality including sexual thoughts, which is a blemish of the celibate life (Idampi kho brāhmaṇa brahmacariyassa khaṇḍampi chiddampi sabalampi kammāsampi: see Methuna Sutta, AN iv 54).

Action noun: ‘the practice of celibacy’

Brahmacariya means ‘religious life’, ‘celibate life’, or ‘celibacy’. But where the context implies an action noun, it means ‘the practice of celibacy.’ For ‘religious life’ to become an action noun, it is usually paired with an action noun. For example: Carato ca te brahmacariyaṁ (‘By living the religious life,’ Snp 428).

So, consider three passages:

1) Austerity; the practice of celibacy; insight into the noble truths; the realisation of the Untroubled: this is supremely auspicious.

Tapo ca brahmacariyañca ariyasaccāna dassanaṁ
Nibbānasacchikiriyā ca etaṁ maṅgalamuttamaṁ. (Tha 267)

2) The practice of celibacy: this they call the supreme power.

Brahmacariyaṁ etadāhu vasuttamaṁ. (Snp 274)

3) Unrestraint of the sense faculties is an obstacle to the practice of celibacy.

indriyāsaṁvaro brahmacariyassa paripantho. (AN v 136)

Illustrations

brahmacariyaṁ

brahmacariyaṁ: (main article see: brahmacariya)

Illustration: brahmacariyaṁ, celibate life

He lives the celibate life disgruntled…lives the celibate life with delight

anabhirato… abhirato ca brahmacariyaṁ carati. (AN iii 146)

brahmacārino

brahmacārino: (main article see: brahmacariya)

Illustration: brahmacārino, celibate; brahmacariyaṁ, religious life

If, Master Gotama, the only people who fulfilled this teaching were Master Gotama himself, together with

sace hi bho gotama imaṁ dhammaṁ bhavañceva gotamo ārādhako abhavissa

• his bhikkhus, and

bhikkhū ca ārādhakā abhaviṁsu

• bhikkhunīs, and

bhikkhuniyo ca ārādhikā abhaviṁsu

• celibate men lay followers clothed in white, and

upāsakā ca gihī odātavasanā brahmacārino ārādhakā abhaviṁsu

• non-celibate men lay followers clothed in white, and

upāsakā ca gihī odātavasanā kāmabhogino ārādhakā abhaviṁsu

• celibate women lay followers clothed in white,

upāsikā ca gihiniyo odātavasanā brahmacāriṇiyo ārādhikā abhaviṁsu

but there were no non-celibate women lay followers clothed in white who fulfilled it, then this religious life would be deficient in that respect;

no ca kho upāsikā gihiniyo odātavasanā kāmabhoginiyo ārādhikā abhaviṁsu evamidaṁ brahmacariyaṁ aparipūraṁ abhavissa tenaṅgena. (MN i 493)

abrahmacāriṁ

abrahmacāriṁ: (main article see: brahmacariya)

Illustration: abrahmacāriṁ, not celibate

And the Venerable MahāMoggallāna saw that person sitting in the midst of the assembly of bhikkhus―unvirtuous, of an unvirtuous moral nature, of foul and odious behaviour, secretive in conduct, no ascetic though pretending to be one, not celibate though pretending to be so, spiritually rotten, full of defilement, and morally decayed.

Addasā kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno taṁ puggalaṁ dussīlaṁ pāpadhammaṁ asucisaṅkassarasamācāraṁ paṭicchannakammantaṁ assamaṇaṁ samaṇapaṭiññaṁ abrahmacāriṁ brahmacārīpaṭiññaṁ antopūtiṁ avassutaṁ kasambujātaṁ majjhe bhikkhusaṅghassa nisinnaṁ. (Uda 52)

brahmacariyañca

brahmacariyañca: (main article see: brahmacariya)

Illustration: brahmacariyañca, celibacy

He amongst them who was supremely devout, being unwavering in application [to his practice], refrained from sexual intercourse even in a dream.

Yo nesaṁ paramo āsi brahmā daḷhaparakkamo
Sa vāpi methunaṁ dhammaṁ supinantepi nāgamā

Some of the wise amongst them following his religious practices praised celibacy; virtue; and also patience.

Tassa vattamanusikkhantā idheke viññujātikā
Brahmacariyañca sīlañca khantiñcāpi avaṇṇayuṁ. (Snp 293-294)

Illustration: brahmacariyaṁ, religious life

For forty-eight years they lived the religious life as virgins.

