Digital Dictionary of Buddhism

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從果向因

Pronunciations

Basic Meaning: from effects to causes

Senses:

  • A phrase used to describe the orientation of the bodhisattva path in which the practitioner suddenly realizes the Buddhaʼs teachings and then proceeds to cultivate the practices that lead to buddhahood. The complement to the gradual orientation of the path from causes to the result 從因向果. In the Tiantai school 天台宗, this process is explained in terms of the six identities 六卽. The Japanese esoteric schools 密教 emphasize this sudden approach to awakening by positing the a-syllable 阿字 as the focal point of contemplation from which the practitioner gives rise to the awakened mind 最初發心 and begins to cultivate the bodhisattva path. There are various methods for giving rise to the awakened mind by contemplating the a-syllable, which are collectively referred to as the five declensions of the a-syllable 阿字五轉. 〔漢光類聚T 2371.74.391c2〕 [Matthew McMullen; source(s): Ui,Nakamura, FGD]
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    [Dictionary References]

    Bukkyō jiten (Ui) 522

    Bulgyo sajeon 798a

    Bukkyōgo daijiten (Nakamura) 667a

    Fo Guang Dictionary 4556

    Bukkyō daijiten (Mochizuki) (v.1-6)2236b,277b,1316a

    Copyright provisions

    The rights to textual segments (nodes) of the DDB are owned by the author indicated in the brackets next to each segment. For rights regarding the compilation as a whole, please contact Charles Muller. Please do not reproduce without permission. And please do not copy into Wikipedia without proper citation!

    Entry created: 2018-04-07

    Updated: 2023-07-08