mindfulness

The Flower Adornment Sutra (Avatamsaka) speaks of these ten aspects of mindfulness:

"mindfulness which is still and quiet,
mindfulness which is pure,
mindfulness which is not turbid,
mindfulness which is bright and penetrating,
mindfulness which is apart from defilement,
mindfulness which is apart from various defilements,
mindfulness which is apart from filth,
mindfulness which is bright and dazzling,
mindfulness which is pleasing, and
mindfulness which is free from obstacles.

"When the Bodhisattvas dwell in these aspects of mindfulness, nothing in the world can disturb or unsettle them. No strange theories can move them. Their good roots from past lives are made pure and they are not defiled by or attached to any dharma in the world. The multitudes of demons and those of external ways cannot destroy them. They can undergo rebirth and receive different bodies without any lapse in memory. They proclaim the Dharma endlessly throughout the past, present, and future." (FAS Ch22 129)

(Source: Epstein, 2003: pp. 142 - 143)

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1) Chinese Mandarin: nien , 2) Sanskrit: smrti, anusmrti, 3) Pali: sati, annusati, 4) Alternate Translations: remembering, immediate presence.

See also: Four Applications of Mindfulness, Buddha-recitation, meditation, Pure Land School.

Buddhist Text Translation Society (http://www.BTTSonline.org) References: FAS Ch22 (Treasury of Mindfulness).

See also:

Fifth Paramita - Perfection of Mindfulness and Concentration
Meditation, Polluted Thoughts, Samadhi, Chan School - The Five Schools of Buddhism, Chan,
Shamatha Meditation (Calm Abiding)
, Dhyana, Dhyana Meditation, Four Dhyanas, Four Formless Realms;

Buddha-recitation Meditation (Pure Land School), Mantra-recitation Meditation (Esoteric School).

 

Sixth Paramita - Perfection of Wisdom: Prajna Paramita (Perfection of Wisdom), Emptiness, Vipassana Meditation (Insight Meditation)

 

The Anonymous Buddhist Monk Redactor (Compiler) of this Online Buddhist Encyclopedia Compilation) states about cultivation of meditation:

Those who deeply cultivate meditation in Buddhism must take refuge in and rely not only on the Buddha and the Dharma, but also on the Four-Fold Assembly, especially on the Bhikshu and Bhikshuni Sangha. With the Sangha, cultivators of the Way can always practice the Three Non-Outflow Studies (1. Shila, Samadhi, Prajna). Unless you practice daily all three of the Non-Outflow Studies, you will not completely succeed in fully awakening, A Shramana is one who perfects (paramita) Shila-Samadhi-Prajna.  To truly be a great Bhikshu or Bhikshuni, not just an ordinary Shramana, not just an ordinary Dharma Master, but to be a Tripitakacharya (Tripitaka Master) and a Kaliyanamitra (Good and Wise Advisor or Guru) you must not a lay person (Upasaka), but must be was a Buddhist Monk or Nun who has extensively studied and ideally mastered the Tripitaka.  Only great mastery of the three baskets qualifies one to be called a Tripitaka Master (Tripitakacharya)

Thus as we practice meditation, we must contemplate the wisdom of the Sutras and Shastras.  Thus please see also: Tripitaka (1. Sutras, 2. Vinaya, 3. Shastras or Abhidharma, or Tantra), Taisho Catalog Numbering System, Dharma, and names of individual sutras (such as Shurangama Sutra, Avatamsaka Sutra [Flower Adornment Sutra], Lotus Sutra [Wonderful Dharma Flower Sutra], Earth Store Sutra, Dharani Sutra, Brahma Net Sutra, Medicine Master Buddha Sutra, Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra, Vajracchedika Prajna Paramita Diamond, Sixth Patriarch Platform Sutra, Sutra in 42 Sections, Sutra on the Buddha's Bequeathed Teaching, Vimalakirti Nirdesha Sutra, et al.   Schools: Hwa-Yen School, Tyan-tai School, Geluk [or Gelug: Nagarjuna-Atisha-Tsongkhapa-Dalai-Lama] School of Tibetan Buddhism

(NOTE: Numerous corrections and enhancements have been made under Shastra tradition and "Fair Use" by an Anonymous Buddhist Monk Redactor (Compiler) of this Online Buddhist Encyclopedia Compilation)