Aṭṭhacattārīsaṁ vassāni komāraṁ brahmacariyaṁ cariṁsu te. (Snp 289)

Illustration: brahmacariyaṁ, religious life

‘Come, bhikkhu. Well explained is the teaching. Live the religious life for making a complete end of suffering.’

Svākkhāto dhammo. Cara brahmacariyaṁ sammā dukkhassa antakiriyāyā ti. (Vin.1.12)

Illustration: brahmacariyaṁ, religious life

According to the teaching Master Mahākaccāna teaches, it's not easy living at home to perfectly practice the religious life. How about if I shaved off my hair and beard, and went forth from the household life into the ascetic life?

Yathā yathā kho ayyo mahākaccāyano dhammaṁ deseti nayidaṁ sūkaraṁ agāraṁ ajjhāvasatā ekantaparipuṇṇaṁ ekantaparisuddhaṁ saṅkhalikhitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ carituṁ. Yannūnāhaṁ kesamassuṁ ohāretvā kāsāyāni vatthāni acchādetvā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajeyyanti. . (Uda 57)

sabrahmacāriṁ

sabrahmacāriṁ: (main article see: brahmacariya)

Illustration: sabrahmacāriṁ, a companion in the religious life

One lives in spiritual discipleship under the Teacher or a companion in the religious life of the standing of a teacher

satthāraṁ vā upanissāya viharati aññataraṁ vā garuṭṭhāniyaṁ sabrahmacāriṁ. (DN iii 284-5)

Illustration: brahmacariyaṁ, religious life

“Then, headman, just like the field of middling quality are the male and female lay followers to me. To them too I explain a teaching which is excellent in the beginning, the middle, and the end, whose spirit and letter proclaim the utterly complete and pure religious life.

Seyyathāpi gāmaṇi yaṁ aduṁ khettaṁ majjhimaṁ evameva mayhaṁ upāsakaupāsikāyo. Tasempahaṁ dhammaṁ desemi ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ savyañjanaṁ kevala paripuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāsemi. (SN iv 314-5)

Illustration: brahmacariyaṁ, religious life

The Buddha said that brahmans and householders are helpful in providing bhikkhus with robe material, almsfood, abodes, and therapeutic requisites. Bhikkhus are very helpful in explaining the teaching, and proclaiming the religious life in its complete purity. Thus the religious life is lived with the help of each other (aññamaññaṁ nissāya brahmacariyaṁ vussati) (Iti 111).

Illustration: brahmacariyaṁ, religious life

Those teachings which are excellent in the beginning, the middle, and the end, whose spirit and letter proclaim the utterly complete and pure religious life.

ye te dhammā ādikalyāṇā majjhekalyāṇā pariyosānakalyāṇā sātthaṁ savyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ abhivadanti. (Vin.2.96)

brāhmaṇa

Renderings

Introduction

Brāhmaṇa and the four classes: lower case

In the Buddha’s time, Indian society had four classes: khattiyas, brahmans, vessas, and suddas (MN ii 150). These four classes were not technically castes because intermarriage was still possible. Some grammarians would capitalise these groups. For example, Wikipedia says:

• ‘Varna may be translated as “class,” and refers to the four social classes which existed in the Vedic society, namely Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras.’ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system_in_India

Many dictionaries say likewise. However, the Economist Style Guide supports us in saying:

• ‘Indian castes are lower case italic, except for brahman, which has now become an English word and is therefore lower case roman (unless it is mentioned along with several other less familiar caste names in italic)’ (www. economist.com/style-guide/capitals).

Brāhmaṇa as a religious term

In a religious context, we use the term ‘Brahmanist.’ Most translators would call this ‘Brahman,’ but we reserve capitalised ‘Brahman’ for arahants. Although unusual, Brahmanist is well-recognised:

• Brahmanist: an adherent of the religion of the brahmans (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Brahmanist).

We capitalise Brahmanist in accordance with established style manuals:

• Capitalization of religious terms: Baha’i, Baptist, Brahman, Buddhist… Hindu; Hinduism, Islam; Islamic, Jewish… (U.S. Government Printing Office Style Manual, 2008).

Brāhmaṇa: Brahman (=arahant, or one striving to be an arahant)

Where brāhmaṇa means arahant, we capitalise it: Brahman. But sometimes brāhmaṇa is applied to those still striving to be Brahmans. Two examples:

1) One should not strike a Brahman. [Likewise], a Brahman should not vent [wrath on his assailant]. Shame on the one who strikes a Brahman! And shame on [the Brahman] who vents [wrath on his assailant]!

