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聖僧

Pronunciations

Basic Meaning: holy monk

Senses:

  • A monk who has achieved enlightenment. 〔梵網經 T 1484.24.1007a19〕 [Charles Muller; source(s): Nakamura,Yokoi, Soothill, Hirakawa]
  • The holy saṃgha, holy community of monks (Skt. ārya-saṃgha). [Charles Muller; source(s): Nakamura]
  • The main image of veneration 本尊 enshrined in an altar in the saṃgha hall 僧堂 or meditation hall 禪堂 of a Chan/Seon/Zen monastery, which is, in most cases, depicting Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva. In most other contexts, Mañjuśrī is depicted seated on a lion and holding a sword, which symbolizes the perfection of wisdom 般若波羅蜜. In the saṃgha hall (meditation hall), however, he is often depicted dressed as an ordinary monk in training, hence the name 'Sacred Monk.' He is in a sense the tutelary deity of the hall, as well as a symbol of the wisdom that trainees strive to cultivate there. But he is also treated as the highest ranking monk in residence, being offered tea first, for example, when tea is served to the entire hall assembly. There is also a Sacred Monk of the common quarters 衆寮の聖僧, who is Avalokitêśvara Bodhisattva. [Griffith Foulk; source(s): Nakamura]
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    [Dictionary References]

    Bukkyō jiten (Ui) 559

    Bulgyo sajeon 468a

    Zengaku daijiten (Komazawa U.) 565b

    Record of Mazu: Baso no goroku (Iriya) 113-2

    A Glossary of Zen Terms (Inagaki) 369

    Zenrin shōkisen (Mujaku Dōchū) 147/115

    Japanese-English Zen Buddhist Dictionary (Yokoi) 698

    Bukkyōgo daijiten (Nakamura) 727d

    Fo Guang Dictionary 5585

    Ding Fubao

    Buddhist Chinese-Sanskrit Dictionary (Hirakawa) 0957

    Bukkyō daijiten (Mochizuki) (v.1-6)2675b,3019b,4334b

    Bukkyō daijiten (Oda) 783-3

    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: 2001-09-08

    Updated: 2014-01-03