Related Websites:
www.Shakyamuni-Buddha.com,
www.Amitabha-Buddha.com, www.Amitabha-Sutra.com,
www.Bhaisajya-Guru.com, www.Medicine-Buddha.org,
www.Avatamsaka-Sutra.com, www.Flower-Adornment.com,
www.Shurangama-Mantra.com, www.Shurangama-Sutra.com,
www.Prajna-Paramita.com, www.Diamond-Sutra.net, www.Vajra-Sutra.com,
www.Sixth-Patriarch.com, www.Dharani-Sutra.com, www.Sanghata-Sutra.com
www.Manjushri-Bodhisattva.com, www.Avalokiteshvara-Bodhisattva.com,
www.Samantabhadra-Bodhisattva.com, www.Ksitigarbha-Bodhisattva.com, www.Ksitigarbha.com,
www.Nagarjuna-Bodhisattva.com, www.Nalanda-University.com, www.Tibetan-Thangka.com,
www.Buddhist-Sutras.com, www.Buddhist-Sutra.com, www.Ayurvedic-College.org


Primary Original Source: The Tripitaka Sutra, Shastra and Vinaya teachings
(as found in the scripture storehouse of the Indian Sanskrit-Siddham, Chinese, Tibetan and Japanese traditions of the Nalanda Tradition of ancient Nalanda University) of Shakyamuni Buddha, and his Arya Sagely Bodhisattva Bhikshu Monk and Upasaka disciples. 

These Good and Wise Advisors (Kaliyanamitra) Dharma Master teachers include Arya Venerables Nagarjuna, Ashvaghosha, AryasuraKumarajiva, Shantideva, Chandrakirti, Chandragomin, Vasubandhu, Asanga, Hui Neng, Atisha, Kamalashila, Dharmarakshita, Tsong Khapa, Thogme Zangpo, Patanjali, Sushruta, Charaka, Vagbhata, Nichiren, Hsu Yun, Hsuan Hua, Shen Kai, Tenzin Gyatso, Kyabje Zopa, Ajahn Chah, Vasant Lad, and other modern day masters.  We consider them to be in accord with Master Hsuan Hua’s "Seven Guidelines for Recognizing Genuine Teachers"

Nalanda Online University's teachings are based especially on the Dharma Flower Lotus Sutra, the Avatamsaka Sutra, the Shurangama Sutra, the Ksitigarbha Sutra, the Bhaisajya Guru Sutra, the Dharani Sutra, the Vajra Sutra, the Prajna Paramita Hridayam Sutra, the Guhyasamaja, the Kalachakra and their commentaries (shastras) by the above Arya Tripitakacharya Dharma Masters

At Nalanda Online University we practice daily and introduce you to (via downloadable multimedia MP3 audio and WMV video lectures) the teachings and practices of the Five Traditions transmitted by the Buddha Shakyamuni:

1.  Teaching School  (Mahayana Sutrayana - Paramitayana - Hua Yan and Tian Tai, Yogachara, Nalanda Prasangika Madhyamika, Theravada Sutta)   

See also: Tripitaka (1. Sutras, 2. Vinaya, 3. Shastras or Abhidharma, or Tantra), Taisho Catalog Numbering System, Dharma, and names of individual sutras (such as Shurangama Sutra, Avatamsaka Sutra [Flower Adornment Sutra], Lotus Sutra [Wonderful Dharma Flower Sutra], Earth Store Sutra, Dharani Sutra, Brahma Net Sutra, Medicine Master Buddha Sutra, Sixth Patriarch Platform Sutra, Sutra in 42 Sections, Sutra on the Buddha's Bequeathed Teaching, et al.


2.  Moral Regulations School  (Vinaya Pratimoksha Shila - Bodhisattva Pranidhana - Vajrayana-Samaya - Yogic Yama)

3.  Esoteric School  (Vajrayana - Mantrayana - Tantrayana - Dharani - Secret School of the Mahayana)

4.  Meditation School  (Indian Dhyana Samadhi - Shamatha - Vipassana, Chinese Chan, Japanese Zen,
        Tibetan Mahamudra of Kagyupa, and Tibetan Dzogchen of Nyingmapa)

5.  Pure Land Devotional School  (Bhakti Puja - Buddha-Bodhisattva Mindfulness and Nama Japa --
         Name Recitation of Buddhas Amitabha-Amitayus, Medicine Buddha - Bhaisajya Guru - Akshobhya,
         and Bodhisattvas: Avalokiteshvara-Guanyin-Chenrezig-Mahakala, Tara, Samantabhadra Universal Worthy,
         Manjushri-Kalarupa Great Wisdom, Maitreya Great Loving-Kindness, Mahasthamaprapta Great Strength, 
         Ksitigarbha - Earth Store Great Vows, Vajrapani, Vajrasattva,
         Chandraprabha Moonlight Radiance, Suryaprabha Sunlight Radiance, Medicine King Bodhisattva, Medicine Superior Bodhisattva
         and others Dharma Protecting Dharmapala Lokapala Bodhisattvas, Gods and Goddesses