Na brāhmaṇassa pahareyya nāssa muñcetha brāhmaṇo
Dhī brāhmaṇassa hantāraṁ tato dhī y’assa muñcati. (Dhp 389)

This, of course, means one should not strike an arahant, and one who is striving to be an arahant should not vent his wrath.

2) It is not worse for a Brahman when his mind is restrained from agreeable things. The more his mind turns away from agreeable things the more his suffering subsides.

Na brāhmaṇassetadakiñci seyyo yadā nisedho manaso piyehi
Yato yato hiṁsamano nivattati tato tato sammatimeva dukkhaṁ. (Dhp 390)

Here again, where his suffering is still subsiding, brāhmaṇa means ‘one striving to be a Brahman.’

Illustrations

brāhmaṇā

brāhmaṇā: (main article see: brāhmaṇa)

Illustration: brāhmaṇā, brahman

Those of the four castes, khattiyas, brahmans, vessas, and suddas, having gone forth from the household life into the ascetic life in the teaching and training system made known by the Perfect One, give up their former names and identities and are just called ‘ascetic disciples of the Sakyans’ Son.’

cattāro me vaṇṇā khattiyā brāhmaṇā vessā suddā te tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitvā jahanti purimāni nāmagottāni samaṇā sakyaputtiyātveva saṅkhaṁ gacchantī. (Uda 51)

Illustration: brāhmaṇā, brahman

‘Prosperous countries and kingdoms rendered honour to those brahmans with garments of various colours, with beds and residences.

Nānārattehi vatthehi sayanehāvasathehi ca
Phītā janapadā raṭṭhā te namassiṁsu brāhmaṇe

‘Brahmans were unpunishable, unimpeachable, protected by law. No one obstructed them in any way, even at the doors of their homes.

Avajjhā brāhmaṇā āsuṁ ajeyyā dhammarakkhitā
Na te koci nivāresi kuladvāresu sabbaso

‘For forty-eight years they lived the religious life as virgins. In those days the brahmans undertook the search for Vedic knowledge and virtuous conduct.

Aṭṭhacattārīsaṁ vassāni komāraṁ brahmacariyaṁ cariṁsu te
Vijjācaraṇapariyeṭṭhiṁ acaruṁ brāhmaṇā pure

‘Brahmans did not couple with women of other [castes]. They did not buy wives. Their living together was through mutual affection, having come together for mutual pleasure.

Na brāhmaṇā aññamagamuṁ napi bhariyaṁ kiṇiṁsu te
Sampiyeneva saṁvāsaṁ saṅgantvā samarocayuṁ. (Snp 287-290)

Illustration: brāhmaṇā, brahman

• If the rebirth of one’s individuality occurs in a clan of brahmans, one is reckoned as a brahman.

Brāhmaṇakule ce attabhāvassa abhinibbatti hoti brāhmaṇotveva saṅkhaṁ gacchati

• If the rebirth of one’s individuality occurs in a clan of vessas, one is reckoned as a vessa.

Vessakule ce attabhāvassa abhinibbatti hoti vessotveva saṅkhaṁ gacchati. (MN ii 181)

Illustration: brāhmaṇā, Brahmanists

‘Having investigated the entire scriptural collections both of the ascetics and the Brahmanists, free of attachment to all sense impression, gone beyond all scriptural knowledge, he is blessed with profound knowledge.

Vedāni viceyya kevalāni samaṇānaṁ yānidhatthi brāhmaṇānaṁ
Sabbavedanāsu vītarāgo sabbaṁ vedamaticca vedagū so. (Snp 529)

Illustration: brāhmaṇā, Brahmanists

‘He makes known [the nature of] this world [of beings] with its devas, māras, and brahmās, in the world of mankind with its ascetics and Brahmanists, its royalty and commoners, having realised it for himself through transcendent insight.’

So imaṁ lokaṁ sadevakaṁ samārakaṁ sabrahmakaṁ sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiṁ pajaṁ sadevamanussaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā pavedeti. (Snp 103)

Illustration: brāhmaṇā, Brahman

One whose āsavas are destroyed, and who is free of spiritual flaws, he is what I call a Brahman.

Khīṇāsavaṁ vantadosaṁ tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇan ti. (Uda 5)

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en/dictionary/igpt_b.txt · Last modified: 2019/10/15 10:05 by 127.0.0.1