Compilation Sources for the Above Material on the Teachings of the Buddha:

Primary Compilation Source: Epstein, Ronald B., Ph.D, compiler, Buddhist Text Translation Society's Buddhism A to Z, Burlingame, California: Buddhist Text Translation Society, 2003. ISBN: 0881393533  Paperback: 284 pages.  www.BTTSOnline.org     www.Amazon.com  
http://www.bttsonline.org/product.aspx?pid=118     http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0881393533/ref=ase_medicinebuddh-20

Secondary Compilation Source: The Seeker’s Glossary of Buddhism, 2nd ed., San Francisco, California: Sutra Translation Committee of the United States and Canada, 1998: www.budaedu.org.tw     

Secondary Compilation Source: Muller, Charles, editor, Digital Dictionary of Buddhism [DDB], Toyo Gakuen University, Japan, 2007:  Username is "guest", with no password.
http://buddhism-dict.net/ddb - Based in large part on the Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms with Sanskrit and English Equivalents (by Soothill and Hodous) Delhi, India: Motilal Banarsidass, 1997.

Secondary Compilation Source: Ehrhard, Diener, Fischer, et al, The Shambhala Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen, Boston, Massachusetts: Shambhala Publications, 1991.  296 pages.  ISBN 978-0-87773-520-5  www.Shambhala.com,   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0877735204/ref=ase_medicinebuddh-20,
http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-0-87773-520-5.cfm




The Dharma is a Priceless Jewel,
thus these research compilations
and audio and video teaching materials are
offered free-of-charge by this anonymous Buddhist Monk
for the Bodhi Resolve benefit of All Sentient Beings in the Universe...

...under a Creative Commons License.

The rights to textual segments ("quoted, paraphrased, or excerpted") of the are owned by the author-publisher indicated in the brackets next to each segment and are make available and commented on (under the "shastra tradition") under Fair Use. For rights regarding the Buddhist "Encyclopaedia - Glossary - Dictionary" compilation as a whole, please know that it is offered under this Creative Commons License.
 


This Nalanda University site (www.Nalanda-University.com)
is redacted by an anonymous Buddhist monk
for the benefit of all living beings
so they may diligently (virya paramita) cultivate freely to
realize Bodhi enlightenment for the sake of all. 

On the Buddha Shakyamuni's Birthday 2007,
this free redaction is offered (received, upheld, read, recited, studied, pondered, explained, and written out),
in accordance with the Lotus Saddharma Pundarika Sutra Chapter 19: "Merit and Virtue of a Dharma Master" as a
selfless offering to the Buddhas and Bodhisattva Sangha above to adorn the Pure Lands and
to liberate living beings suffering in samsara below by compassionately helping them to plant good roots in this and their future rebirths.
 
The merit is dedicated to anuttarasamyaksambodhi.

Increasing Effect Mantra:
Om Sambhara Sambhara (These Bhikshu Bodhisattva Bodhichitta Vows) Bimana Sara (Spread) Maha (Greatly) Java (Rapidly) Hum (recited 7x)

To increase by 100,000 times the merit created:
Tadyatha Om Pancha Griya (five offerings or five faces) Ava Bodhani Svaha (7x)

Om Dhuru Dhuru Jaya (Victory) Mukhe (Face or Mouth) Svaha (7x)
 

I Now Universally Transfer the Merit and Virtue of to All Beings to realize Anuttara-Samyak-Sam-Bodhi
(“Unsurpassed Proper and Equal Right Enlightenment”)

Sarva Mangalam.
May all be Auspicious.

Arya Bhikshu Shantideva’s Bodhisattvacharyavatara says:
Just as Manjushri works
To fulfill the aims of all limited beings
To the far reaches of space in the ten directions,
May my behavior become just like that.

For as long as space remains,
And for as long as wandering beings remain,
May I too remain for that long,
Dispelling the sufferings of wandering beings.

(Like Ananda says in the Shurangama Sutra introduction to the Shurangama Mantra,
"And even could the nature of shunyata melt away, my vajra-like Supreme Resolve would still remain unmoved.)

Whatever sufferings wandering beings might have,
May all of them ripen on me,
And through the Bodhisattva assembly,
May wandering beings enjoy happiness.

May the teachings,
the sole medicine for the sufferings of wandering beings
And the source of all happiness,
Continue to endure for a very long time,
With material support and shows of respect.
 

Updated May 10, 2008